“The Real Housewives of Orange County” star Gretchen Rossi desperately tried to get Bravo to pay for an engagement ring from her boyfriend, Slade Smiley — plus a lavish trip — after her rival Tamra Barney was proposed to by Eddie Judge.
Bikini-wearing, blond Gretchen and selfproclaimed “hottest housewife” Tamra’s relationship has descended into a bitter feud over multiple seasons on the Bravo reality show, despite recent efforts to make peace.
A source told us, “The housewives are always trying to one up each other, and the engagements are just another example of that. Gretchen was trying to hustle for an engagement storyline after hearing her rival had a ring.”
We’re told that after hearing about her co-star’s proposal, Gretchen and Slade, who have been dating for three years, then tried to get Bravo to stump up the cash for their engagement.
According to one source, “They called Bravo producers and asked if they would pay for the engagement ring and travel arrangements for a proposal in an exotic location. Bravo said no.”
Smiley, an ex-mortgage broker, has gone through well-publicized financial troubles. The “house-husband” has even been called a deadbeat father on the show by the other housewives for allegedly not paying child support for two sons he has with an exgirlfriend — a claim that Smiley denies.
Gretchen, meanwhile, launched a cosmetics line and produced handbags, but has faced her own legal battles.
Last April, Gretchen’s former business partner, Ron Ann Myers, sued her for $100,000, alleging breach of contract and fraud. Slade is now working for Gretchen.
While neither Tamra nor Bravo will confirm that she is engaged, sources tell us that Eddie Judge recently proposed — and he paid for her engagement ring. Bravo, we’re told, had to reshoot some scenes to edit in the news.
A rep for Bravo declined to comment. A rep for Gretchen didn’t get back to us.