No More Fighting! Former ‘RHOC’ Star Lydia McLaughlin Reveals She Is Now Close Friends With Rivals Gretchen Rossi & Slade Smiley
When Lydia McLaughlin starred on The Real Housewives of Orange County’s 8th season, the fervent Christian clashed with costars Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley. But in her upcoming book, the Beverly Hills Lifestyle managing editor, 33, reveals she is now at peace with the controversial couple, RadarOnline.com can exclusively reveal.
“During filming I mostly argued with Gretchen and Slade,” McLaughlin, married to entrepreneur Doug, 33, writes in Beyond Orange County: A Housewives Guide To Faith & Happiness, out on April 14. “But Doug and I have gone on double dates with them once we stopped filming, and consider them true friends!”
She even dedicated her Christian advice book/memoir in part to the pair, who were booted off the Bravo series in 2013.
“I am thankful for the friendships with Alexis, Jim, Gretchen, and Slade that continue to grow,” she says in the acknowledgements, also referring to former cast member and longtime friend Alexis Bellino, 38, and her husband Jim.
McLaughlin infamously lashed out at Smiley, 41, on camera when he made a comment about her pin thin frame.
Rossi, 36, hit back at McLaughlin for calling out her fiancée, snapping “I really want to be friends with you and cool with you … but now you’re starting to upset me.”
McLaughlin left the series after just one season, telling Star magazine she wanted to have a third child out of the spotlight.
She welcomed son Roman Scott on November 4, 2014.