Shannon Beador, a prominent figure on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Orange County, recently opened up about her tumultuous experience following her DUI arrest in September 2023. On April 22, a special episode of the LadyGang podcast that delved into her raw reactions to her arrest went live. She disclosed that her blood alcohol content was 0.24, three times the legal limit.
The crash happened after Beador had left the home of her then-fiance John Janssen following an allegedly contentious argument. In what would turn out to be a prophetic episode for her, she subsequently lost control of the car and rammed it into a local apartment complex. Initially charged with a hit and run, their charge was eventually dropped. Through deep remorse for her actions, Beador came to terms with the emotional turmoil that drove her to make these choices.
The feelings took control over me during that time period. Even now, every day I wake up thankful that I didn’t kill or injure someone. Beador stated. I truly don’t believe there was a possibility that I could have healed from that.
Beador’s relationship with Janssen was complicated, particularly because of their on-again, off-again dynamic, which proved toxic — an experience that Beador now shared on RHOC. After the DUI, she resolved to date no one for a year. Throughout this period, she spent time healing and determining what she wanted and needed most in her future relationships.
“I stayed in a relationship that I knew wasn’t healthy, and I made the choices,” – Shannon Beador
During this time of reflection, Beador has come to understand what she wants in the future. “I know that I’m a stronger person for it, and I can honestly say that I’ve never been happier than I am right now,” she expressed.
While Beador is super proud of her self-development, she admits that she’ll be back on reality TV soon enough, though, with a starring role in Bravo’s upcoming dating competition Love Hotel, which debuts April 27. Episodes will be available for next-day streaming on Peacock. This new experimental endeavor is an exciting one for Beador, who recently made headlines for re-entering the dating world a year after her split from ex-husband David Beador.
The new series provides her with the perfect platform to examine love and relationships through a new lens. During her virtual discussion, Beador opened up about the fact that all relationships come with major obstacles. “You always have to know that there is no such thing as the perfect relationship,” she noted. So there’s never going to be a world where you don’t compromise on the things you know you need to compromise on. There’s no perfect person.
As she steps into this exciting new chapter, Beador is on a quest to transform herself. Her story sheds light on what makes relationships so complicated, while detailing her journey of self-discovery from the trauma tragedy. Her willingness to be personally accountable is palpable in her reflections on the DUI incident.
“Nobody put a gun to my head and said, ‘Get in the car.’ I did it, and I’ll own it over and over again.” – Shannon Beador
Beador’s honesty about her challenges and her willingness to let the past go while seeking something better help illuminate her changing concept of love and commitment. Born from that, she feels like a stronger person and still feels inspired.