Vicki Gunvalson defends ‘quality person’ Tamra Judge amid Shannon Beador feud

Vicki Gunvalson defends ‘quality person’ Tamra Judge amid Shannon Beador feud

Vicki Gunvalson is standing by Tamra Judge — even as she admits she wasn’t a fan of how her longtime pal treated Shannon Beador.

The “Real Housewives of Orange County” OG, who counts both women among her friends, tells Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” that she found herself playing peacemaker as tensions between Judge and Beador exploded while filming the upcoming “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.”

“You’ll see this season, I did my very best to just kind of be the intermediator, but also say, ‘We gotta stop this!’” Gunvalson says of the current “RHOC” installment. “In the real picture of the world, what are you guys fighting about?”

She continues, “OK, let’s say you don’t respect each other, let’s say you don’t like each other — but we’ve gotta work together, we’ve got to be able to do this. So you’re gonna see, I think things evolve a little bit.”

Vicki Gunvalson stopped by the Page Six studio to chat with “Virtual Reali-Tea” about the new season of “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” Michael McWeeney
Gunvalson (left) shared her take on Tamra Judge (center) and Shannon Beador’s (right) ongoing feud. Here, the ladies are pictured together at BravoCon 2023 in Las Vegas. Getty Images

The latest chapter in Judge and Beador’s fractured friendship unfolded during a filmed scene at Newport Beach hotspot The Quiet Woman, where Judge told her former best friend she would never own a home or find lasting love.

Despite the harsh exchange, Gunvalson believes viewers will see a different side of Judge on this season of “RHOC.”

“I know Shannon wasn’t wanting to apologize because she didn’t feel like she did anything wrong,” she explains. “Tamra did really show some softness of herself this season — which I loved — because Tamra is a quality person.”

Still, Gunvalson says she didn’t always agree with Judge’s approach.

Despite the discord, Gunvalson defended Judge. Michael McWeeney
“Tamra did really show some softness of herself this season — which I loved — because Tamra is a quality person,” the OG of the OC gushed. Clifton Prescod/Bravo

“I love Tamra and I just didn’t like the way she was treating Shannon,” she says. “When you’re friends with both of them, like, why are you being so mean?”

Gunvalson also weighed in on another premiere episode dust-up involving Jennifer Pedranti, who informed Judge that Heather Dubrow had allegedly been speaking negatively about their friendship.

“I didn’t like that either,” Gunvalson says. “I just want everyone to get along and whoop it up. … I think maybe she’s trying to find her way a little bit, which is fine, but it wasn’t Jenn’s position to do that.”

Beador and Judge’s latest bout of conflict stems from a combative scene filmed for “Real Housewives Ultimate Road Trip.” NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Before their dynamic devolved in recent years, Judge and Beador (pictured here at BravoCon 2022) were once very close. Astrid Stawiarz/Bravo via Getty Images

After appearing only as a “friend of” in recent years, Gunvalson says returning to the fold in a more substantial capacity for Season 20 has given her a different perspective on the cast dynamics.


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“I haven’t filmed with these ladies in four years,” she says. “I was a ‘friend’ a couple seasons and that was the worst thing to do because you didn’t know what was going on and I’m like, ‘OK, what are we doing now? Why is everyone mad at each other?’ So I come from a different place.”

These days, the Bravo veteran says age has taught her that holding onto grudges simply isn’t worth it.

Gunvalson, pictured here with Judge and Beador at a June 2026 event, returned to “RHOC” for its landmark 20th Season after a hiatus from filming full-time. Getty Images for Newport Beach TV FEST
Gunvalson’s reality TV journey began in 2006 when “RHOC” launched the “Housewives” franchise. Bravo

“As you age, you also look at what is really important to stand true to yourself. You can’t continue fights for season after season after season. Resolve it and move on,” Gunvalson says. 

“And I think you’re going to see some resolve this year.”

“The Real Housewives of Orange County” airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo with new episodes available to stream the next day on Peacock. 

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