20 Years of RHOC: After Katie Ginella, fan-favourite Gretchen Rossi exits The Real Housewives of Orange County season 20

As The Real Housewives of Orange County prepares to mark two decades on air, one familiar face will not be part of the celebration. Gretchen Rossi, long considered one of the franchise's most talked-about stars, is officially stepping away once again - and this time, it's ahead of the show's milestone 20th season.

The decision follows her brief reappearance in season 19, where she returned in a "friend of the cast" role after years away from the Bravo spotlight. For many viewers, her comeback hinted at a possible long-term revival. Instead, it has turned into a short-lived encore.





Gretchen's history with RHOC spans multiple eras of the show. She held an orange as a full-time Housewife between 2008 and 2013, later resurfacing for a guest appearance during season 12. Her season 19 return marked her most significant involvement since then - and reignited old conversations around legacy cast members and unfinished storylines.

But behind the scenes, her return was anything but straightforward.





Gretchen has been candid about how reluctant she was to re-enter the reality TV world she once dominated. In a July 2025 appearance on the I Do, Part 2 podcast, she explained that saying yes took years - and multiple refusals.

"For a long time, it was an absolute no," she said, reflecting on the intense scrutiny she and fiancé Slade Smiley faced during her original run.

"We definitely needed that break. We got scrutinized a lot," Gretchen said. "This round, they called and approached us. When they called, I actually said, 'No.'"



Her resistance didn't end there. "I honestly said no three times. They kept making offers, and I said, 'No, no, no,'" she continued. "Finally, they ended up making an offer that we couldn't refuse, and we felt good about. That's why we decided to finally say 'yes.' That's the honest truth."

Season 19, then, was less a reboot and more a carefully negotiated return - one that now appears to have reached its natural conclusion.



Gretchen isn't the only cast member stepping away as RHOC enters its next chapter. Just weeks earlier, Katie Ginella confirmed that she would not be part of season 20, ending her two-season run on the series.

"After two seasons as a cast member on RHOC, the network has decided to move forward with season 20 without me," Katie wrote in an Instagram post shared on January 9.

"While disappointing, it's not entirely surprising after seeing how season 19 played out."



"I'm incredibly grateful for the love and support I received - it was seen, felt and deeply appreciated. Representation matters, and I'm proud to have shown up authentically, even when it wasn't easy. This chapter may be closing, but my voice and my story don't end here. Love, Katie."



Despite the exits, the core of the season 19 ensemble is expected to remain intact. Tamra Judge, Gina Kirschenheiter, Heather Dubrow, Shannon Storms Beador, Emily Simpson, and Jennifer Pedranti are all anticipated to return as RHOC moves into its landmark year.

Adding to the nostalgia factor, original Housewife Vicki Gunvalson is also set to rejoin the cast lineup. Her return was publicly confirmed at BravoCon 2025, where executive producer Andy Cohen presented her with an orange onstage.





Vicki's relationship with the franchise runs deeper than any other cast member. She was a full-time presence for the show's first 13 seasons before transitioning into a "friend" role in season 14. In January 2020, she formally announced her exit.



"I will always be the OG of the OC, but it's time to say goodbye to The Real Housewives of Orange County. It's been an incredible ride for 14 years and I want thank all of you for your support, for your love and for 'whooping it up' with me along the way," she wrote at the time.

Now, with season 20 on the horizon, her return underscores Bravo's focus on legacy as much as evolution.



Vicki is currently filming The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th, a special created to commemorate two decades of the Housewives franchise. The project brings together stars from across cities, including Kyle Richards from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Teresa Giudice from The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

As RHOC enters its 20th season with shifting cast dynamics, one thing is clear: while the faces may change, the franchise shows no signs of slowing down.