Katie Ginella admits being on “The Real Housewives of Orange County” has not been easy. The 41-year-old newcomer says she feels she is “held to a higher standard” than her castmates and described being “eaten alive” during the season 18 reunion.
Katie Ginella Claims She Is Being Held to a ‘Higher Standard’
“[I thought], ‘I’m gonna come in and apologize and maybe I can get some apologies too and we can try to move forward,’” Ginella told Us Weekly. “The things with Emily [Simpson] were very unfortunate … [But] I just feel like a lot of this is me being held to a higher standard and a different set of rules than everybody else.”
Ginella explained that she often struggled to find her footing with the group, particularly after her friendship with Jennifer Pedranti ended during season 19. “I just think they don’t know me, and they’re always moving the goal posts of what’s okay and what’s not okay,” she added.
Despite hoping to make amends at last year’s reunion, Ginella admitted she was unprepared. “I was eaten alive. So that was me going into this season, my second season, is I’ve gotta be more prepared,” she said. “I made some mistakes that I’ve definitely learned from that I cannot do again.”
RHOC Star Talks Lie Detector Drama and Reunion Plans
Much of Ginella’s storyline in season 19 centered around a lie detector test organized by Simpson. During two episodes that aired on August 28 and September 4, the test called into question Ginella’s claim that Gretchen Rossi once confided she had been drugged by Tamra Judge during the infamous “naked wasted” party in season 4.
Although Rossi denied Ginella’s account and the test indicated she was truthful, Ginella’s own answers were flagged as deceptive. Heather Dubrow called her “the boy who cried wolf,” while Simpson bluntly told her, “Katie, you clearly lie!”
Ginella insisted she told the truth. “This has got to be wrong. I’ll take it again, because I know 1,000% I told the truth, wholeheartedly,” she said in a confessional. She later told producers it was “extremely hurtful” that Pedranti did not back her up.
After the episodes aired, Ginella doubled down in an interview with E! News, suggesting the examiners were “actors” and reiterating her hope for a fresh start. “For me to have that moment where I get to have real conversations with these women and possibly build real friendships and not these weird surface ones,” she said.
She also confirmed she plans to attend the season 19 reunion and BravoCon, and hinted at a potential return for season 20. “I think maybe there’s a possibility of a fresh start after the reunion,” Ginella said. “This show is about conflict resolution and I think I’m owed some apologies. I’ve given enough out.”
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
