'Real Housewives' Alexis Bellino Returning? Agrees to Film for Season 8
"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Alexis Bellino may have changed her mind about leaving the hit Bravo TV reality show as new reports claim that the mother of three is returning for season eight.
Bellino, 32, was reportedly seen shopping with her husband Jim at a high-end department store where she allegedly requested a purse to wear while filming for the upcoming season. She has reportedly started filming scenes with her former cast mates, according to RumorFix.com. The report has not yet been verified.
In September, Bellino, who was reportedly bullied by some of her cast mates on and off camera, explained her decision to leave the popular franchise.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"After three seasons of appearing on the Real Housewives of Orange County, I have made the difficult decision not to return for season 8," Bellino told Us magazine in a statement. "Although Bravo made me a very generous offer and I'm thankful to have had this experience, I will be leaving the show behind to focus on my family and other opportunities."
Prior to her statement it was alleged that Bellino, who joined the show in season five, was not returning for season eight due to the ongoing bullying that she has endured from two of her co-stars.
"Alexis was really tired of being bullied and chose home and family life over celebrity," a source reportedly told Us Magazine adding that although Bellino initiated contract negotiations with Bravo executives, she simply "wanted to go back to her simple life in Orange County."
The Christian was embroiled in ongoing feuds with her co-stars Tamra Barney, 45, and Gretchen Rossi, 38, which appeared to reach new heights during the season 7 reunion show taping.
Barney hurled various insults at Bellino including the bizarre term "Jesus Jugs," which prompted a response from both Bellino and her husband Jim, in turn sparking threats of a lawsuit.
"This vicious and malicious attack on our family will no longer be tolerated ... we are prepared to defend ourselves against these unfounded, slanderous and defamatory remarks to the fullest extent of the law," the Bellinos previously said in a statement.
Barney's taunts continued off camera after the reunion show taping through social networking site Twitter. Both she and Rossi suggested that Bellino had purchased Twitter followers and weeks later Barney then blasted her as being "creepy" after Rossi accused Bellino of copying her hairdo. Bellino has since openly denied copying her latest hairstyle.
