Teddi Mellencamp Finds Humor in Romance Speculation After Health Update

Teddi Mellencamp is playfully engaging with those who are overly scrutinizing her romantic pursuits.

Just two days after Page Six published images of her strolling with former beau Ricci Rea, Mellencamp, aged 44, revealed to cohost Tamra Judge during the October 9th Thursday installment of iHeartRadio’s “Two T’s in a Pod” podcast that she considered the whole affair “quite amusing.”

“It’s hilarious to me that we’re simply out for a stroll and suddenly everyone is proclaiming, ‘Teddi’s former partner has returned, mere days after her health announcements related to cancer,’” she remarked in a jesting tone.

Judge, 58, also poked fun at the scenario, drawing attention to Mellencamp’s casual attire of a jumpsuit, athletic shoes, and a baseball cap.

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“Indeed, nobody could claim that image was pre-arranged, because if it had been, you certainly wouldn't have chosen that particular ensemble,” she stated.

“Honestly, considering both my attire and his facial hair, it makes for quite an awkward predicament,” Mellencamp concurred.

Mellencamp and Rea were initially seen together in June, with his identity only being confirmed the subsequent month. However, shortly after Rea’s name surfaced publicly, Mellencamp declared she had “ended their involvement.”

Rea marked Mellencamp’s initial known romantic connection following her separation from Edwin Arroyave after a 13-year marriage. They are parents to Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, 5.

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She mentioned in July that she concluded her relationship with Rea upon realizing it was progressing to a more serious stage.

“Currently, it began reaching a level where it was becoming somewhat more significant. I felt, ‘I lack the emotional bandwidth for this at present,’” she clarified. “He is an exceptionally kind individual, truly as good-natured as they come.”

While Mellencamp is currently reserved about their association, she shared a self-portrait on her Instagram Story with him on Thursday, accompanied by the caption, “Merely a midday meal.”

“These are truly preliminary stages, and it's simply comforting to have his presence, knowing he's such a decent person,” Mellencamp confided to Judge. “And yes, I have been, truthfully, I’ve been out on dates continuously. It's just that I was photographed by paparazzi looking like — I mean, I’m dressed in a single-piece outfit.”

As Mellencamp noted, this recent turn in her romantic affairs follows just days after she shared significant health updates on her podcast.

“To provide a brief personal update to all of you, I underwent my immunotherapy yesterday and subsequent scans,” she stated on the October 3rd episode. “And as of now, no cancer is discernible.”

She further mentioned that she intends to continue immunotherapy treatment for an additional year.

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“I am not classified as being in remission or similar status,” she clarified. “Upon receiving the news, I was utterly stunned. I felt, in a way, paralyzed.”

Mellencamp initially disclosed her stage II melanoma diagnosis in October 2022. By February, she had surgery when the cancer progressed to stage IV and spread to her pulmonary and cerebral tissues.

“I will continue to experience days of illness and similar sensations because I am still undergoing immunotherapy. Therefore, I am still engaged in this battle,” she elaborated. “According to their explanation, it involves a year, then two years, and then after three years, one can officially be classified as being in remission.”