RHOC: What Really Started Shannon Beador And Tamra Judge's Years-Long Feud

Season 17 of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" is set to premiere on June 7, and fans are chomping at the bit to see all of the drama unfold between the ultimate Housewives frenemies, Shannon Beador and Tamra Judge. As you may recall, Judge made her debut on the famous Bravo franchise way back in 2007 during Season 3, but Beador didn't arrive on the scene until much later in 2014 during Season 9. Still, the pair became fast friends. "Tamra and I have a long history of really going deep with each other. I mean, I witnessed Tamra getting baptized, she helped me officially take my wedding ring off, I gave her an enema, I have traveled with her. I have never laughed more with a person in my life," Beador recalled during a Season 17 preview. But that's not all. They even joined forces with self-professed "OG of the OC" and resident whoop-it-up fun girl Vicki Gunvalson to create what is now widely known as "the Tres Amigas." 

Sadly, by 2020, Judge had been let go from the reality series, and the reality television friendship fizzled as well. But now, amid Judge's highly anticipated return to the series for Season 17, fans are waiting with bated breath to watch the dynamic between the famous friends turned foes play out. But what started the years-long feud between Beador and Judge anyway?

That's showbiz, baby! To hear Shannon Beador tell it, the years-long feud stems from Tamra Judge's dismissal from "The Real Housewives of Orange County. During a sneak preview of Season 17, when pressed by fellow "RHOC" cast member Emily Simpson for a reason regarding the demise of Beador and Judge's close friendship, Beador answered matter of factly, "She got fired." Still, Beador was adamant that she tried to keep the friendship intact even after Judge was let go from her Bravo Housewife duties. "I remember there were a couple of days where we didn't connect, but an attempt was made," she recalled. But that's not all. During a "Watch What Happens Live" appearance when asked about Judge's accusations that Beador had cut off all contact with her once she was let go, Beador was quick to refute the claim. "It is not true, and I have text messages to show that. I just choose not to engage in the public. I absolutely was there," she maintained.

But as we all know, there are three sides to every story: your side, my side, and the truth, and as it turns out, Judge has her own version of events regarding the dissolution of their friendship and subsequent years-long feud.

Is Shannon Beador a fair-weather friend? According to Tamra Judge, her friendship with Shannon Beador came to a grinding halt because Beador wasn't there for her when she needed her the most following her "Real Housewives Orange County" firing. "All I've ever said is that she stopped talking to me shortly after I got let go (Vicki too) & how bad it hurt me when I needed her most," she penned in an Instagram comment. "I was always there for you. IF THE TRUTH HURTS SO BE IT! You s**t on me! That's why you can't keep friends," she continued. "I spent so many years talking you off a cliff all hours of the night! Protecting you, doing your dirty work, making [excuses] for you. Shame on me!" Yikes!

Fortunately, it appears that Beador and Judge are friendly again — for now, anyway. As evidenced by both of their Instagram accounts, the OC ladies have been enjoying each other's presence... and, yes, whooping it up together. On May 17, Beador posted a photo of herself, Judge, and Vicki Gunvalson enjoying a night out in Newport Beach along with the caption, "Tres Amigas!!! Always a fun time with these two!" Perhaps this will be the season that Beador and Judge bury the hatchet once and for all!