Tamra Judge Claims She Hit a Breaking Point with Shannon Beador and Received’t Enable Her Anymore
Tamra Judge is addressing the controversy surrounding her on The Actual Housewives of Orange County, acknowledging that her actions this season have sparked vital backlash from followers.
Throughout an unique interview with PEOPLE, Tamra candidly mirrored on the strained relationship with her former pal and RHOC co-star Shannon Beador.
The strain between Tamra and Shannon has been a point of interest of the present season, significantly as a consequence of Judge’s criticism of Shannon alleged points with alcohol—a declare Shannon has persistently denied. Tamra admits, “Oh, everyone hates me this season,” recognizing that her position within the drama has not endeared her to the present’s viewers.
The rift between the 2 started after Shannon’s arrest for a DUI and alleged hit-and-run in September 2023. Regardless of being supportive within the aftermath, the friendship took a flip for the more serious when filming for RHOC season 18 commenced in January.
“I know it looks like I’m being a bad friend to Shannon, or that I’m just attacking her for no reason,” Tamra explains. “But as anyone who has someone in their lives who drinks like this will tell you, it’s very frustrating to watch that person refuse to get help and just keep making the same mistakes over and over again.”
Tamra felt compelled to talk out after reaching a breaking level. “There are going to be times when you just reach a breaking point where you can’t do it anymore. And that was my reality when the cameras went up.”
Tamra’s frustrations have been rooted in years of making an attempt to help Shannon via numerous private struggles, together with her divorce from ex-husband David Beador and her breakup with John Janssen. “Throughout the 10 years that I’ve known her, minus the two she didn’t speak to me when I wasn’t on the show, her life was always in shambles,” Tamra remembers.
“She would call me crying, almost daily—usually inebriated late at night—and she would be riled up about this or that. And listen, I cared about her. I was her friend. I wanted to help her, but she never did anything to help herself.”
“But every single person on our cast called her out on her drinking, and she would fight with them and ice them out. And I was worried if I did that, she’d cut me out, too.”
A pivotal second got here after Shannon’s DUI arrest. “After her DUI, we had a long, heart-to-heart conversation and for the first time ever, I actually told her what I thought,” Tamra recounts. “I said, ‘Listen, you have a drinking problem. It’s time for you to get help.’ And she acknowledged it, and I comforted her and encouraged her to use this rock bottom moment to really make changes in her life.”
Regardless of this dialog, Tamra felt disillusioned when Shannon reportedly criticized her behind her again, questioning Judge’s proper to touch upon her consuming.
“Walking away from that conversation, I felt relief,” Tamra says, “I thought it was going to be a turning point; that crashing your car into the side of a house with a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit would be a wake-up call.”
The deterioration of their relationship continued as Tamra withdrew from their joint Tres Amigas Tour. Tamra describes her choice to chop ties: “It was always someone else’s fault. I just lost respect [for her] and told myself, ‘If she’s not going to change, then I am.’ I couldn’t do it anymore. I had to get off the train; I had to choose me.”
Alternatively, Shannon has addressed her evolving relationship with alcohol. In a July interview with PEOPLE, Shannon acknowledged previous points however famous progress:
“I acknowledge that I was drinking a lot — a lot — back then, but today I’m not. I was using alcohol as a coping mechanism. And I know I can’t do that anymore.” She additional shared that a month of “intensive outpatient programs” has helped her restrict her consuming to at least one or two drinks every so often.
Tamra stays resolute about her stance. “I have empathy for Shannon but I have no sympathy for her anymore,” Tamra asserts.
“I know people make mistakes. I know plenty of people get DUIs who aren’t alcoholics. And I know alcoholics struggle to come to terms with their drinking. But this has been going on for so long. And if you can get behind the wheel that drunk, run your car into a house with your dog in the car, leave the scene while covered in blood with a broken nose, broken arm, and then go back to drinking again? I can’t have sympathy for that.”
Regardless of the criticism from followers, Tamra finds help from those that have confronted comparable struggles. “I’ve heard from so many people who have been impacted by someone in their lives close to them who struggle with drinking problems,” Judge shares.
“They’ve said, ‘Believe me, I know where you’re coming from.’ And they’ve reminded me, ‘If someone isn’t making amends for how their drinking negatively affected you, they’re not doing the work.’ So it’s helped me understand that I’m not wrong in my feelings. And that sometimes, all you can resort to is tough love.”
The Actual Housewives of Orange County airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
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Raissa Asunbo is a Content material Editor at All About The Tea. She lives in Toronto, Canada and enjoys studying, watching films, touring and spending time with her household.
