Former Real Housewives of Orange County star Vicki Gunvalson is shutting down reports that she and longtime boyfriend Steve Lodge have broken up.
“This is a complete joke and not even worth commenting [on]” she said in an exclusive statement to Us Weekly just yesterday (October 26) after the rumours surfaced on social media. “But I did.”
“I have no fricking idea where this came from,” she explained, adding that she believes the rumours might have surfaced just because of a slow news day. “Someone bored trying to stir up crap.”
According to Vicki, the two are “fine” despite fans noticing that they do not follow each other on social media. She addressed the rumours head on, giving a simple explanation for their lack of public affection.
“[We] live together and live a very private romantic life,” the original RHOC cast member revealed. “We don’t follow each other on social media and haven’t for a long time, and we don’t post photos of each other – what’s the point?”
As fans of The Real Housewives of Orange County are well-aware, Vicki Gunvalson started dating Steve Lodge after her breakup from Brooks Ayers. The two got engaged on RHOC and were set to marry in April 2020, but they have since decided to put the event on hold due to the pandemic.
Vicki exits RHOC
The rumours about Vicki Gunvalson and Steve Lodge might have to do with RHOC having an otherwise lacklustre season. As previously reported, Bravo fired Vicki along with longtime Housewife Tamra Judge and the currently-airing Season 15 is the first without them. At the time, the news shocked longtime fans of the franchise who considered the “OG of the OC” untouchable.
While ratings were the worst ever for a RHOC season premiere, they have since rebounded, although the numbers (and buzz) are nowhere near the levels it was during Vicki and Tamra’s era. Therefore, it may not be a coincidence that these new rumours have surfaced and just days before a new episode is set to air, too.
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Wednesdays on Bravo.
