“Real Housewives of Orange County” star Gretchen Rossi came to fiancé Slade Smiley’s defense amid questions about his finances during part one of the highly anticipated season 19 reunion.
Slade’s Contributions to Their Relationship
This isn’t the first time Gretchen has had to come to Slade’s defense over his finances.
During Heather Dubrow’s glamorous sleepover from “RHOC” season 9, episode 11, Gretchen was grilled by the other housewives about Slade and his contributions.
Emily Simpson asked if she and Slade “have everything financially separate now.” Heather brought up joint bank accounts.
“We’ve never done that,” Gretchen said. “I’ve always liked to have my own money. My home is in my name. I’ve always been very strict about that. I never wanted a man to be able to control me financially.”
After Gretchen explained that Slade “doesn’t pay rent,” Heather asked her, “does he pay for anything?”
“I feel like this is weird questioning,” Gretchen responded, clearly uncomfortable.
During the first part of the reunion, Gretchen opened up to host Andy Cohen on Slade’s career. “Well, he’s a consultant, and he also sits on the Liberace foundation board.”
Gretchen explained that Slade is connected to Liberace because he’s friends with Jonathan Warren, who runs the foundation.
Gretchen Reveals Why She Hasn’t Married Slade
Although Gretchen proposed to Slade during “RHOC” season 8, and the two now share daughter Skylar Gray, they have not legally married more than a decade later.
Heather claimed on the September 18 episode that they didn’t get married because Slade was “trying to get caught up on some of [his] back debt,” and she didn’t “wanna take it on” through a marriage to him. This led to some of the other housewives questioning the realness of Slade and Gretchen’s relationship during season 19.
“Whatever your relationship is with Slade is absolutely your business,” Heather clarified during the reunion. “The only reason it was even a conversation is because we were talking about getting married, and you said you couldn’t marry him because of financial reasons. That was never going to be on the table. And then you got engaged. That’s why we thought it was fake.”
“That was a very real moment for me. To be there, getting engaged to the man I love…I wanted to show that man how much I loved him. That’s what that was about,” said Gretchen.
When Andy asked Gretchen during the reunion whether she would ever legally marry Slade, Gretchen answered, “I mean, I’m ready whenever. I just don’t think that’s something that we wake up every day talking about.”
Jennifer Pedranti pointed out that Gretchen “is married in God’s eyes” because she and Slade “had a ceremony” with an ordained pastor in 2022.
Gretchen had to clarify, “well, we didn’t go down to the courthouse and get like legal paperwork, but we did have the ceremony. And Skylar was there, and it was very special for us.”
Gretchen Shows off Their Relationship Online
Gretchen isn’t shy when it comes to posting about her and Slade’s relationship on Instagram:
