Heather Dubrow is firing back after being accused of digging into Real Housewives of Orange County newcomer Katie Ginella’s personal life. The reality star took to Instagram to deny any involvement in uncovering details about Katie’s custody battle, after Gina Kirschenheiter claimed on Watch What Happens Live that Heather was the one who originally passed the information to Emily Simpson.
Heather Responds: “That Is Not My MO”
In a strongly worded Instagram post, Heather addressed the allegations and made it clear that she had no interest in researching or exposing anyone’s past.
“Let’s set the record straight. First of all, I do not research anyone. That is not my MO,” she wrote. “I do not have time or interest to try to dig something up on other people.”
Heather admitted to sharing an article about Katie that had been circulating among the cast before the reunion but insisted that’s where her involvement ended.
“For the reunion last year, there were a lot of stories in the media circling about Katie and some of us were sending them to each other because it was overwhelming and crazy. I did in fact send the article about Katie’s custody to Emily. I did nothing more than that, and I would never have brought this up at the reunion.”
She also said she took a moment during a commercial break to offer Katie support, not shade.
“I actually went up to Katie during the commercial break and said to her… ‘This must’ve been a very difficult time for you. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I never would’ve brought this up.’ Kids and careers are off-limits.”
Heather then questioned Gina’s motivation for bringing her into the drama on national TV.
“Not really sure why Gina chose to include me in her response on the show or make it sound salacious, but it was not.”
Gina Says Heather Was the Source
During her appearance on the August 7 episode of Watch What Happens Live, Gina was asked by Andy Cohen why she had taken issue with Katie sharing private information with Emily’s former nanny, but hadn’t held Emily equally accountable for bringing up Katie’s custody battle on air.
Gina said she had addressed it with Emily.
“I actually told Emily at the table, ‘You should apologize for digging into her past,’” she explained. “When I think something crosses the line, I say it. And I definitely thought that did.”
But then she dropped a revelation that surprised even the audience.
“You might be surprised to hear this,” Gina teased. “Emily didn’t do the research. She didn’t dig that up. She found out about it right before the reunion.”
The real source, according to Gina?
“It was Dubrow,” she said. “And I love her, but she’s the one who told Emily about it. That’s just the truth. I don’t know how she found out, maybe someone told her, but it didn’t come from Emily.”
While Heather acknowledges she sent an article, she denies doing any real “digging” or ever intending to air the information on the show. Gina, meanwhile, maintains Heather was the original source, whether intentionally or not.