Here's What Andy Cohen Had To Say About Teddi Mellencamp's RHOBH's Dismissal
Teddi Mellencamp, who joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2017, confirmed on Sept. 22, 2020, that Bravo did not renew her contract for Season 11, according to Us Weekly. Although Teddi seemed transparent about the situation, some fans speculated that some drama led to her dismissal. So what issue could have triggered the mom's firing? Look no further than Teddi's fitness company, All In by Teddi, which came under fire in early September 2020.
Here's what went down: Anonymous individuals who supposedly used the program posted complaints to Reddit and also sent Instagram DMs to influencer Emily Gellis, claiming that All In can be "triggering" for those who struggle with disordered eating. One person alleged to Gellis that the program required them to submit proof of their 60-minute cardio workout and that they ate about "400-500 calories a day," per Refinery29. They wrote, "I would text my accountability coaches that I was starving and they would just tell me to drink more water." And the anonymous Redditor alleged, according to Thought Catalog, "They don't teach you how to live a healthier lifestyle, they teach you how to starve yourself." Yikes.
In light of this controversy, it's fair to assume it played a role in Bravo letting Teddi go. The theory gained so much traction that Bravo exec Andy Cohen spoke up about the situation on Sept. 23, 2020. So what did Cohen have to say? The reality TV king's response might surprise a few people.
Teddi Mellencamp is 'sad' to leave RHOBH
Before we dive into Andy Cohen's remarks, let's revisit the video Teddi Mellencamp on Instagram confirming her departure from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."Hey guys, just here, hangin' with baby Dove," she said while sitting with her daughter. "I don't want to bore you, but I figured I could give you a little update on what's going on. recently found out that my contract as a Housewife is not being renewed."
Teddi continued, "Of course, I could give you the standard response of, 'Oh we both came to the decision that it would be best.' Nah, I'm not going to do that — that's not who I am. Of course when I got the news I was sad. It feels like a breakup, almost, because you develop such strong relationships with the cast, with the crew. And you get to do incredible things that you probably never get to experience without the show." Concluding her message, Teddi shared, "That being said, I'm really looking forward to the future and being able to focus on my family, my friends, All In. I really feel like I have some exciting things ahead. And you know what? I'm pretty busy with this lil' nuggs.
As it turns out, Cohen applauded Teddi's handling of the situation — keep reading to find out what he had to say.
Did Teddi Mellencamp's business cause her downfall?
Bravo host Andy Cohen spoke about Teddi Mellencamp's departure from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on his SiriusXM show, Radio Andy, on Sept. 23, 2020, just a day after Teddi shared her news via Instagram. Addressing the controversy surrounding her business, All In, he said, "I do want to say, people are speculating that the online chatter about her business led to her dismissal. I just want to say because I think it's important that one had absolutely nothing to do with the other." Cohen added, "I actually would have liked to see her respond to her critics on the show. I would have liked to have seen that."
Cohen also referenced real estate mogul Jeff Lewis, who discussed trying out the program during an episode of his defunct Bravo show, Flipping Out. "I will say that Jeff Lewis and team, I was tuning in the other day and they were talking about it," he explained. "I remember them saying [that] they went through the All In program and they did not have bad things to say about it. I think they said they were hungry, but he said that that program taught him how to order food in restaurants." The dad continued, "I don't know. I've never done it. I don't know anything about it, but I did just want to clear that up."
But the radio host had even more praise for Teddi — here's what he liked about the way she approached her Bravo exit.
Andy Cohen appreciated Teddi Mellencamp's honesty
Bravo host Andy Cohen praised the way Teddi Mellencamp took her departure from the network, stating on Radio Andy, "I thought [it] was one of the most, no BS 'I'm leaving' announcements on record. That was really good." Cohen added, "I have to say, everyone has just been through it. The year, like it's not many people for whom this year has been good for. She had some major health stuff with her kids."
Speaking of the health stuff, Teddi's baby daughter, Dove, was diagnosed with lambdoid craniosynostosis, aka a "premature fusion of bones near the back of an infant's skull," according to St. Louis Children's Hospital. And in July 2020, Dove underwent neurosurgery to correct the issue, Women's Health noted. Additionally, Teddi noted during the RHOBH reunion that her oldest daughter, Slate, accidentally severed the tip of her finger off that same summer. "We got right into the emergency room and the surgery was incredible," Teddi said, per TODAY. "You could barely even tell that it happened." Phew.
Although Teddi won't be returning to RHOBH, at least she knows Cohen has her back!