The Rollercoaster Relationship Between 'RHOC' Stars Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson

RHOC Stars Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson s Ups and Downs Over the Years 270

Tamra Judge, Vicki Gunvalson. Getty Images (2)

Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson have experienced many highs and lows in their friendship. They became friends when they met during season 3 of Real Housewives of Orange County in 2008. Their friendship grew stronger the next year as they connected over their mutual dislike for fellow cast member Gretchen Rossi.

Gunvalson and Judge faced their first friendship hurdle in season 7 due to Gunvalson’s then-boyfriend Brooks Ayers. Judge had doubts about Ayers’ motives from the beginning, but Gunvalson was not willing to listen.

Their disagreements over Ayers caused a strain on their friendship. Despite temporarily making amends while Ayers was still in the picture, their truce was short-lived. The two women found themselves arguing once again over Ayers. In 2016, Judge expressed uncertainty about the possibility of repairing their friendship.

"I'm feeling burnt out. I told myself, 'Just one more thing. One more thing, and I'm calling it quits,'" she shared on Jenny McCarthy's Dirty, Sexy, Funny SiriusXM show. "It really hurts me because we've been friends on and off for 10 years. We've been through a lot together - from our kids' weddings to health issues and divorces. We have a long history."

Check out the highs and lows of Judge and Gunvalson's relationship over the years:

RHOC Stars Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson s Ups and Downs Over the Years 269

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2008

Gunvalson, who has been a staple on RHOC since its premiere in 2006, took Judge under her wing when she made her debut in season 3.

2012

The women’s relationship hit a snag after Judge shared her dislike for Ayers. Gunvalson didn’t appreciate her pal not being more supportive of her relationship.

Gunvalson expressed her disappointment in a season 7 episode of RHOC, emphasizing the importance of friendship and respect. She reminded her friend that they were supposed to support each other, not speak disrespectfully to each other or to the people they care about. Gunvalson stressed the value of their bond as friends, soul mates, and sisters, highlighting the need for mutual respect, especially when it comes to relationships. Gunvalson asserted that she was not afraid of her friend, despite the fear others may have.

During the same season, tensions escalated between Judge and Gunvalson after Ayers accused Judge of giving his girlfriend an unwelcoming look. The incident led to a heated exchange between the two, adding fuel to the already strained relationships within the RHOC cast.

2013

After a year of drama, Gunvalson and Judge buried the hatchet at Judge’s bachelorette party.

2014

In 2014, despite being on friendly terms, Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson formed a group called Tres Amigas with fellow RHOC costar Shannon Beador. However, their truce was short-lived as Judge kept speaking negatively about Ayers. The drama escalated during a group trip to Bali, where the RHOC cast confronted Judge. She accused Gunvalson of not supporting her.

Judge called out Gunvalson for not taking action throughout the year. Gunvalson defended herself by pointing out that Judge was supposed to be improving, but instead, she was becoming more bitter.

2015

Judge got her vindication about her feelings toward Ayers after it came out he was lying about having cancer.

Judge's Initial Doubts About Him

"I called him out from day one," Judge told E! News. "I had a gut feeling that he was a con man. His eyes gave it away, and his words just didn't add up for me. At first, he was charming, but as time went on, his stories began to unravel. Eventually, I decided to stop questioning him and instead accepted him for who he was. I knew that if I stepped back, he would reveal his true colors."

Judge shared that Gunvalson apologized to her for the Ayers drama, but unfortunately, it didn't heal the hurt she had felt from their friendship over the years. Despite accepting her apology and trying to move forward, Judge found herself let down once again. Gunvalson's actions made Judge feel betrayed, as she described it as being stabbed in the back. Despite hoping for a rekindling of their friendship, Judge realized that things were not going to return to how they used to be.

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2017

Judge provided an update on her strained friendship with Gunvalson. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, she expressed, "I did care about [Vicki], but when you get hurt so badly, it's like, whatever." Their relationship went from not speaking, to making some progress during their trip to Iceland, only to end the season not speaking again.

2018

Gunvalson and Judge finally worked out their differences and got on good terms again.

2019

Judge shared with ET that the bottom line was that she admitted her mistake and apologized sincerely. She emphasized that everyone makes mistakes and it's important to learn from them. "I'm not a strict person. We all mess up, but as long as you own up to it, say sorry, and genuinely mean it, you can move forward and grow from the experience," she explained.

Gunvalson received news in July 2019 that she was being demoted from the main cast of RHOC for season 14. Despite this, Judge showed her support for her friend with a heartfelt message.

On Instagram, Judge expressed her feelings towards Gunvalson, reminiscing about their time together on the show. She mentioned the hats, tan, can of beer, and the 12 years of crazy adventures they had shared. Judge admitted to having both love and frustration towards Gunvalson but ultimately declared her as her best friend, promising to always be there for her. She acknowledged Gunvalson's current sadness and expressed her love and support during that difficult time.

2020

Both Gunvalson and Judge exited RHOC. We reported at the time that Bravo offered Judge a “part-time role,” but ultimately declined.

2022

After leaving RHOC, Judge and Gunvalson reunited on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. Following the show, Judge made a comeback to RHOC. Gunvalson expressed her happiness for Judge but also wished she could have joined her.

Gunvalson, 60, expressed her excitement for her friend during an interview on E!’s Daily Pop in August 2022. She admitted that she would be a bad friend if she wasn't happy for her. Gunvalson also shared that she experiences FOMO, just like any other woman would in that situation.

Later in the year, Gunvalson revealed to Us that she initially felt jealous when Judge was asked back before her. However, she eventually came to understand that Judge "wanted it more," leading her to overcome her feelings of jealousy.

2024

Judge shared that she and Gunvalson were feuding again over Tres Amigas drama with Beador.

"I decided to back out of the 'Tres Amigas' for some personal reasons that may be discussed on Orange County Housewives. It was a tough decision," she shared with ET in January 2024. "The situation is quite complex, with many layers to it that make it difficult for me to fully explain everything — but I want to clarify that I did not do anything to either of them."

In the following month, Judge expressed her frustration by calling Gunvalson a "f–king liar" for shifting the blame onto her assistant. "It is a complete and utter lie," Judge stated during an appearance on Jeff Lewis' show. "I chose to step away from the Tres Amigas because I overheard them talking behind my back. That's the real reason behind my decision."

Editor's P/S:

The relationship between Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson, as depicted in the article, has been a tumultuous one, marked by both highs and lows. Their friendship, which began in 2008, has been strained by various conflicts, including disagreements over former cast member Brooks Ayers and the formation of the Tres Amigas group with Shannon Beador.

Despite numerous attempts at reconciliation, the rift between Judge and Gunvalson persists. In recent years, the two have publicly expressed their frustrations and accusations, particularly regarding the Tres Amigas drama. Gunvalson's demotion from the main cast of RHOC in 2019 and Judge's subsequent departure in 2020 further complicated their friendship. However, they have remained supportive of each other's personal endeavors, with Judge making a comeback to RHOC in 2022 and Gunvalson expressing her joy for her friend's success.