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NEED TO KNOW
Gretchen Rossi isn't returning to The Real Housewives of Orange County for season 20, PEOPLE can confirm
She first appeared in seasons 4-8 of the series as a full-time cast member before re-joining as a friend in season 19 following a 12-year hiatus
Katie Ginella also won't be returning, she announced earlier this month, claiming she was fired from the show
Gretchen Rossiwill not be featured onThe Real Housewives of Orange Countyseason 20, PEOPLE can confirm.
The reality star, 47, returned to the franchise last year as a "friend" in season 19, which came more than a decade after she left the show in 2013 following five seasons as a full-time cast member.
According toVariety,which was first to report the news, Rossi and Katie Ginella are the only two season 19 cast members not coming back for season 20, indicating thatHeather Dubrow,Tamra Judge,Shannon Storms Beador,Emily Simpson,Jennifer Pedranti, andGina Kirschenheiterwill all be returning.
The outlet further reported that filming on the show's 20th season will begin soon.
Meanwhile,Vicki Gunvalson— who had been a member of the cast since its debut in 2006 and quit in 2020 after beingmoved to a reduced role— is set to make a comeback in season 20.
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Rossi first joined the Bravo series in 2008 during season 4. At the time, she was engaged to Jeff Beitzel, whowas 24 years her seniorand had been diagnosed with cancer.Beitzel died by the time the season began airing.
A year later, she began datingSlade Smiley, who waspreviously engaged to original cast member Jo De La Rosaand had a brief fling with another former Housewife,Lauri Peterson.
Rossi proposed to Smiley in 2013, and theirengagement was documented in season 8of the show. They have now been together for almost 17 years and share adaughter,Skylar Gray Smiley, whom they welcomed inJuly 2019.
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JoiningRHOCfor season 19 after a 12-year hiatus, Rossi quickly became the center of a dramatic rumor:Ginella alleged that Rossi accused Judge of drugging her during a partyin season 4, in which Judge joked that she wanted to get Rossi "naked wasted." The now-infamous episode was then titled "Naked Wasted."
Rossi and Judge vehemently denied the allegations, and the women later decided to take lie detector tests.
The administrators ultimately said that Rossi was "truthful" when she answered "no" to being drugged, as was Judge. The results showed that Ginella was being deceptive, although she maintained that she was telling the truth.
Ginella announced her exit fromRHOCin anInstagram poston Jan. 9, claiming that she had been fired from the show.
"After two seasons as a cast member on RHOC, the network has decided to move forward with season 20 without me," she wrote at the time. "While disappointing, it's not entirely surprising after seeing how season 19 played out."
"I'm incredibly grateful for the love and support I received — it was seen, felt and deeply appreciated. Representation matters, and I'm proud to have shown up authentically, even when it wasn't easy," Ginella continued. "This chapter may be closing, but my voice and my story don't end here. Love, Katie."
Read the original article onPeople
