How 'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella's teen pregnancy and traumatic first marriage shaped her

'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella split from her abusive first husband and father of her first three children
PUBLISHED JUL 11, 2024
'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella split from her abusive first husband and filed for divorce (Instagram/@katie.ginella)
'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella split from her abusive first husband and filed for divorce (Instagram/@katie.ginella)

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA: 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' will return in Season 18 with a new housewife, Katie Ginella. Even though the debutante is now blissfully married to Matt Ginella, she had a fairly distressing previous relationship.

Katie became pregnant with her first child as a teenager, then went through an abusive first marriage and a tumultuous divorce.

The first marriage of Katie to Andrew didn't work out. Together Katie and Andrew have three children, Maxon (2009), Gavin (2006), and Kaili (2004).

It was alleged in a pretty horrifying 2018 court document that we located and read that Andrew gave Max a peanut in an attempt to "test" whether he was truly allergic (spoiler alert: the filing said he was), he also and punched Gavin "in the chest", and that after Kaili moved in with Katie, he "turned Kaili's room into an Xbox room."

'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella (Instagram/katie.ginella)
'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella (Instagram/@katie.ginella)

Who is 'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella's husband Matt Ginella?

Matt's Instagram bio states, "Digital creator". Matt does, however, identify as "CEO of Fire Pit Collective, a production company" and "Host of Fire Pit Podcast."

Matt is also an Editor-at-Large and travel expert for the Golf Channel, however this is not mentioned in his bio. Katie met her present spouse while working as a sports and golf reporter.

'RHOC' newbie Katie Ginella is married to Matt Ginella (Instagram/katie.ginella)
'RHOC' newbie Katie Ginella is married to Matt Ginella (Instagram/@katie.ginella)

'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella 'wanted to quit' mid-season

Orange County may be a beautiful location to live, but not everyone can make it as a housewife. According to RadarOnline.com, Katie, the newest member of 'RHOC', did not like some of the ladies during her debut season, telling pals she wanted to "quit" midway through production.

According to a source close to the girls, Ginella had a problem with two in particular: Heather "Fancy Pants" Dubrow and Emily Simpson. Ginella, a mother of four from Georgia, allegedly told friends she "hates" Heather and thinks Emily is "two-faced."

Ginella has also claimed to have remarked Emily is "completely different to her off-camera" and "fake AF". However, individuals close to production refuted the accusations and told the site that they were false.

It is unclear whether her rumored feud with Emily will play out on the program, given the teaser depicts her battling passionately with Heather.

'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella (Instagram/katie.ginella)
'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella (Instagram/@katie.ginella)

Gina Kirschenheiter caught yelling at 'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella amid Bravo show filming

While filming the upcoming season, Gina Kirschenheiter was seen on camera shouting at her new castmate Katie. The heated encounter, which was loud enough for the whole eating establishment to hear, was captured on camera by Bravo.

"You are incorrect!" In a video posted on Instagram by @crystalbehrensrealtor, Gina and Katie were recording at what looked to be an outdoor eating restaurant when Gina screamed, "You are lying about this!"

"What you’re doing here, Katie, is not right!" Gina continued through @queensofbravo. "I’m not ok with it! I brought you in to be my friend in this group."

Gina continued, “You’re making your bulls**t my bulls**t, and I don’t appreciate that!”

Gina said, "You know you did it," at one point. Then, it seemed as though she mentioned that she had learned about it while "sitting on the deck" with a third, anonymous lady.

'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella (Instagram/katie.ginella)
'RHOC' Season 18 newbie Katie Ginella (Instagram/@katie.ginella)

Watch everything unfold when 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' Season 18 premieres on July 11 on Bravo at 9 pm ET.

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