Shannon Beador Details What Led To Shocking DUI In ‘RHOC’ Season 18 Sneak Peek: “I Lost Control Of The Car Immediately”

By Samantha Nungesser @samjnungesser
Published July 3, 2024, 9:57 a.m. ET

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Shannon Beador is breaking down the events that led to her shocking DUI in a sneak peek of The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18 premiere.

The longtime reality star was booked on two misdemeanor charges — hit-and-run and DUI alcohol — when she drove her car into a residential property in Newport Beach, California last September. She was ultimately sentenced to three years of probation and 40 hours of community service, and was required to complete a nine-month alcohol program.

According to Beador, the accident happened after she “stupidly” drove to her ex-boyfriend John Janssen’s house.

“We got into a big argument and he said, ‘You’re a drunken idiot. Don’t get in your car,'” she recalls in the first seven minutes of the RHOC Season 18 premiere. “But I got in an accident seconds later because I revved up the engine so he could know how mad I was and I lost control of the car immediately.”

Beador becomes emotional as she sits down with her three daughters to discuss the incident.

“I’m so sorry that I humiliated, that I disappointed you. What kind of example am I? At 59,” she says through tears, later adding, “I’ve never broken a bone. I’ve never had a concussion. I’ve never been in an accident. I’ve never been arrested. I’ve never had a DUI. And I did all of that in 10 seconds.”

Elsewhere, Tamra Judge explains why she took a step back from her Tres Amigas live show with Beador and RHOC alum Vicki Gunvalson.

“Shannon and I put this live show together. It was a lot about drinking and I felt that it was bad taste to do a show right after Shannon’s DUI,” Judge says. “Like, stop, take a beat. Try to figure out what’s going on in your life. Stop drinking. And I just lost respect.”

The former CUT Fitness owner also accuses Beador of continuing to drink after her DUI.

“She was basically on this tour telling people and the press that she wasn’t drinking — now she’s drinking Diet Coke. We’re in the green room, there’s a bar, she’s over there looking, looking, looking, pouring it,” Judge says. “She could’ve killed herself. She could’ve killed her fucking dog.”

While she and Judge may be on the outs, Beador still has Jennifer Pedranti in her corner — and she’s certainly going to need a friend or two when it comes time to face Alexis Bellino, who is now dating Janssen.

“I have a soft spot for Shannon,” Pedranti says in her confessional. “When you feel like the rug is being pulled out from under you and you are literally at rock bottom, you need a friend.”

The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 18 premieres Thursday, July 11 at 9/8c on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.