Emily Simpson Reveals Surprising Transformation in Her Marriage After Joining ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’

Since joining the main cast of the Bravo series in 2018, Emily Simpson, star of Real Housewives of Orange County, has noticed a significant improvement in her marriage with Shane Simpson. "When I first started on the show five years ago, Shane wasn't a fan of being on it at all. He made it clear to me that he didn't want to film or be a part of a show. He didn't want me to be on it either. However, he did give me the final say," the 47-year-old exclusively revealed during the promotion of the current season of RHOC on Tuesday, July 25.

The Bravolebrity expressed that their relationship has significantly improved over the past five years. They also mentioned that their partner has come to understand that it is possible to enjoy and be authentic while being a part of the reality series.

Emily clarified that when she married Shane in 2009, he initially had reservations about the show negatively impacting their marriage and their three children, Annabelle (10 years old) and their twin sons, Luke and Keller (both 7 years old). (Shane also has two daughters, Shelby and Chanel, from his previous marriage.)

Although appearing on RHOC didn’t strain their relationship as Shane feared, Emily admitted that viewers were critical of her husband’s persona on the show at first.

Shane Simpson and Emily Simpson, courtesy of Emily Simpson's Instagram, had faced judgment regarding their relationship in the past. Emily acknowledged that Shane may have appeared standoffish and arrogant, but believes that his behavior stemmed from discomfort rather than malice. She expressed that people's perception of their marriage has shifted, with others now appreciating Shane's sense of humor, whereas before they had been quick to suggest divorce and label him as terrible.

During the July 26 episode of RHOC, Shane demonstrated his humor when he and Emily attended a shared waxing appointment. When asked if they needed anything else, Shane jokingly responded, "[Emily's] butt." Emily then informed the waxer that her husband has a "thing" for butts, causing Shane to clarify, "No, I don't have a thing for butts. I just don't like hairy ones."

According to Emily, Shane has rewatched the latest episode twice. She confessed that she had completely forgotten about the waxing scene until Shane reminded her. "When I saw it, it actually made me burst into laughter. I was laughing out loud," she shared.

During the episode, Emily shared a memorable moment with her friends, Kristina, Tatiana Beebe, and Heather Dubrow. She revealed that she and her husband, Shane, enjoy making NSFW movies together. However, Emily claimed that she had no recollection of making this steamy confession, suggesting that she may have been intoxicated at the time. She humorously mentioned that Shane has grown accustomed to these moments and simply laughs it off.

Emily mentioned that when she became aware that she had talked about sex tapes on the show, the first thought that crossed her mind was that Shane's parents watch RHOC. She expressed her hope that her mother-in-law doesn't see that particular segment. The show Real Housewives of Orange County is broadcasted on Bravo on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi