Teddi Mellencamp Links Up With Ex-Boyfriend After Big Cancer Battle News

Teddi Mellencamp appears to have reunited with her ex-lover, Ricci Rea, just three months after she went public about their breakup.

The news of her love life taking strides spreads a few days after she shared major positive updates on her cancer battle. Her diagnosis first came in 2022, and by 2024, the cancer had worsened, spreading to her brain and lungs.

Teddi Mellencamp was married to Edwin Arroyave for thirteen years before announcing their split in November of last year, as she allegedly cheated during their marriage. The pair share three children, and she reentered the dating scene in March this year, about four months after their divorce.

Just three months after announcing her breakup from Rea, Mellencamp is spotted walking through the city's Encino neighborhood in Los Angeles, holding hands with him.

The pair were dressed in comfortable clothes, with the TV personality wearing a patterned onesie and a black Alo cap, and her lover in a plain white tee and black shorts.

A few days ago, Mellencamp revealed that her cancer is now undetectable after she underwent treatments for skin cancer that metastasized to her brain for months.

She stated earlier that her health issues had forced her to prioritize herself and her recovery; however, with this good news, she might just be giving herself a second chance at love. Sometime in March, she revealed that she was dating again, with no precise details about the man in question.

Later in June, she discussed her dating life during an episode of her "Two Ts In a Pod" podcast, which she co-hosts with Tamra Judge. She described the mystery man as a very kind person, but it remained unclear if this was the same person she had been seeing since March.

Reports, according to The Daily Mail, state that she opted to keep it private and not disclose his identity as her suitor, who, unlike her, was a very private person.

She only disclosed that he was unmarried and had no children. On another podcast, a month later, she confirmed the romance had ended and she desires to spend her free time resting.

In 2024, news of Mellencamp's alleged affair sparked public gossip. She admitted that she had hurt people, and it stemmed from poor judgment on her part.

She blamed the ill decisions she made on her health being compromised and also added that she strongly feels that getting cancer was payback for her actions, as actions always have dire consequences.

In all, Mellencamp did not speak ill of her ex-husband, Arroyav, but instead praised him for his support despite her role in the breakdown of their marriage. She shared her desire for both of them to have a good friendship and for the kids to be happy.

After she started dating Rea, reports show that she called it quits, saying that she intends to focus solely on her health and recovery. As reported by The Blast, the reality star admitted that her relationship with Rea was sweet as he was a nice guy, but cancer and parenting had taken a toll on her energy.

Mellencamp then had to call things off with him because they were getting serious, and she could not see herself in that capacity at the time.

Mellencamp underwent immunotherapy instead of the traditional chemotherapy but did not escape the side effects. The Blast reported that she revealed that the treatments often left her feeling exhausted and weak.

The treatment process incorporated multiple surgeries, radiation, and immunotherapy, and she complained that at some point she felt like she could neither keep her eyes open nor her words straight.

The side effects made her complain to her doctors, who ultimately decided to give her body a break to feel stronger, enough to push through with the treatment. During the said break, she remained on steroids whilst doing everything to make sure she could get back and head on with the treatments.

Mellencamp began appearing on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" in 2017. She filmed three seasons of the show and even appeared on "Celebrity Big Brother." Due to her health status, the Bravo star announced that she would not be returning to the small screens.

She explained this as a personal decision, as she was not feeling her best health-wise and does not like doing things when she knows she cannot put in her maximum efforts. She continued, saying that even though some days are very bad, she counts herself blessed.

According to reports by The Blast, there were days when Mellencamp was really struggling and stumbling over words due to the nature of the surgeries she had undergone. Instead of fighting through everything, she decided it would not be best for her to be cast. 

She chose to quietly exit the show, adding that she was making this decision for her castmates as well, because she would be putting them in a bad spot if they argued with her, as it may result in the audience directing some form of hate at them for fighting with a cast member battling cancer.

Mellencamp's first child and daughter, Slate, turned thirteen on October 6, and she celebrated this milestone with an emotional Instagram post. The reel featured pictures of Slate throughout her childhood with Martina McBride's "In My Daughter's Eyes" playing as the background song.

She wrote in the caption, "I can't believe my Angel is 13," adding that even though it feels as if time just flew by, Slate has accomplished incredible things. Mellencamp, in the same caption, wrote about how cheerful her daughter remains through everything and how mature she is.

After wishing her a happy birthday, she added that she wants to figure out how to stop time, writing "I am not ready for the teenage years," accompanied by a laughing emoji. Slate was also tagged in the post.

Here's to wishing Teddi Mellencamp a full recovery and a happy relationship!