What caused the meltdown? As evidenced in the brand-new teaser for the upcoming season 10 of The Real Housewives of Orange County, original Housewife Vicki Gunvalson experienced the most devastating story line of all — and she explained what caused it via social media.
The preview, which aired on Sunday, May 10, featured Gunvalson collapsing and weeping hysterically on her kitchen floor after receiving a mysterious phone call. While the preview gave no insight on what exactly caused her emotional breakdown, the veteran Housewife took to Twitter after watching the teaser to elaborate.
“It’s the most terrible thing to have to re-live again,” Gunvalson tweeted in response to a fan who noted that Bravo aired the new trailer on Mother’s Day. “Especially on Mother’s Day.”
Gunvalson’s mother passed away unexpectedly this past February, and it appears that the cameras were there to capture the moment.
In a heartfelt Instagram post the night of her mom’s death on Feb. 5, Gunvalson wrote: “Tonight I received a phone call that is every person’s worst nightmare. My amazing, beautiful and strong mother passed on and is now with the love of her life my father in heaven. I am who I am today, because of her. An amazing cook, organized, bold personality and had a sense of style and fashion that I adored. I miss you so much mommy! My life will never be the same without you to give me advice and your wisdom. You were so healthy and so vibrant and so beautiful. I still need you. I love you MOM.”
The tragic loss prompted Gunvalson’s RHOC frenemy Tamra Judge to bury the hatchet (temporarily) and send her condolences. “We have gone through so much together and I love you like a sister,” Judge wrote that same day. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Praying for you and your family. Your mom is now with your dad dancing in heaven.”
The teaser also showed Gunvalson, 53, struggling with her costars about the never-ending saga of her boyfriend Brooks Ayers, who is battling cancer. The newest OC Housewife Meghan King, the wife of MLB player Jim Edmonds, begins spreading rumors that Ayers isn’t actually suffering from the disease.
Gunvalson also addressed King’s comments via Twitter, calling the fake cancer dig “nothing short of disgusting.” She responded to another fan: “Brooks has stage 3 non hodgkin’s cancer. Keep watching to find out the truth.”
Season 10 of Bravo’s Real Housewives of Orange County returns on June 8.