RHOC Season 20 Cast Confirmed; Gretchen Rossi Not Included After Brief Return

Gretchen Rossi’s highly anticipated return to The Real Housewives of Orange County RHOC turned out to be far shorter than fans expected.

As Bravo prepares to begin filming the 20th season of the original Housewives city, the cast has now been finalized — and Gretchen is not included.

When news first broke that Rossi would return in a “friend of” role, longtime fans were excited. Many hoped she would reignite old drama, especially with Tamra Judge, and possibly work her way back into a full-time position. At first, it seemed like Rossi was making a strong case for herself.

But things quickly took a turn.

According to Variety, Gretchen — who originally appeared on RHOC from seasons 4 through 8 — will not be part of the upcoming season. Her exit comes shortly after Katie Ginella also confirmed she was not asked back as a full-time Housewife, making Rossi the second confirmed departure tied to Season 20 casting decisions.

Gretchen’s season ended in controversy after castmate Gina Kirschenheiter presented screenshots at the final dinner in Amsterdam, allegedly showing Gretchen liking a series of unfavorable posts on social media in 2023. The reveal blindsided Gretchen, who insisted she did not like the posts and claimed she was being set up.

Things escalated when Gretchen reportedly hired a company to allegedly prove the screenshots were doctored. While she vehemently denied any involvement, the damage appeared to be done in the eyes of both the cast and viewers.

Interestingly, sources say her non-return isn’t officially tied to the controversy itself. Andy Cohen even complimented Gretchen at the reunion, saying she did a “good job defending herself.” Still, insiders suggest Bravo ultimately got what they needed from her brief return.

“Much like Alexis Bellino the year before, Bravo got what they wanted out of her — they used her, and tossed her aside,” Radar Online reported.

With Gretchen officially out, Season 20 will move forward with a largely familiar lineup. Shannon Beador, Emily Simpson, Heather Dubrow, Jennifer Pedranti, Gina Kirschenheiter, Vicki Gunvalson, and Tamra Judge are all expected to remain part of the cast.