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The last episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County brought us Florida-gate. Vicki Gunvalson planned a Florida trip intended to be an all girls trip, and was not happy when some of the other husbands decided to tag along.
Jim Bellino and Simon Barney both showed up on the trip after they repeatedly said their wives are not allowed to go on trips without them. Alexis Bellino and Tamra Barney both seemed to be okay with this, much to Vicki’s dismay. Vicki even refused to attend any events that the husbands, and Slade Smiley showed up to.
The ladies have now taken to their Bravo blogs to speak out on Floridagate. -
Here’s what Tamra Sue had to say:
“OK, so the guys went … get over it! The girls spent so much time together the only thing left was sleeping together and that wasn’t going to happen! The guys going all started with Simon, Jim Alexis, and I talking. As married couples with small kids it is very seldom that we take trips alone, together or apart. We thought it would be fun if the guys came and did guy things while the girls did their thing. So that is exactly what happened. The girls spent 80% of the time filming doing fabulous things; we even took a water taxi and went shopping downtown. The guys went golfing, worked out, and hung out by the pool. Everybody was happy … or so I thought. The last night we were there we went on the sunset cruise after our shopping trip. We thought it would be nice to have the guys there. I didn’t think for a second that Vicki would have a problem with it. I felt really bad when I saw how upset she was, but later found out that she had friends in town and went out to dinner with them.”
Alexis share her thoughts as well:
I’m not quite sure why Vicki was so upset about the boys coming on the trip to Florida. To be honest, she never even saw them until after hours …which was fine with me. The girls trip was never presented to me as a ‘GIRLS ONLY’ trip. I never received the memo: “NO MEN ALLOWED.” I would have laughed had she stated that to me. Nor did she pay for our trip, which would have given her more of a right to assign rules. I would not go somewhere that had certain ‘rules’ in advance, like your husband is not allowed. Not to mention the fact that Jim and Simon invited Donn to join them. So it was never a question of Vicki not mentioning to Donn to come along. What really strikes me as shocking is the fact that Vicki did not want to join us on the fabulous yacht cruise because she was going to feel like a third wheel, but yet she wound up going out that night with another couple, thus being a third wheel. It just doesn’t quite register with me … it doesn’t make sense. It may be a little hypocritical.
Vicki gives he side of the story:
When we initially planned for the trip to be a “girls” trip, it was planned during the week and I thought really nothing of it that the guys weren’t invited. I had no idea it was going to turn into such a problem with the men. I had just finished a week in West Palm Beach for an insurance conference and thought it would be great to extend it for a few days and have the girls come down to join me in Ft. Lauderdale. Due to the fact it was during the week, Donn was fine with me continuing my stay for a few more days and wasn’t planning on taking time off of work to meet me. When I found out Simon and Jim were coming I thought, ‘Well, then it’s not a girls trip if the guys are joining us’ and I wondered how it would turn out. Even though Donn wasn’t planning on going, he told me to go anyways and to have a great time. In hindsight, once I knew the dynamics were changing with Simon and Jim coming, I probably should have listened to my gut and just gone home and not stayed for the few extra days. Simon and I had already had a few conflicts this summer, and I felt very uncomfortable being around him and really didn’t want to see him.
Never thought I would see the day I side with Vicki but I actually agree with her on this. There is something very controlling and slightly creepy about the men saying their wives are not allowed to go on trips without them. It seemed to come of a place of distrust rather than a place of wanting to spend more time with their spouses. I guess this is kinda understandable considering Alexis allegedly cheated on her first husband with a wealthier older man, perhaps Jim does not want history to repeat itself.
I don’t see the problem with the women having a girls trip, and having the husbands there would of course change the dynamics of the trip. Perhaps Vicki could have handled the whole thing better and just sucked it up, but apparently she and Simon had gotten into an argument off camera, and she did not feel comfortable being around Simon.
Wealthy men, that is, real ones, do not spend their time intruding into a Girl’s Weekend. They have money to have their won weekend.
Kinda looks to me like the so-called big shots on Bravo (Bellino, Barney, Slade) are not wealthy after all – even though they live in Newport Coast and Ladera Ranch etc.
I got the impression that they wanted a BravoTV freebie, not wanting (because they don’t have money) to spend any money of their own for a Couples Vacation.
The glittering rich spend their time making money, running the world, and doing deals as well as taking vacations that they can pay for themselves.
Simon is basically unemployed – having some side job selling tequila of all things is not enough to take care of his family.
The last thing he should be doing is crashing a Girl’s Vacation.
Now that he’s displayed his crassness, its unlikely anyone would want to hire him. Not even TJ Maxx employees act like him.
Rev. Jim Bellino is a pawnbroker – that speaks for itself; pawnshops being in the same category as bail bonders and liquor stores.
Slade is an arrestee and has been jailed. He is unemployed.
On the contrary, Vicki is a successful businesswoman who owns and runs an insurance sales company Coto Insurance.
I felt sorry for Lynne. Frank had the good sense to not impose on someone else’s invitation even though his wife was recovering from surgery.
Frank was probably doing the right thing and that was looking for work to take care of his family.
Vicki: you have outgrown this show. Take it from Jeanna who has moved on.
I am surprised at what I am gonna say. Vicki was right on this one, The editing made it seem funny and not pleasant at all for her.
Wanted to add: Did you all catch what Jim said to Alexis on the evening boat cruise?
He called her a “piece of meat.”
imo, the fact that Alexis is dumping on Vicki is to deflect from the horrors of having her husband, in the 21st century, call her a piece of meat on national television….
Normally I would never agree with Vicki, but I’m totally on her side on this one. The guys coming were so pathetic. Jim and Simon are insecure and lame. Slade just came because he can’t pass up a chance to be back on tv.
I had the same thing happen, a girls weekend in Vegas and my friend’s husband came and ruined the whole vibe. Needless to say, we ditched those two!
Some husbands and wives like separate vacations. Some do not. Neither is wrong for their preference. The only thing wrong is insisting other couples do things the way you do them.
If someone doesn’t like the terms of an invitation, the polite thing to do is to decline the invitation….not to impose one’s terms.
Vicki is so right on this one. Simon is really turning creepy. I would never tell my husband he could not take a boys’ weekend once in a while – how lame! I think it’s hysterical that Jim is a Pawnbroker. He doesn’t seem Alexis’s type at all, but obviously she likes the lifestyle. And, not for nothing, but she is a stay-at-home mom with two nannies – yet she “needs a break” from the kids. Give me a break! Say what you want about Vicki – she is very successful and has been the only housewive to parlay the exposure of the show into more success.
That makes sense but sometimes things on these shows are more about the show than an ordinary invitation that is no way related to the show. Vicki did go out with another couple that night. I think its more about Vicki being in control and Vicki not liking Simon and Slade then Vicki being a “3rd wheel”.
I gotta say, I’m with Vicki on this one. I agree with Scarlette, if you do not like the terms of the invitation, the polite thing to do is decline the invitation.
Mark:
Its all about the planning that Vicki undertook for the girl’s vacation together. Her difficulties with Simon is a substory.
imo, Vicki is on her way out of the show. She really has nothing in common with the others anymore. Recall that Vicki is one of the original housewives.
The real issue raised with this episode is about common courtesy, some can expected to practice this, others cannot.
If you read her blog, you’ll be able to see the number of posts to Vicki stating that something similar had happened to them and they could understand her feelings about the Florida trip.
If Simon and Jim are so rich as they claim, then they should have come up with a guys Weekend while the women were away or arranged a Couples Weekend.
Any other issue such as Vicki being the “3rd wheel” misses the point, and that is you do not accept an invitation, object to whatever it is you don’t like about the invite, and then change the terms.
Wanted to add that if Jim & Alexis are the godly people they claim to be, then they shouldn’t have any problem apologizing for hurting another human being.
After all, doesn’t the bible say something about christians being kind, considerate of others, and humble? Doesn’t it say something about if you’re invited to a dinner that you don’t take the best seat next to the host, but wait to be invited to a better position?
Does it say *anything* about imposing your terms on anyone?
Instead of christian love, what we have is Alexis (on her blog) slamming Vicki and making critical remarks about Vicki as a person and Vicki’s marriage.
Honestly, while I agree with the fact that men and women should have that time to be with their friends, my fiance and I make sure of this all the time, I don’t see what’s wrong with choosing not to travel without your spouse. They were going to the other side of the country… not down the road to the spa. In any normal situation I don’t see that as being “creepy or controlling”, but with these people I can understand since most of these women act like tramps, and the men aren’t much better. I don’t think Vicki handled herself well at all either. She did have a point in the men ruining the dynamic, but her neediness and constant crying make her look rediculous. Lynn was there alone, too! And seriously, no one should ever be asked to choose between their husband and their friend as Vicki tried to ask Tamra. Vicki has some real control and possessive issues of her own to figure out before she starts pointing fingers.
I too am on Vicky’s side, and Simon is back to acting like he did the first season that him and Tamra were on, last season Simon was actually nice, not controlling, but that again could have be the “edit”.
Alexis did not know that it was a girls weekend? Well her husband Jim certainly knew it was, Donn set him straight, but, why didn’t Jim tell Alexis that it was a girls weekend? I mean if they share absolutely everything…………
It seems like all these housewives end up disliking each other
Is that just normal or BRAVO?? Maybe the cast mates go from knowing each other or “traveling in the same circles” to really knowing each other, to not really liking each other to being friends only when the cameras roll.
It seems that NJ has the best chance of remaining friends [well, except for Danielle] and that is probably because most of them are related and is there anything wrong with that??? NO, its an interesting group of people, who do fun things, they are the most real of all the casts, the way they are on TV is how they gotta be all the time, and I can’t wait for them to come back.
Scarlette I agree with you about turning down an invitation. I just dont know where normal circumstances end and this show begins.
I dont know if its about the guys being rich enough. I just think some couples vacation separately and some do not. I personally need my alone time. Actually I need a lot of it but I will not force other couples to do things the way I do them. I’m also not saying Vicki is wrong. I honestly do not ever know what to believe with Vicki. My feeling is she didnt want Simon there or Slade there. If it was just Jim she may not have freaked out. Simon doesnt like her. Slade doesnt like her. I can understand her not being happy that 2 guys that do not like her showed up. Props to Lynn for handling things so well.
They are all idiots, so this is kind of a non-debate….
I can’t really comprehend why women put up with men who “don’t allow” them do do something like travel alone..
That said, the women didn’t seem to mind that thier husbands were there at all. I don’t that in this instance the husbands were forcing thier will on the wives, so why did Vicky have to make such a big deal out of it? Everyone else seemed to be having fun. She sounded like a petulant 12 year old saying OVER AND OVER “no boys allowed”. Grow the f up!
By the way, I have to disagree with the snarky comments regarding Jim’s business as a pawnbroker: It IS legal and at least he is providing for his kids…hmmm, Slade???
i just think that vickie is right on this one…
if the other girls wanted a get a way with their men, they should plan their own trip. this trip was vickies idea.. her thing.. alexis is a little ridiculous, and so is her relationship.. her husband is a controlling perv.
Hi Mark:
Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
We agree on one thing: this show is not about normal circumstances or at least normal people acting normally.
If anything, Vicki now knows that if she invites Alexis and/or Tamra, she will have to expect that Jim and/or Simon will show up. Same thing goes for Gretchen & Slade. Whatever.
I am guessing that BravoTV is feeding into this drama by giving Vicki information about what’s coming down and later, she is getting different info from someone else.
Read her blog, she gives the scenario there on what happened.
btw, regarding pawnbrokers/pawn shops: prostitution is legal in Nevada too.
I have to agree with Vicki totally on this topic. Jim, Simon and Slade have a definite creepiness factor, especially Jim. A Girls Weekend is simply that, as is a Girls Night. Alexis is a creepy addition, IMO. I do not believe for one minute Alexis had no clue it was a Girls weekend. I agree with so much of all said here. My husband and I have traveled separately and together for over 22 years with no problems! So did my parents! This is beyond silly, to me! I have to say~TEAM VICKI!
Scarlet you sold me on the trip. The ladies should have just declined if Vicki did not want their men to come along. I assume Vicki knew they were coming outside of Slade via her talk with Don. I just remember Vicki freaking out in the past when Jenna brought Frankie on a trip so I had flashbacks to her controlling who can be where when type of personality.
Regarding Pawn Stores they arent what they were 30 years ago. When I worked for the Principal EGT we actually took a franchise of pawn stores public. on Nasdaq They are basically around to get quick cash on used items nowadays. Not much different than many second hand stores.
Vicki did state from the very beginning that it was a girl’s weekend. I have been in this very situation before, we planned a girl’s weekend to Vegas and my friend’s husband had to come. It definitely threw off the vibe big time. Not because we were up to no good or cheating, etc. but it alters the conversation. When you hang out w/ girlfriends it’s to get away and have a good time and bond with your friends. All of these couples could easily plan a couple’s trip. The husbands are just really creepy and possessive. I think Slade is a douche and just came because there was an opportunity but he doesn’t strike me as controlling or having a problem with Gretchen doing things alone. Jim has to be one of the grossest guys, he dresses horribly, is chunky and acts like a total pig to his wife. Simon is just a total jerk and even though I think Tamra is classless, a husband shouldn’t point out her flaws, he chose to be with her. I hate to say it but Vicki is totally right about this, she said it from the very beginning that it was a girl’s trip. It’s rude to change a host’s plans IMO!
JIM AND SIMON HAVE TO GO EVERYWHERE WITH THEIR WIVES BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO PARANOID AND INSECURE THAT THEY WILL EITHER STRAY OR SOMEONE WILL HIT ON THEM WHILE NOT IN THEIR PRESENCE! SLADE IS A HUMAN LEACH WHO JUST WANTED THE FREE VACATION.
TO PUT IT SIMPLY:
WHOEVER PLANNED THE TRIP AND PAID FOR THE ROOMS AND THE VACATION SETS THE INVITES. IF BRAVO PAID WHICH IS THE LIKELY EVEN THEN THEY ALL COULD GO AND VICKI NEEDS TO BUTT OUT!
MY FINAL TAKE:
IT’S REALLY SAD WHEN THEY MUST RESORT TO BICKERING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE MEN BEING INVITED OR NOT INVITED ON THE TRIP. DO ALL OF THEM REALLY HAVE THAT “LITTLE” GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES TO MAKE THIS SUCH A BIG ISSUE?
WHERE THE CAST SHOULD GO FROM HERE:
OFF A CLIFF!
I heard that Alexis got pregnant on that trip with her and Jim’s fourth child. It is supposed to come out in one of the next few episodes along with their visit to her doc. Heard this from a reliable source.
Mark:
Thanks for the update regarding pawn shops. I do know that the honest ones have databases that link to the FBI to make certain that they do not sell stolen merchandise.
In any event, if Jim were so successful in pawning, then he should have had no trouble paying for a couple’s weekend to coincide with Vicki’s girl’s weekend.
If Jim & Simon are having to come along with their wives on trips etc, it not just because they are insecure and paranoid. They obviously are.
They also have too much time on their hands.
Cornocopia:
What’s really amazing is that he called the mother of his children a “piece of meat” on the boat cruise.
Very romantic, don’t cha think!
Jim is just creepy to me, and yes, Scarlette, I did hear him call his wife “a piece of meat.” What a class act!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Hi Dyana
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
btw, its my understanding that Alexis’ sympathizers are running around the internet trying to deflect attention off her and Jim’s behavior and recast their pal in the best light possible.
Thank-You Scarlette, Back at Ya, My Reality Tea Gossip Reply Blogger Friend.
We have agreed to disagree in the past, I have always respected your opinion as I have all the others that post on this site..Wish you the Best!
Shouldn’t Simon be out looking for a job, instead of controlling his wife?
I normally don’t agree with Vicki but I do agree with her on this. These men live with their wives and see them all the time…..it’s just strange and weird the way they control their wives.
But if Alexis and Tamra are stupid enough to put up with it (which they are) then they deserve it. Both guys are not the greatest husbands to begin with and they treat their wives like children. I see no real respect between these couples.
That probably explains why Tamra is so psycho crazy and drinks so much, she has no control over her own life so she takes her frustrations out on everyone else.
I think Jim and Simon are skeevy.
The men should have known to back off when they found out that Vicky’s husband wouldn’t be there, but that’s not Jim’s and Simon’s style. They are both cut from the same cloth. Jealous, controlling, chauvanistic and extremely boring.
Slade was the first to take the opportunity to gossip about Vicky like a little girl. He’s jealous that she can take care of herself and he has resorted to being a hustler.
Vicky shouldn’t have acted so much like a martyr. The women shouldn’t have pushed her so much either. They all wanted the whole thing to escalate.
These women don’t know the first thing about friendship and so none of this surprises me. They aren’t even friends w/ their spouses.
Jim is an embarassment. He acts like he’s a rich, classy guy when all he does is buy his wife off w/ ugly jewelry that he refashions from pawned granny jewels. The last necklace he made for her probably cost him all of $100. She pays a high price for that crap w/ her dignity and youth. Her life is over. She better hopes she croaks so she can start over w/ a guy her own age. He demands perfection from his wife even though he probably hasn’t hit the gym in decades.
Well said puhp.. As I said before Jim gives me the creeps, He is shady! Simon is condecending,and at times arrogant.Slade is just a jackass!
Is anyone else sick of seeing Alexis Bellino’s nipples in every shot she is in? Doesn’t she own a bra or atleast nipple petals…none of these Bravo ladies have any class.
But Tootsie — Alexis is a good Christian woman! Showing your nipples and being so vain must be bylaws of the Holy Roller church she belongs to? Maybe dressing like a whore is her way of worshiping God?
Lizzie- You’re right!
I can’t imagine the hinges not falling right off the church doors if she walked thru wearing any of the outfits she’s worn on the show.
A lady can dress nice without being trashy, most of the viewers are women and we really don’t care about her boobs and nipples.
Just class it up a bit, The way she is presenting herself she looks like a stripper.
LoL Lizzie..I was waiting for a response from you!
I like Alexis. How somebody dresses isn’t an issue for me. She hasnt said anything overly mean that I can remember. Her type of marriage with Jim may not be for everyone or even most people but if it works for them I have no problem with it.
I think it was a little silly for the husbands to just HAVE to tag along. I did feel sorry for Vicki. She just wanted it to be a fun girls vacation and they had to come and ruin it. I like Simon, I think he is smart and getting tired of the drama he has to hear about constantly from Tamra. I still like her too, though. I’m starting to like Vicki again now too. I’m not sure what I think about Gretchen. She was really annoying during the motorcycle class she went to and I CANT STAND Slade. He is such a wannabe and is so pathetic. I think all he does all day is lay around on his couch and watch himself on TV, and then go places with Gretchen to make sure he’s getting filmed.
Lizzie we have had our moments in the past, but you are funny as all outdoors. Got me spilling coffee on my keyboard.lol. Damn gal
RE:
Alexis is a good Christian woman! Showing your nipples and being so vain must be bylaws of the Holy Roller church she belongs to? Maybe dressing like a whore is her way of worshiping God.
I also love the pull the dress down. Then the piece of meat comment was like whoa.lol. Vicki was right though. Lynne felt like a third wheel on the cruise with her imaginary vicoden induced Frank.lol.
Jenny — you and I think alike when it comes to Alexis. She’s yukky and her husband is … I’m at a loss for words to describe him. That dork is lucky he’s got such a superficial wife, because in my neighborhood, calling a woman a piece of meat would get him a nice foot in the privates.
Maybe Lynne should have given some of her vicodin to Vicky — at least they could both have had imaginary friends to hang out with.
Sorry, but I disagree with all of you. Don’t you remember last season’s girls trip to Vegas when Vicki was hanging all over the men at the bar telling them her boobs wanted to come out to play???? Doesn’t seem like Vicki & Donn ever go on vacation together, seems more like a marriage of convenience.
If they had gone somewhere closer than maybe I can understand girls only, but not when you fly across the entire country.
And seriously, are we to believe that Vicki planned the girls weekend or was it really Bravo who planned & paid for trip?
I completely agree with Scarlett about the Bellino’s being so Christian…it’s all an act. I have never seen Christians that bash people the way that Alexis bashes Vicki. She showed no appreciation at the fact that Vicky wanted to invite her to spend time with the girls, she didn’t try to make Vicky feel inclusive in the cruise (emphasize that she is not a 3rd wheel, etc.). I find the Bellino’s to be materialistic, self-centered and FAKE. I am wtih VICKY on this one!!!!!!!!
Two unemployed losers and a smarmy pawnbroker. Did they and their partners escape from some cheesy 80s porn flick?
For once, I side with Vicki.
IF THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A GIRL’S TRIP, THEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GIRL’S TRIP. IF U COULD NOT COME ALONE, THEN YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE COME. VICKIE SHOULD HAVE MADE THAT PLAIN AND SIMPLE. I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME WOMEN. *ITCHES SURE KNOW HOW TO SPOIL THE FUN. TACKHEADS
does anyone know why slade’s shorts were soaking wet after golfing with the guys on the girl’s trip? it was gross. only the butt of his shorts were wet as he went into the restaurant.
Simon has a different take to the trip and Vicki in general in his new blog.
http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-orange-county/blogs/simon-barney/stick-to-the-facts
“Let’s stick to the facts! I have no problem with my wife going on a “girls trip.” Didn’t she go to Vegas last year, and San Diego with the girls the year before? According to Tamra, on both trips there was one housewife whose behavior as a married woman was inappropriate. So no! I don’t approve of my wife going on a girls trip with that housewives anymore. Then add the fact that Vicki is the only housewife trying to disrupt and interfere with my marriage.”
“Back to Florida – I have to say I was not looking forward to this trip. Unfortunately, this was the only vacation my wife and I were going to be able to take this year, so spending it with Vicki was not on the top of my vacation list. We would have preferred to vacation with our kids or just the two of us. One thing nice about our relationship is we do enjoy each other’s company.
During the trip you see Vicki get upset every time she isn’t in control, or when it came to the guys. The funny thing is this was never a girls only trip. To tell the truth, Jim, Donn and I were invited by the staff (not Vicki) once our wives expressed that we don’t take vacations apart. Vicki labeled it “girls trip” when she didn’t want Donn to go. We have all seen Vicki tell him, “you’re not invited” in the past. Unfortunately she doesn’t realize how much it hurts his feelings. I actually had no plans to be on film in Florida and went at Tamra’s request to give her support.”
Puleeeze! Simon is such a tool! Bravo paid for that trip to Florida so for him to act like it was a vacation that he was entitled to is ridiculous!
Hey Simon, maybe if you got a job that pays you could actually take your wife on a vacation, what a concept!?!?!
Jim, Simon and Slade wanted to mooch off of Bravo. Interesting how Don (who is financially stable and can afford his own vacations) had no interest in going on a trip that involved cameras following him everywhere. Don is the only normal one of this bunch.
I love how Simon acts like the girls trip would somehow corrupt Tamra. Newsflash Simon, your wife was a whore long before being on this show and no amount of your supervision will prevent it.
Yep, yep and yep! Anna, you called this one I think.
Simon IS a tool. He couldn’t afford that vacation so he cashed in on the Bravo freebie. The same is true of Jim and Slade — they’re all freeloaders.
I could be mistaken, but wasn’t Tamra dancing like a tramp on the trip to Vegas — or was that Gretchen and Lynne? Tamra dresses like a street ho all the time, so if Simon is worried about how his wife is perceived by the public, maybe he should start with her closet?
I am def. Team Vicki on this one, which I think comes across in my own blog on the subject!
The tough part is that everyone has a valid viewpoint of this…even Simon’s blog makes sense in some weird way!
I have had friends that want to have “girls nights” all the time, especially when they are single, and they do not respect the fact that you have a significant other. It’s annoying.
At what point are you on your “girls trip” and you look around and realize everyone else is 20 years younger than you are??
In the same breath, you know Bravo wants the drama, so with all of the tension, I am SURE they were happy to have the boys come.
I felt bad for Vicki, but I also think the reason Donn didn’t want to go is because she is so mean to him…
This was such a weird episode.
At one point Alexis actually tells Gretchen that in order for her husand and she to not have temptation, they need in essence be with each other all the time….its during the “godly” talk.
And Gretchen is the only one that calls that one out.
She should know, she went to a Christian school. Isn’t it obvious?