Scheana Shay Denies Spreading Gretchen Rossi Rumor Amidst RHOC Drama
Us Weekly has learned that Scheana Shay has been pulled into a conflict within The Real Housewives of Orange County, which centers on Katie Ginella and Gretchen Rossi.
The events unfolded on Thursday, September 4, when Katie was a guest on Teddi Mellencamp’s podcast, “Two Ts in a Pod.”
During the broadcast, the conversation turned to allegations Katie, 40, made to journalist KiKi Monique regarding a rumor concerning Gretchen, 46.
Teddi, 44, revealed that she had heard that Gretchen and Scheana, 40, share a close bond, and that it was purportedly Scheana who first shared the rumor about Gretchen with KiKi.
“I’ve also heard this from several individuals,” Katie informed Teddi. Teddi then added, “It’s possible many different sources could have informed KiKi.”
After the podcast episode went public, KiKi took to social media to refute these claims as baseless.
“John Cougar Mellencamp’s offspring is disseminating falsehoods about me and Scheana Shay on her podcast,” KiKi posted. “This is the most bizarre statement I’ve ever had to compose.”
KiKi elaborated on the matter to Us, stating, “I possess my own hypotheses regarding Teddi’s reasons for introducing this entirely untrue and unfounded rumor, yet unlike Teddi, I refrain from speaking solely for the sake of notoriety and engagement.”
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She continued, “It upsets me that Scheana was unnecessarily entangled in this spectacle. She was undeserving of such involvement.”
Subsequently, on Friday, September 5, Scheana publicly discussed the issue on her own podcast, "Scheananigans with Scheana Shay.”
She asserted that the allegation of her being KiKi’s informant was a “fabrication.”
“What motive would I have?” Scheana questioned, then considered the possibility of pursuing legal remedies against the accusations.
As Us has previously documented, KiKi became central to a significant plotline in season 19 of RHOC concerning a rumor that Gretchen required hospital care following the notorious Naked Wasted Party, held at Tamra Judge’s residence in season 8 back in 2013.
KiKi has consistently affirmed that Katie informed her during their 2024 lunch meeting that Gretchen had revealed being hospitalized.
KiKi subsequently relayed Katie's statements regarding the rumor to a different journalist during an unrecorded conversation. As per KiKi, that journalist then apprised Tamra, 58, of Katie's purported assertions.
Conversely, Katie has disavowed having shared the rumor with KiKi, though she acknowledged their lunch meeting. Gretchen, for her part, has refuted ever informing Katie that she was hospitalized.
Upon inquiry as to why she believed Katie persisted in denying sharing the rumor, KiKi commented, “[Katie] likely assumed I would be expendable, as who would credit my story, particularly if I continued to be branded a blogger …[which] within the Bravo community, carries a highly unfavorable connotation.”
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The journalist and digital producer further elaborated, “And for an individual such as myself, who has independently forged her career and standing, which I must add, in this specific L.A. industry as a plus-size Black woman, is exceedingly challenging without any contacts or affiliations.”
“And I achieved it entirely by myself, so to have that abruptly dismantled because someone wishes to label you a deceiver is the most distressing aspect of this situation. I am unsure why she opted to discredit me, other than perhaps viewing me as insignificant,” she concluded.
An insider acquainted with the circumstances informed Us, “There remains an unrevealed element to this narrative involving KiKi.”
