Gina Kirschenheiter was not ready to accept a harsh portrait of Shannon Beador. The Real Housewives of Orange County star said her own experiences painted a very different picture.
Their friendship had once been rocky, making her defense especially notable.
Gina says she does not recognize the Shannon Beador described by Patrick McDonald
Patrick McDonald, a former Real Housewives producer, recently criticised Beador’s alleged behavior behind the scenes. He claimed she yelled, screamed and cursed at producers before filming.
McDonald also called Beador one of the “most miserable & narcissistic housewives across the entire brand,” according to Page Six.
Kirschenheiter pushed back during an interview with Page Six’s Virtual Reali-Tea. She explained that she only knew her relationships with producers and had not witnessed those alleged incidents.
“You know what? It’s hard for me to say because I only know my relationships with the producers,” Kirschenheiter said.
She acknowledged seeing Beador lose her temper during RHOC. However, she believed viewers had also seen the circumstances behind those emotional moments.
“Now have I seen Shannon have a moment? Yeah,” Kirschenheiter said. “But … also, let’s look at what she’s gone through on this show.”
Season 18 became especially difficult for Beador, who filmed alongside ex-boyfriend John Janssen. His then-girlfriend Alexis Bellino also appeared during that challenging period.
Kirschenheiter said those circumstances mattered when viewers considered Beador’s reactions. She also stressed that the audience had seen much of what she witnessed.
Beador herself addressed McDonald’s claims during Jamie Kennedy’s Hate to Break It to Ya podcast. She insisted that she treated the producer kindly throughout Season 18.
“There’s a producer who worked one season on our show,” Beador said.
McDonald’s Beador described herself as “very withdrawn” during that period and denied mistreating the crew. She also recalled preparing food for McDonald’s.
“No, mister, I cooked you dinner and sent you home with a to-go pack,” Beador said.
Kirschenheiter confirmed that her relationship with Beador had changed considerably.
“I love Shannon. I love her,” Kirschenheiter said.
RHOC continues Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo, with episodes streaming afterward.
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