Gretchen Rossi’s return to The Real Housewives of Orange County is coming to an end just as quickly as it began.
The 47-year-old reality star will not appear in the show’s upcoming 20th season, Variety reported, marking a brief comeback after she rejoined the series in season 19 as a “friend” of the cast. Gretchen previously starred as a full-time Housewife from 2008 to 2013 and made a guest appearance in 2017.
She has been open about her hesitation to return to the franchise after years away.
“For a long time, it was an absolute no,” Gretchen said on the I Do, Part 2 podcast in 2025. “We definitely needed that break. We got scrutinized a lot.” She added, “I honestly said no three times. They kept making offers, and I said, ‘No, no, no.’ Finally, they ended up making an offer that we couldn’t refuse.”
Most of the season 19 cast is expected to return, along with longtime fan favorite Vicki Gunvalson, who was invited back for the milestone season by Andy Cohen. “Vicki, would you join us as a Housewife for Season 20?” he asked her onstage at BravoCon.
Gretchen’s exit follows news that Katie Ginella is also leaving the show after two seasons.
“While disappointing, it’s not entirely surprising,” Katie shared in a statement. “This chapter may be closing, but my voice and my story don’t end here.”