Credit: Instagram
Season 20 of The Real Housewives of Orange County is expected to air on Bravo in 2026. As always, there have been numerous reports about casting, with some saying Emily Simpson may have been fired. Now, Gina Kirschenheiter is seemingly denying this.
So far, there are only a few concrete details about season 20 of RHOC. First, Vicki Gunvalson, 63, is confirmed to return in a full-time capacity. She also recently stated that filming would begin in February 2026. Notably, she’ll be filming RHOC after doing The Real Housewives Ultimate Road Trip.
Gina, 41, recently posted a video to her Instagram account to help promote Emily’s Legally Brunette podcast. In it, she and her RHOC co-star can be seen dancing to the Law & Order theme song. However, the biggest takeaway from the post came from a comment.
Someone said, “Ok I’m a little upset that people are spreading around Emily is getting fired. Please don’t let this be true.” Gina responded to this comment, saying, “Absolutely not.”
Fans began to speculate in December 2025 that Emily had been fired. The fan account Britanis said on X, “BREAKING NEWS! ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’ Star, Emily Simpson, has been FIRED ahead of upcoming milestone 20th season. Fans are ‘cheering with joy’, one source reports.”
Before this, Bravo & Cocktails received a report about the future of the show. They said in November 2025 that Gina, Tamra Judge, 58, Heather Dubrow, 56, Shannon Beador, 61, and Jennifer Pedranti, 48, would all return for season 20. The report also stated that Emily, Katie Ginella, and Gretchen Rossi were “on the bubble,” meaning their futures with the show were uncertain.
It was also said at the time that Jeana Keough, 70, Jo De La Rosa, 45, Lauri Peterson, 65, Kimberly Bryant, 58, and Alexis Bellino, 48, would make guest appearances.
That’s not all. It has also been rumored that former Real Housewives of New Jersey star Jacqueline Laurita, 55, had been approached to join. Notably, she moved to Orange County in June 2023 after previously living in Las Vegas for some time. It’s also worth noting that, more recently, it was rumored that Heather quit the series.
Who would you like to see on RHOC season 20?