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Why did Gretchen Rossi<\/b><\/a> Leave the <\/span>Real Housewives of Orange County<\/span><\/i><\/a>? Life & Style<\/em> breaks down her past exit amid news that she\u2019s returning to the Bravo show for season 19.\n<\/p>\n Gretchen made her RHOC<\/em> debut during season 4 in 2008. She remained on the show until season 8, though she didn\u2019t return for season 9.<\/p>\n At the time, sources told Us Weekly<\/em><\/a> that both Gretchen and costar Alexis Bellino<\/strong> were not asked to return for season 9. \u201cAlexis and Gretchen were fired,\u201d the insider said at the time. \u201cThey just had run their course. Gretchen has been on the show a long time, and it was the same old story.\u201d<\/p>\n Gretchen also previously hinted that her exit from the reality show might have been mutual. While appearing on a July 2024 episode of the \u201cThen God Moved\u201d podcast<\/a>, Gretchen admitted she didn\u2019t like the way she was portrayed on the show.<\/p>\n \u201dI was so excited when I started the show. I just thought this will be fun, I get to go shopping and drink champagne with some girlfriends,\u201d she recalled of being cast on RHOC<\/em>.<\/p>\n After the show aired, Gretchen said she was expecting \u201csuch scrutiny and for my actual story to be completely manipulated.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was raised in a very strong Christian household, but that was not the story that they wanted to show,\u201d she added of her plot lines featured on the popular show.<\/p>\n Gretchen said she realized she had to make a change when she met a 6 year old fan of the show. \u201cEven though the fan support means the world to me \u2014 in that moment, I believe God put it on my heart that this isn\u2019t the example that I want to be setting,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Gretchen was engaged to Jeff Beitzel when she started filming season 4, though he died after a battle with cancer by the time that the season premiere.<\/p>\n She went on to pursue a relationship with Slade Smiley<\/strong>,<\/a> who dated several of the women on the show. However, he made it clear that Gretchen was the one when he accepted her elaborate proposal, in which she popped the question during a helicopter ride during season 8. Gretchen left the show after that season, and she and Slade are still currently going strong. Despite not being married, the pair welcomed their daughter<\/a>, Skylar Gray, in 2019.<\/p>\n A source close to the show\u2019s production confirmed to Us Weekly<\/em><\/a> on January 29, 2025, that Gretchen will appear on season 19 as a \u201cfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n She is expected to appear alongside stars Emily Simpson, Katie Ginella, Jennifer Pedranti, Tamra Judge, Shannon Beador, Heather Dubrow<\/strong> and Gina Kirschenheiter<\/strong> in the upcoming episodes.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Bravo also announced her return in an Instagram post<\/a> on January 29, 2025. \u201cShe\u2019s back and ready to make fetch happen,\u201d the network\u2019s account captioned a photo of the reality star. \u201cGretchen Rossi joins #RHOC for Season 19!\u201d<\/p>\n Gretchen made it clear she was excited about the news, and she shared several celebratory posts from friends and fans on her Instagram Stories.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWhy Did Gretchen Rossi Leave \u2018Real Housewives of Orange County\u2019?<\/h2>\n
What Happened During Gretchen Rossi\u2019s Time on \u2018Real Housewives of Orange County\u2019?<\/h2>\n
Gretchen Rossi Is Returning for Season 19 of \u2018Real Housewives of Orange County\u2019<\/h2>\n