As Emily Simpson navigates new relationship issues with husband Shane Simpson on The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 20, the couple made a major statement about where their 17-year marriage stands today via Instagram.
How to Watch
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. Episodes stream next day on Peacock.
Emily and Shane recently jetted off on a trip to Portugal and have been sharing behind-the-scenes looks at their travels abroad on social media. “Lisbon and Sintra have been magical,” the RHOC cast member, in part, captioned “Part 1” of their vacation photos, some of which show her and Shane lovingly posing together against scenic backdrops, on July 17.
Days later, Emily shared even more snaps from her and Shane’s trip on July 22, as they explored Portugal’s “cobblestone, castles, and coastline” with another couple.
Despite the happy images, the pair’s getaway arrived on the heels of Emily admitting in the RHOC Season 20 trailer that she might be at her “end” when it comes to her marriage with Shane. Read on for everything to know about Emily and Shane’s recent relationship highs and lows.
Are Emily Simpson and Shane Simpson still together?
Yes, Emily and Shane are still together today. In addition to the Portugal vacation photos that they recently shared, Emily gave Entertainment Tonight a relationship update on the red carpet of the RHOC Season 20 premiere event on June 30. “I think Shane and I represent a typical marriage of ups and downs,” she told the outlet, adding, “We’re still married.”
Emily Simpson and Shane Simpson’s marital issues on RHOC Season 20, explained
As Emily’s RHOC Season 20 cast bio teased, viewers can expect to see her navigating an “emotional year” with her family, which also includes her and Shane’s three children together, daughter Annabelle, 13, and 11-year-old twin sons Luke and Keller.
“Treating self-care as a priority has led her to be a better friend, mother, and wife, but it’s not always easy,” her official bio continued. “As Emily and Shane continue to navigate the complexities of raising their family, Shane makes career and parental sacrifices that strain their marriage.”
During the Season 20 premiere, Emily also shared that she and Shane “still deal with a lot” when it comes to son Luke’s health issues amid “evolving” diagnoses, which include PANDAS syndrome, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and dyslexia.
When ET brought up Emily and Shane’s issues in the previously mentioned June interview, she offered more details on what’s ahead for them on Season 20. “Both of us are raw and honest on camera,” she said. “I think you capture just the hardships of a real marriage. And, you know, a lot of things shifted between us, just as far as roles and what part we play in the marriage. And it was a hard adjustment, and we had to make that adjustment on camera.”
RELATED: RHOC Season 20 Cast Tells All on Landmark Season: “Everybody’s Breaking the Fourth Wall”
Emily and Shane Simpson open up about their marriage struggles on Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition
Throughout RHOC Season 19, Emily and Shane clashed over their conflicting parenting styles amid Luke’s health journey. Shortly after filming wrapped, the two continued to work through their issues by participating in Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition.
During their episode of Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition, Shane estimated that he was shouldering roughly 70 percent of the household duties, at the time. “Emily knows that I do a lot, but I don’t think she values how much it is,” he said in a confessional.
As for the reason behind the lopsided division of domestic duties, Emily, for her part, explained, “When Shane and I first got married, it was supposed to be I’d be home with the kids and Shane would work. And then I end up on a TV show. I work more than I ever anticipated.”
In the end, Emily’s takeaway from the experience was a newfound appreciation for “how much Shane contributes to this family,” as well as an understanding that she doesn’t always “recognize his feelings.” Those lessons ultimately led Emily to wonder, “Why do I not put more time and effort into my own family?”
How did Emily Simpson meet Shane Simpson?
Emily and Shane met while working together at a real estate consulting firm. The two knew each other for years before eventually becoming romantically involved, following Shane’s divorce from his first wife.
When did Emily Simpson and Shane Simpson get married?
Shortly after they reconnected, Emily and Shane got married on February 14, 2009, at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. “We began chatting on Google Chat, and one day he just said, ‘Want to get married?'” Emily previously recalled during RHOC Season 13. “I was 32 at the time, ready to settle down and have kids, and thought, ‘What the heck!’ I really just took a huge leap of faith.”
Emily Simpson shares an update on her and Shane Simpson’s legal podcast
Emily and Shane, who are both lawyers, launched their Legally Brunette podcast together in 2025. During RHOC Season 20, Episode 2, the couple revealed that they were already branching out into a second podcast venture.
RELATED: What Does the RHOC Cast Do For a Living?
While posing for a wedding-themed promo shoot, Emily explained to the photographer, “A lot of these cases that we talked about had to do with husbands unaliving wives or wives unaliving husbands. Why not separate that out and just have its own podcast? So, we’re gonna call it ‘Til Death Do Us Part.”
Before recording the first episode of their new podcast the same day, Emily checked in with Shane to make sure he’d done his research. “I’m glad we’re taking those cases and separating them out,” she told him.
As Emily and Shane work through their latest relationship drama, get details on how to watch RHOC Season 20.
