Emily Simpson faced harsh criticism from fans after openly discussing her 11-year-old son Luke’s diagnoses of ARFID and PANDAS on The Real Housewives of Orange County. These reactions were spotlighted during the show’s season 20 premiere party this past Tuesday.
In discussing whether she regretted her choice to go public, Emily also shed light on why she and her husband, Shane Simpson, aged 51, began therapy. Furthermore, she talked candidly about the “ups and downs” of their marriage, the excitement surrounding the upcoming season 20, and her milestone 50th birthday. She also explained her references to Vicki Gunvalson, 64, as either “Victoria” or “Queen Victoria.”
“On social media, people seemed quite harsh about my decision to share Luke’s story,” Emily mentioned to PEOPLE on June 30. “However, at BravoCon, everyone who approached me was genuinely concerned about my son. They showed a deep interest, often sharing personal anecdotes about their own children, or relatives, wanting to offer advice and support. That positive engagement left a lasting impression on me.”
While also revealing if she regretted the decision, sharing why she and husband Shane Simpson, 51, began therapy, and dishing on the “ups and downs” in their marriage, Emily, 50, looked ahead to the airing of season 20, spoke of her milestone birthday, and explained why she referred to Vicki Gunvalson, 64, as “Victoria” or “Queen Victoria.”
“I would say on social media, I think people were kind of cruel about me sharing about Luke,” Emily admitted to PEOPLE on June 30. “But when I went to BravoCon, every single person that came up to me said, ‘How is your son doing?’ They were very invested, and then they had a story to share about their own child, or a nephew, or a friend’s child. They wanted to talk and share and give me advice. That was my takeaway.”
“There were so many times I thought, am I doing the right thing by being so honest about what we’re going through? … [But] I absolutely did the right thing by sharing about him,” she concluded.
And Emily won’t stop being open about the challenges her family has faced due to Luke’s health crisis.
“After last season, everything going on with my son — [Shane and I’s] roles in our family changed and shifted, and that plays out [on season 20],” she explained. “It’s hard for us to adjust to it, and it’s a marriage. We’ve been together a long time.”
“Shane dedicated himself to being more at home and taking care of the kids and taking on more of a role with the children, and that’s stressful,” she continued. “So I think just the stress of us parenting and being married for so long, it plays out on camera.”
According to Emily, she and Shane have “a real marriage” and don’t “try to play up to the cameras or act differently.”
“I think people get a bird’s-eye view into a real long-term marriage, with all the ups and downs — with the kids, the blended family, the dogs, the animals, the house, everything,” she explained.
Emily also spoke about her marriage to Shane during an interview with Bozoma Saint John, 49, for Extra TV.
“Here’s the thing, I’ve been married to the same man for 17 years,” she said. “We have amazing ups, and we have downs, and we have never altered our behavior on camera. So, you know what? The audience can think what they want, to say what they want, but it is a real marriage.”
“We’re not pretending. We’re not trying to sugarcoat it. We’re not trying to get along because the cameras just got there. We’re like living life and trying to be parents, and trying to navigate marriage, and trying to navigate kids. And I have a son who has lots of issues, and it’s not easy. And so, you know, it is what it is. It’s a real marriage with ups and downs, and all the things,” she went on. “[But] I think at the end of the day, I married my best friend.”
Moving on to RHOC season 20, Emily described it as “old school.”
“I feel like it goes back to like old school ‘Housewives’ — like why ‘Housewives’ was popular in the beginning back [in the] 2006 era with Victoria Gunvalson in her little family van, and fighting over petty things, and crazy women that drink too much but really love each other at the end of the day,” she explained. “That’s what it felt like for me.”
As for why she calls Vicki “Victoria,” Emily said, “I came on season 13 with Victoria, and I feel like she expects and demands respect. So, I was very respectful. So, I always call her Victoria or Queen Victoria. And she deserves it.”
During the interview, Emily also reflected on her 50th birthday.
“I turned 50 right before we started filming, and so my goal was to be in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” she shared.
The Real Housewives of Orange County season 20 premieres on Thursday, July 9, at 8/7c on Bravo.