Alexis Bellino ‘never would have signed’ on RHOC to position herself as ‘the bad guy’ opposite Shannon Beador

Alexis Bellino says she regrets joining The Real Housewives of Orange County for the show’s 18th season, as she says the way she was portrayed on the reality series left her “broken.”

Bellino, 47, who first appeared on the Bravo show’s fifth to nine seasons spanning from 2009 to 2013, returned as a friend this year, often clashing with Shannon Beador, 60 , from the show, in the midst of her engagement to Beador’s ex, John Janssen, 64.

Bellino released a lengthy statement to more than 403,000 followers on her Instagram page Friday, saying she didn’t believe she was being brought back to the show to be a luminary of negativity amid her hostility with Beador.

“This is never how I thought or wanted this to happen,” Bellino said after watching Thursday’s reunion episode. “I also want it to be known that I never thought I would be brought back this season to be the bad guy.

“If I had known that, I would never have signed. I live in love. No anger, no hatred, no malice. I really lie awake every night wondering why this was portrayed this way.

Bellino said the show’s success this season came at the expense of her and Janssen, who had been in a protracted dispute with Beador — whom he dated from 2019 to 2023 — before settling their lawsuit last week.

Bellino said she felt she was right in her actions during the season and thought in vain that the “beatings” she suffered while the cameras were rolling “would finally be defended at the reunion and that the truth would prevail.”

“I will now use my own platform and voice to share the truth with you because I do not live in toxicity, lies, hateful behavior, victimization or lies,” she said. “I have accepted reality…and now I am going to bring reality to light.

“I will never act out or become a victim, I will simply live with God and stay in the truth. He always wins.

Bellino said she began filming the season in the midst of severe depression following the death of her mother three months prior.

“It was a difficult decision to re-enroll,” she said. “Still, I came home grateful that it got me out of bed and out of my depression. But now I have been beaten so badly, so badly, and so many truths have been left out.

Bellino said a significant amount of footage was “left in the editing room, which would have” vindicated it and saved him and his family from receiving hateful messages online.

Bellino also spoke about the financial problems that arose during the season between Beador and Janssen, who settled their lawsuit for $75,000 on November 15.

The exes agreed to an “unconditional” dismissal of their ongoing litigation within the next 45 days, People reported Tuesday after reviewing court documents titled “Notice of Settlement of Entire Case.”

Bellino said the lawsuit was only finalized because the opposition knew we had the receipts to present in court and that Beador had to pay because she would have lost in court.

On November 21, Beador posted on Instagram Stories a $60,000 bank transfer indicating the debt had been settled, tagging Bellino and Janssen in the post with the caption “Enjoy.”

Bellino said Janssen gave Beador “a discount” by accepting $60,000 to close the legal proceedings before the holidays.

“Yes, she only paid $60,000 out of $75, but thanks for that $60,000,” Bellino said. “The lie that ‘someone’ paid for everything is crushed by the fact of what our forensic accountant did. $50,000 spent by John in the first year.

“Then $380,000 over 3 years. Then 2 loans of $75,000 that she finally had to pay because the evidence would have crushed her in court. The truth prevails.

Bellino said she and Janssen would provide evidence in the Beador case after she did not have the opportunity to “show those receipts in the meeting,” adding, “Now John and I will bring them from our own voice.

Last March, Janssen filed suit against Beador for the $75,000 he loaned her, claiming she breached an oral contract and committed promissory fraud in the transaction.

Janssen told the court that Beador asked him for the money in 2022, which he paid in two installments: a $40,000 bank transfer in January 2022; and a $35,000 check he wrote to her in May 2023, according to People.

Janssen said in legal documents that Beador used the earlier payment to have plastic surgery.

The case was settled before a possible trial, as both sides had filed legal documents on Nov. 7 requesting a jury trial, according to the outlet.

Beador and Bellino faced off in the second installment of the Bravo series’ reunion episode that aired earlier this month.

Beador told Bellino that she falsely accused her of lying and said she took and kept her spot on the popular reality series for more than a decade.

“I’ve been here 10 years. I took your job 10 years ago, I’m still sitting here,” Beador said.

Beador also downplayed Bellino’s current presence on the show, reminding her that she is “a friend” and not a featured cast member.

Bellino defended herself: “It’s still a job, Shannon…I’ve been in television for 15 years, Shannon.” Five different shows, okay?

Beador mocked Bellino by saying, “Oh, you’re a TV star,” drawing laughter from other cast members.

Earlier this month, during the show’s 18th season reunion, Beador said Janssen rejected his offer of $70,000 to agree to a non-disparagement clause that both parties had to adhere to.

Bellino earlier said the reason her fiancé didn’t make the deal was to protect himself if false accusations were made against him.

Janssen previously said on the Bravo series that he was reluctant to take “legal action” against his former girlfriend, but time constraints left him no choice.

“My hands were tied because I was days away from passing the statute of limitations to be able to do anything legally,” Janssen said.

Janssen added that he had proof that Beador knew the money was being loaned to him, not given.

“Shannon sent me an email admitting this was a loan, so the comments that these were gifts are blatantly false,” he said. “Shannon has an interesting relationship with the truth.”

Beador discussed the issue with Tamra Judge and Heather Dubrow on the Bravo series last month, saying she needed “money at the time” and Janssen said he wished he could have gotten her a loan at low interest rate.

Beador said she suggested to him that he was able to finance it.

Beador is currently preparing for her appearance on a Peacock series called Love Hotel, in which the cast members are dating each other.

“I hadn’t been on a date in a year, so I’ve been going on dates and meeting a lot of very interesting men on this show, so we’ll see,” she said to US Weekly earlier this month. “I was like, ‘Oh my God. I’m just going to have fun. I won’t meet anyone.”

“Well, I met some people. You will see it. I have to tell you it’s a very good show.

The Real Housewives of Orange County can be seen on Bravo every Thursday at 9/8c, with shows also airing on Peacock.