Tamra Judge 'Feels Really Bad' For Vicki Gunvalson Amid 'RHOC' Demotion
'But Vicki set herself up for this,' source says of TV shocker.
Feb. 14 2019, Updated 1:36 p.m. ET
As The Real Housewives of Orange County's Vicki Gunvalson deals with her shock demotion, Tamra Judge has shown support for her embattled co-star behind the scenes, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned.
"Tamra feels really bad for her, of course," a source told RadarOnline.com, adding "All of the ladies besides Kelly Dodd do."
Rival co-star Dodd gloated about Gunvalson's demotion with Flipping Out star Jeff Lewis on his radio show.
Gunvalson, 56, was "absolutely crushed" after the Bravo network suddenly pulled the plug on her full-time RHOC role, a source exclusively told RadarOnline.com.
The queen bee of RHOC was out after 13 long years on the hit reality show, with producers asking her to go from a full-time cast member to a "friend."
Although the insider revealed to RadarOnline.com that Gunvalson is "in negotiations right now," she most likely will not settle for a friend role.
"She’s been demoted, but she hasn’t agreed to take the offer,” a production source told RadarOnline.com.
The new insider explained, "Vicki set herself up for this. It wasn’t just one particular incident. It was a culmination of a lot of different things over the past couple of seasons."
According to the source, her friendly co-stars now hope she and boyfriend Steve Lodge will build their relationship away from TV cameras.
"The ladies saw Vicki go through so many relationships and they do feel like she and Steve could have a chance of staying together if she leaves the show," the source said.
"From what I hear he is supportive of her leaving and wants her to focus on her health and her family."
Gunvalson and Lodge have looked romantic while on a tropical getaway in the Bahamas together this week.
She participated in a tanzanite jewelry event during the trip, and on Monday, February 11, 2019, posted an Instagram story in which she was seen looking at diamond rings.
Gunvalson's coy post fueled engagement rumors, as she captioned it, "Doing a little shopping," while adding Lodge's Instagram account below it.
"No one is surprised by her ring shopping incident and it is just very typical Vicki,” the source said.
"She's expected to return to the U.S. either Wednesday or Thursday and she has to make up her mind about what she is going to do about the RHOC friend role offer when she returns."
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