Tamra Judge doubles down on claims that her RHOC co-star Shannon Beador is an 'alcoholic'

Tamra Judge is stirring up some drama ahead of the newest season of the Real Housewives of Orange County. She recently affirmed her belief that her co-star, Shannon Beador, has serious issues with alcohol. 

This all came out after Tamra shared a preview clip where she’s chatting with Heather Dubrow about whether Shannon might be drinking too much. Emily Simpson also jumped in and questioned Shannon about her drinking habits right after her DUI and hit-and-run arrest.

With the show’s 18th season just around the corner, Tamra dropped this teaser on her Instagram, sparking a wave of comments from fans. One viewer didn’t hold back, saying: “It’s clear to everyone apart from Shannon that she is an alcoholic. I believe she is also very narcissistic because she would have accepted that and got help a long time ago if she didn’t continue to live in denial and blame everyone else for her [behavior].” 

Tamra hit back with a simple "Agree," showing she’s not backing down on her stance.

The conversation didn’t just stop at calling out Shannon’s drinking. Fans got pretty vocal about how the show handles sensitive issues like addiction. Some pointed out the irony of the entire cast drinking, yet singling out Shannon. 

Tamra made it clear there’s a big difference between having a few drinks and battling alcoholism. She stressed: “there’s nothing wrong with drinking” but “a lot wrong with being an alcoholic.”

Tamra Judge navigates backlash from RHOC fans

A few fans expressed discomfort with the idea of exploiting Shannon’s struggles for TV drama on RHOC. One fan said if Shannon’s alcoholism is real, then it's wrong for Bravo and the cast to use her situation for a storyline. 

They even threatened to stop watching the show. Tamra responded firmly: “Nobody is using her for a storyline. She CHOSE to return to the show. She knew it was going to be a topic of conversation.”

Discussions also touched on how the show's dynamics might affect mental health perceptions. A viewer mentioned how sad it was to watch Shannon’s issues play out on screen, criticized by those who are supposed to be her friends. 

Yet, Tamra suggested that if the show was too much for Shannon, maybe stepping away to focus on recovery could be a better choice. Tamra also had to clap back at a viewer who accused her of focusing her entire season around Shannon’s drinking. 

“Actually I’m not. But thanks for your [uneducated] opinion," she sharply retorted.

It’s clear this season will delve into these intense personal issues, promising lots of raw conversations and maybe a few resolutions. 

The new season of RHOC kicks off on July 11, and it looks like it’s going to be a rollercoaster.