Teddi Mellencamp Reveals Why She Split From Her New Boyfriend Amid Cancer Battle

Reality TV star Teddi Mellencamp has ended her relationship with Ricci Rea while undergoing treatment for stage 4 cancer.

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star opened up on her podcast, revealing the emotional and physical limits that led to their split.

Now, Mellencamp is setting firm boundaries while sharing her truth with refreshing vulnerability.

Mellencamp has officially called it quits with her boyfriend Ricci Rea, just weeks after the couple was spotted getting cozy in public.

While fans speculated about the budding romance, Mellencamp shared on her "Diamonds in the Rough" podcast with Erika Jayne that the relationship had already ended by the time people knew about it.

"I had to call things off," she explained per the Daily Mail, adding, "It started getting to the point where it's starting to get a little bit more serious. I was like: 'I don't have the capacity for this right now.'"

The 43-year-old wellness influencer praised Rea as "a really nice guy, couldn't be a nicer guy," but admitted that her ongoing battle with stage 4 melanoma has forced her to prioritize rest and recovery over romance.

"I don't feel my best, so when I have downtime, I want to rest," she noted.

Teddi Mellencamp, who is currently undergoing immunotherapy treatments, acknowledged the toll that cancer and parenting have taken on her energy.

With three children, Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, 5, and multiple work commitments, including podcasting and wellness coaching, she said she had to set clear boundaries with anyone she dates.

"I've had to make it clear to people I've dated [that] this is where I am. This is what I've got," she said. "If it's enough for you, great. If it's not enough, I won't be upset. I mean, yes, my feelings will probably be hurting, but this is all I got to give."

Mellencamp added that her new relationship had been sweet but ultimately unsustainable.

"He came and picked us up this week from the [horse] show, and he could tell that I was down. He sat and watched, like one million hours of horse show rounds. He's just a good guy," she said.

Despite her health struggles, Mellencamp is learning to embrace love and support, while staying realistic about her limits.

"I know I deserve it, and it's really nice," she said of the compassion she's received. Still, she's not afraid to let go if someone can't meet her where she is.

"If for some reason you realize you need somebody that doesn't have three kids, 1 million activities to do, 87 podcasts, you want more time than I'm able to give? I understand," she told Erika Jayne. "I would not be mad at you for not even a second."

That said, her former partner wasn't backing down easily.

"He's like, 'I am willing to do anything to be able to spend time with you,'" Mellencamp revealed.

Although her personal life has seen its share of turbulence, Teddi Mellencamp recently shared some encouraging health news on her "Two Ts in a Pod" podcast, co-hosted with Tamra Judge.

After her latest MRI, her doctors told her, "The tumors have not grown at all, if anything, they're shrinking, I'm in the one-percent range of improvement."

The update was both uplifting and sobering. Mellencamp, who had four tumors removed from her brain earlier this year, still has cancer in her brain and lungs.

"I think I believe I'm going to go in and they're gonna say 'wow, it's a miracle and you no longer have any cancer,'" she confessed, "but that's not the case yet."

Nevertheless, the shrinking tumors offer a glimmer of hope as she continues immunotherapy following rounds of radiation.

Though Mellencamp and estranged husband Edwin Arroyave are still proceeding with their divorce, she has often credited him for being supportive during her cancer journey.

The former couple co-parent their three children, along with Arroyave's 14-year-old daughter, Isabella, from a previous relationship. The Certified Wellness Coach has not shied away from sharing the emotional and physical realities of life with stage 4 cancer.

She has said treatments often leave her feeling exhausted and run-down, making it essential to conserve her energy. Mellencamp's decision to be transparent about her health, relationships, and emotional needs is resonating with fans.

Her story serves as a powerful reminder that healing often requires letting go even when it is painful.