Katie Ginella is grateful to have found an unexpected friendship with Tamra Judge.
“We never actually hated each other. We had some tiffs, but actually, if you look back, we never actually fought,” Katie, 41, exclusively shared with Us Weekly while hosting a Real Housewives of Orange County reunion watch party on Thursday, November 6. “We kind of always respected each other, even though we weren’t close.”
Looking back, Katie believes her friendship with Jennifer Pedranti may have prevented her from getting close to Tamra, 58.
“When Jennifer was kind of out of the picture, then we were really getting to know each other, and I appreciated that she came back and was like, ‘I want to hear your side,’” Katie explained. “That was amazing. Nobody else wanted to hear my side.”
It’s time to whoop it up because Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Judge are officially friends again. In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, The Real Housewives of Orange County stars confirmed they have put any and all drama behind them to start fresh as friends, sisters and soulmates. “We’ve had a lot of ups and […]
During season 19 of the Bravo reality show, Katie stepped away from the group after failing a lie detector test set up by Emily Simpson. Many cast members questioned if they could trust Katie and expressed not wanting to film with her.
According to Katie, Tamra reached out long before the show even aired and the cast received feedback from viewers.
“A lot of the doubters say that we’re only friends because they read the comments. But Tamra came to me actually in the middle of the season when she wouldn’t have seen any comments,” Katie explained while wearing a Nadine Merabi dress. “I think that she has felt like the underdog a lot, and she saw me get a pile on, and kind of felt bad for me. I think she felt bad for what happened between the two of us, and we talk every day, so it’s really nice.”
Jo De La Rosa, Tamra Judge, Alexis Bellino, Katie Ginella Courtesy of Alexis Bellino/Instagram
On Thursday night, part one of the season 19 reunion kicked off on Bravo. Katie and Tamra invited fans of the show to a watch party at Even House in Tustin, California. Special guests included Jo De La Rosa, Alexis Bellino and Mike Shay serving as DJ.
Before taping the reunion, Katie explained that she “wanted to get some apologies” and “clear some things up because I had kind of been silenced.”
“I am hopeful with a couple of the girls, but I think most of the apologies that I got were damage control,” Katie explained. “I don’t think they were genuine.”
When part two airs on Thursday, November 13, Katie’s husband, Matt Ginella, will join the ladies on the couch.
According to Katie, Gretchen Rossi and Jennifer’s partners were also invited to attend. However, both Slade Smiley and Ryan Boyajian declined.
Gretchen, 47, previously told Us at the 2025 Gurus Awards that Slade, 52, declined because, “He’s like, ‘I don’t want to do that. Why am I gonna keep putting myself in a situation where you guys say I want to be involved in this one? I really don’t want to be involved in this.’”
When Matt got the invite to attend the taping with Andy Cohen, Katie said he had a different reaction.
“Matt goes, ‘I’m f***ing coming because I didn’t lie and me showing up proves that. They’re too scared to show up,’” Katie recalled. “So Matt came.”
Although there is plenty more drama to unfold in season 19, fans are already curious to see what a possible season 20 could look like. For now, Katie is open to whatever happens.
“I went into the reunion thinking I have nothing to lose this year,” she said. “If they don’t ask me back, they don’t want me, and that’s OK. I feel like I said my peace and I was done. I would love to come back to prove to these ladies that I deserve a spot just as much as they do.”
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs on Bravo Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET. Stream old episodes anytime on Peacock.