Emily Simpson and her husband, Shane Simpson, have been open and honest about their continuing marriage struggles during The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20, and Emily shed new light on how their “dynamic” changed this season during The Real Housewives of Orange County After Show.
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“Shane quit working period to be able to take care of kids, and take care of Luke,” she shared, referencing her son’s ongoing health issues. “When he made that decision, I wasn’t filming. So we were together—a team—that was both home, taking care of kids, divide and conquer. Then when I started filming, it took me away from being able to parent with him as much as I normally did. So then the brunt of taking care of the kids was on him.”
She admitted that Shane being a full-time stay-at-home parent was difficult on their marriage. “I think what was hard for me was we got into this place where it was this constant competition between the two of us,” she said.
Emily detailed her belief that Shane had some “resentment” over her RHOC Season 20 filming schedule.
“It looked like I was ‘out having fun’ because it’s like, we’re in Vegas, and then we’re in Tokyo, and then I’m going to dinners, and I’m doing all these things, and I think he’s at home trying to take care of all these kids…and I think he was worn out, and I think he was exhausted,” she said.
“And instead of saying, ‘I’m worn out and exhausted and we need to figure out how we can manage this better,’ I think it came out like snarky shots at me,” she continued.
Emily then defended her decision to work. “I just get pissed, because it’s like, I’m tired too. It’s not like I’m lying on the couch eating Bon Bons and you’re holding down the fort,” she said. “Like, I felt like I was working equally as hard too.”
Emily Simpson opens up about her struggles in Shane Simpson marriage
Emily was more honest than ever about her difficult relationship with Shane as she joined the ‘Wives for a cast trip to Japan on RHOC Season 20, Episode 14, and unloaded about the tension in her marriage.
“If I say, ‘Oh, what are you and the kids gonna do when I’m in Tokyo?’” she hypothesized to Heather Dubrow and Tamra Judge, and then answered as Shane: “‘The same thing I always do because I take care of them all the time.’” She added, “It’s like every f—king comment!”
When Jennifer Pedranti asked Emily if she and Shane were “doing okay,” Emily bluntly answered, “No, we’re not great right now.”
“We’re not even at the point where we wake up in the morning and even, like, speak to each other,” she continued during the Oct. 8 episode, and then admitted they no longer sleep in the same bedroom.
RELATED: Shane Simpson Opens Up to a Producer About “Sacrifices” in Emily Marriage: “I Wish…”
“I don’t feel any closeness to him, or any desire, because every time we have a conversation, he’s so snarky towards me and takes shots at me,” she shared with the ‘Wives.
Emily was also forthcoming with producers, confessing, “I feel like we’re enemies.”
As far as what’s lacking from Shane in her marriage, Emily said, “ I just need a little validation that I’m a good mom. And I’m doing the best that I can.”
Emily Simpson reveals if she’s talked to Shane Simpson about divorce
Emily emphasized the seriousness of her problems with Shane when she admitted during the Oct. 8 episode that she has mentioned divorce to Shane before.
“He never has. I can tell you in 17 years he’s never used that word, ever,” she told the ‘Wives. “I’m the crazy one that gets pushed to the brink.”
Emily also had no firm answer on if she wants to save her marriage. “I don’t know. I’m kind of in an indifferent stage right now,” she said. When Tamra pressed, “You seem like you’re at your end?” Emily shocked the ‘Wives as she answered, “I don’t know, maybe. I mean, that’s not what I would want.”
RELATED: Emily Simpson Opens Up About Feeling Past “Resentment” Toward Shane: “Hadn’t Talked for Weeks”
“Maybe the next step below indifference is to go separate ways,” Emily confessed to producers. “Maybe this constant cycle of being defensive and not getting along, maybe that needs to end.”
Check out everything to know about the RHOC Season 20 Reunion, including the seating chart, spoilers and more.
