Tamra Judge is setting the record straight on one of the most talked-about moments of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” season 19. The longtime Bravo star reunited with Katie Ginella despite disapproval from her castmates, and both women are now sharing why the meeting was more significant than anyone realized.
Tamra Judge Explains Why She Met With Katie Ginella
Judge’s decision to meet with Ginella came shortly after Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley alleged that Judge had an “affair” with a boy band member about 15 years ago. Those claims reignited her determination to clear the air about other accusations made during the group’s trip to New Orleans.
On season 19, episode 14, Judge and Ginella met to talk privately. “I’m just trying to figure out what the truth is,” Judge told Ginella, referring to their mutual “odd man out” status in the group.
In a confessional, Judge admitted she had hesitated about the meeting but ultimately trusted her instincts. “What she did wasn’t right, but I don’t think that Katie’s, like, some sociopath liar. She apologized to me and she’s being honest to me. So, I’m gonna take that for what it is and hear her story,” Judge explained.
Later in the episode, Judge told Jenn Pedranti during Emily Simpson’s fundraising event that the conversation “went well” and that she left feeling “validated.”
When a producer questioned why Ginella suddenly seemed credible to her, Judge pointed to shifting alliances. “The more time that went on, I started thinking, and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, Gretchen and Jenn set her up.’ And now that Jenn and Gretchen have shown Katie they’re not on her side, Katie’s not sticking up for them anymore. And she’s telling me truly what happened,” she said.
During the “Real Housewives of Orange County After Show,” Judge elaborated further. “I wanted to know what else was said, how it was said, how it was presented, who heard it,” she explained. When Simpson asked why she’d believe anything Ginella said, Judge fired back, “Because I think there’s certain things you just don’t pull out of your (expletive). I think Gretchen absolutely told her that. I’m pretty good at pulling apart the (expletive).”
Katie Ginella Reflects on the Emotional Conversation
Ginella also opened up about the meeting during the After Show, calling it an important turning point. “I’m extremely happy I did that meetup with Tamra because not only does it feel good that somebody’s reaching out — even if it’s because we have something in common now — but that somebody believes me,” she said.
“Her saying, ‘I believe you,’ that meant a lot to me because this whole time it’s been, ‘You’re a liar.’ She’s like, ‘I believe you,’ and I’m like, ‘Good, because it’s the (expletive) truth,’” Ginella added.
Judge’s decision to hear Ginella out came after weeks of tension. In the previous episode, she revealed her plan to meet with Ginella during Heather Dubrow’s cake-decorating party. The announcement caught Simpson off guard, leading Judge to call out what she saw as a double standard.
“Why are they sitting down with Gretchen who’s done 100 times worse than what Katie’s done to any of them? And they’re not having a problem with her,” she told a producer. “It’s the double standards that make me sick in this group.”
Fans can catch Tamra Judge in new episodes of RHOC, Thursday nights on Bravo.
