‘RHOBH’ Alum Teddi Mellencamp Slams Sutton Stracke for Disowning Erika Jayne Amid Embezzlement Scandal: ‘Don’t Sign up for a Reality Television Show’
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne’s marriage to Tom Girardi is a significant storyline in season 11. In Nov. 2020, the “XXXpensive” singer filed for divorce after 21 years of marriage. Since then, reports surfaced that the split is a cover-up for Girardi’s million-dollar lawsuits. In Aug. 2021, Erika’s friend and former RHOBH castmate Teddi Mellencamp shared her feelings about the ordeal.
‘RHOBH’ alum Teddi Mellencamp said she stands by Erika Jayne ‘one million percent’
Teddi joined RHOBH as a full-time cast member in season 8. The daughter of famed musician John Mellencamp found her footing throughout the years. Soon, she and Erika Jayne bonded and became close friends. Additionally, Teddi and Kyle Richards connected on the series.
In Sept. 2020, Bravo fired Teddi after three seasons. However, she shared on a recent episode of her podcast, Teddi’s Tea Pod, that she’s still friends with Erika Jayne. She also touched on Erika and Tom’s embezzlement lawsuits and said she fully supports her friend’s innocence.
“Erika and I still talk,” she said. “Erika has always been such a good friend. She’s the first person to reach out if she knows you’re not feeling well or something’s going on, and she is such a good listener, and she gives great advice. But when it comes to her, she’s just not that open. So we want to be there to support her one million percent.”
As for some of the RHOBH cast, Sutton Stracke has said she wants to distance herself from Erika Jayne. Mellencamp said her former castmate shouldn’t hold Erika’s mistakes against her.
“You don’t sign up for a reality television show if you’re worried about your reputation,” she said. “You just don’t. Your reputation isn’t going up from being a Housewife.”
‘RHOBH’ season 11 escalated feud between Teddi and Garcelle Beauvais
Although Bravo fired Teddi from RHOBH right before season 11 began, she returned to the show to attend Kyle’s holiday party. Upon her arrival, the accountability coach joined the women in grilling Erika about her embezzlement case. Ultimately, Teddi’s presence upset Garcelle Beauvais, who allegedly questioned why the former housewife had an opinion about Erika’s personal life.
“What you guys didn’t see, which really is what revved me up and turned into a whole thing at the table, is right after I said that thing about Erika… Garcelle yelled; she goes, ‘Why is she even here, and why does she get to have an opinion?’”
Following the Teddi’s Tea Pod episode, the Jamie Foxx Show alum replied to Teddi on Twitter. Garcelle stated that she did confront the issue in Teddi’s presence.
“Well, that’s not true!” Garcelle exclaimed, adding, “I said it in front of her while we were filming.”
What does Teddi Mellencamp do for a living?
Since leaving RHOBH, Teddi continues to host her podcast. The mother of four also works as a nutrition/wellness coach and trainer.
On Teddi’s Tea Pod, Teddi told Kyle she misses holding a diamond. However, she said her existing friendships with the RHOBH cast will always keep her in the loop.
“Of course, I miss the good parts,” Teddi said. I miss all the amazing places we traveled to. I’ll miss the experience we had in Provence. I’ll miss how much Kyle and I were able to laugh. But that being said, all those things are still possible because I’m still friends with the majority of the women on the show.”
RHOBH airs Wednesday nights on Bravo.
