By Page Six | Created at 2026-08-10 20:09:23 | Updated at 2026-08-10 21:19:47
3 hours ago
Gina Kirschenheiter is coming to Shannon Beador’s defense — despite the pair once having a notoriously rocky friendship.
The “Real Housewives of Orange County” star exclusively tells Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” that she doesn’t necessarily recognize the version of Beador that former “RHOC” producer Patrick McDonald recently described as a behind-the-scenes nightmare.
In an Instagram comment, McDonald — who worked on Season 18 of the Bravo hit before leaving reality TV production to pursue a career as an OnlyFans creator and adult film star in 2025 — accused Beador of allegedly “losing her s–t” and “yelling, screaming & cussing at the producers & crew” moments before filming.
He also called her one of the “most miserable & narcissistic housewives across the entire brand.”
But Kirschenheiter isn’t ready to pile on.
“You know what? It’s hard for me to say because I only know my relationships with the producers,” she tells us. “I feel like if he’s referencing something, he’s referencing something from like a more private moment. I’ve not necessarily seen that.”
Kirschenheiter, who has had her own share of explosive moments with Beador over the years, acknowledges that she has witnessed her co-star lose her cool — but says viewers have also seen the circumstances surrounding those blowups play out on camera.
“Now have I seen Shannon have a moment? Yeah,” she says. “But … also, let’s look at what she’s gone through on this show. Do I justify it? Have I ever done it? No.”
Kirschenheiter specifically points to Season 18, which proved especially brutal for Beador as she was forced to navigate filming alongside her ex-boyfriend John Janssen and his then-girlfriend and now-wife, Alexis Bellino.
“When she’s dealing with, like, she’s afraid that her ex’s feelings … and so she’s flipping out,” Kirschenheiter says. “And they also showed all that, you know? So, that to me, what they’ve showed, what you’ve seen, is what I’ve seen.”
Beador herself recently addressed McDonald’s allegations during an appearance on Jamie Kennedy’s “Hate to Break It to Ya” podcast, insisting she was actually kind to the producer during the difficult season.
“There’s a producer who worked one season on our show and it was Season 18 when I had to film with Alexis Bellino and people, here, if they know that I’m talking about,” Beador said.
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The reality star added that she was “very withdrawn” during that period and pushed back on the claim that she mistreated the crew.
“No, mister, I cooked you dinner and sent you home with a to-go pack,” she said.
As for where Kirschenheiter and Beador stand today? Consider the former frenemies officially on good terms.
“I love Shannon. I love her,” Kirschenheiter tells us.
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo with new episode available to stream the next day on Peacock.
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