Shannon Beador isn’t the only one going through it on this season of The Real Housewives of Orange County. Jennifer Pedranti, who first joined the show in Season 17, is dealing with her own fair share of stressful situations as well. While she might not be forced to face an ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, Pedranti reveals in the Season 18 premiere that she’s getting evicted from her house — and, as we know, her fiancé Ryan Boyajian’s legal scandal will come to light later on in the season.
The mom-of-five stunned in a bright red jumpsuit when she visited DECIDER’s offices ahead of tonight’s new episode. Despite the hardships she goes through on the show, Pedranti maintained her bright aura and positive attitude — likely a result of all the yoga she teaches. But this didn’t surprise us one bit — I mean, this is the woman who had the chillest reaction ever when Tamra Judge threw a napkin in her face last season.
Speaking of Judge, she and Pedranti seemingly decide to put their past issues behind them in the Season 18 premiere. However, the trailer indicates that Judge is the one who brings up Boyajian’s alleged involvement in a $15 million gambling and theft scandal in front of cameras. When she spoke to DECIDER earlier this month, she said she had no intention of outing Boyajian’s dirty laundry, but ended up doing so after “a few too many drinks” — an excuse she’s starting to overuse, according to Pedranti.
“That’s what was so hard for me, like, you talk about Shannon’s drinking problem, and I get that it’s vastly different, but Tamra is a problem when she drinks,” Pedranti said. “We all suffer the wrath of her when she drinks too much. She will say she has the awareness of it — well then, work on that. Do better.”
Unlike Judge, Pedranti has also gotten closer with Beador following her DUI arrest, telling DECIDER that the reality TV veteran has “taken ownership” of her actions and is “doing good.”
“I personally was going through a lot of lows in my life and I have this girlfriend, Shannon, who’s also going through a really low in her life,” she added. “And I’m like, this is not the time to leave a friend. This is not when you kick somebody when they’re down.”
We sat down with Pedranti to talk about the tense new season of RHOC, including her recent divorce settlement, Alexis Bellino‘s return to Bravo and how she feels about Gina Kirschenheiter‘s shady confessionals about her eviction. Check out the full story below.
DECIDER: We’re only an episode in and this season is already so intense for everyone. How are you feeling about going into your sophomore season?
JENNIFER PEDRANTI: It’s so funny. Last season was hard, and it was hard because I was new and I don’t think anybody can prepare you for this process. So until you do it, you just don’t know. And it was hard because I was navigating a friendship that was kind of falling apart. So that was hard. Season 2, I feel like I have my sealegs about me a little bit. But then my real life was falling apart and that was happening on TV, like big things in my life. So that was hard as well.
Let’s get into the season. We see in the first episode that you and Shannon have gotten close. Why was it so important for you to be there for her after her DUI?
You will see as the season keeps playing out, I personally was going through a lot of lows in my life and I have this girlfriend, Shannon, who’s also going through a low in her life. And I’m like, this is not the time to leave a friend. This is not when you kick somebody when they’re down. You know, we all make mistakes, and Shannon’s taken ownership and she looks good and she’s doing good and I wanted to be there and support her.
What do you think of Alexis coming back to the show arm-in-arm with John Janssen? Do you buy that she wants to move forward with Shannon after their heated confrontation?
You know, Alexis did try. And she’s made several comments of wanting to bridge the gap. The problem is, it’s such a hard situation. I mean, how does anybody navigate that situation? Her and John have a beautiful relationship. That is Shannon’s ex. There’s a legal situation between them. It’s so hard to navigate that.
At first, we thought it was great that Gina helped you and your family find a rental home, but then, we watched what she had to say in her confessionals. Does Gina finally talk to you face-to-face? If so, what was the conversation like?
Watching that back for me was hard, truly. I respect Gina a lot and so that was a hard time. But yes, that is the one thing I can say I love about Gina, among many things. We can go at it and she has very strong opinions, but she will come back and she will have a conversation and the conversation just looked like — when we finally had it — like … Gina felt like, what she has accomplished for herself, I was taking that. She felt like me getting evicted was a mark on her career. And so then I’m like, “Oh my gosh, I would never come at your career.” I was being evicted, where do I go? I’m heightened. She’s like, “What is she doing to my career? She’s knocking me off everything I’ve built [for] me and my kids.” So when we sit down as two women — I love you, I love you. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It was awesome.
When we spoke to Tamra, she said she wasn’t sure that your friendship with Shannon was authentic. What’s your response to that?
Well, does Tamara know about authentic friendships? I mean, I do. My friendship with Shannon is authentic.
I want to talk about you and Tamra. In the premiere episode, you seem hopeful about your friendship. But we see in the trailer that she’s the one who brings up the FBI and Ryan’s legal situation. Why do you think she has such a vendetta against your relationship?
You know, if somebody would answer this question for me, I would be forever grateful. I don’t know and I don’t care anymore.
When we talked to Tamra, she said she had no intention of bringing up the FBI at that dinner but it all came out after she had “a few too many drinks.” Is that a valid excuse for that kind of behavior?
It is an excuse. It’s always the excuse. That’s what was so hard for me was Shannon, like, you talk about Shannon’s drinking problem, and I get that it’s vastly different, but Tamra is a problem when she drinks. We all suffer the wrath of her when she drinks too much and she will say she has the awareness of it — well then, work on that. Do better.
Where do you stand with Tamra now? Is there anything you can tease? Is there hope for your friendship?
We give it a go. We give it a go and we have a lot of fun in the beginning. Tamra and I had a lot of fun and I will tell you, it felt great to be in that spot with her, and then patterns repeat themselves.
When you filmed, you were in the middle of your divorce and an eviction. But it was reported this week that you and your ex-husband finally reached a settlement. How are you feeling about that?
I feel so good, it’s been four years. Like, this has been four years — four years of my life just waiting on documents and “please just turn this in.” And I think what people don’t know is, in that time, my ex and I’s understanding was, you know, I had a debit card and he was paying everything. So if I needed gas, it was a text message. “Can you move money over?” If I needed groceries, “Can you move money over?” So when the rent starts not getting paid, I was just at a complete loss, right? I didn’t know — where was that going to come from? And so it feels good. I hope it feels good for him as it does for me [and] maybe now we can start repairing a good co-parenting relationship.
Which of your co-stars this season is most in need of your calming yoga sessions this season and why?
Shannon. You know what? She just needs to take a good deep breath and know she’s going to be just fine.
Which pairing of cast mates is the most volatile this season and why: Shannon and Alexis, Tamra and Shannon, Emily and Heather, or Katie and Heather?
Wow. That is a tough one. I’m going to say Shannon and Alexis because there’s so much emotion to it. There’s so much emotion to it. So I’m going to say Shannon and Alexis.
We saw you get pretty close to Taylor Armstrong last season. Were you bummed she wasn’t asked back? Do you two still keep in touch?
Okay, I love her. I mean, I love her, so [I was] bummed. I remember being on the phone with her and I said, “Taylor, I think I’m more sad than you are.” And she was pep talking me, [like], “It’s going to be okay, honey.” It’s kind of like, what do I do without you? I love her. She’s busy and so we do connect — not as much as I would like, but, God, I love her. And when I see her, when I talk to her, it always feels like home.
Well, maybe she’ll come back someday!
I would love that.
What else can you tease about the rest of this season? Anything you’re excited for fans to see or dreading?
There wasn’t one event that was, like, catastrophic in my life. I feel like the world imploded in my life and it’s all on camera. So that’s hard, right? You have to go back to all of that. The good stuff is we were all in big stuff in our lives and so the highs were super high and the lows were super low and I think it’s an incredible season.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs every Thursday at 9/8c on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
