RHOC star Tamra Judge is speaking out after receiving backlash and criticism over her recent announcement that she is on the spectrum. Find out everything Tamra had to say!
Tamra Judge recently announced that she is on the spectrum. The longtime reality TV star revealed this news on her and Teddi Mellencamp’s Two Ts in a Pod podcast and let’s just say Bravo fans weren’t supportive of her diagnosis.
According to Tamra Judge, she learned via therapy that she is on the spectrum, which is why she has a hard time being empathetic towards others feelings.
“Well, I just did my first therapy session,” Tamra told her podcast co-host Teddi Mellencamp in a clip shared on Instagram. “I found out something pretty big about myself that I didn’t know.”
“I am on the spectrum,” the RHOC star announced. “My biggest problem is working through trauma. Trauma that I had in my life. I have a hard time with empathy and feeling other people’s feelings,”
After receiving backlash and criticism from Real Housewives of Orange County fans, Tamra Judge is speaking out.
Most fans called BS on Tamra’s diagnosis and claimed she once again making excuses for her bad behavior. Some fans even claimed that it would be more believable if Tamra was diagnosed with narcissism considering her behavior.
“More likely on the narcissism spectrum,” one fan commented.
A second wrote, “Oh please! And the tears again! Being on the spectrum does not lead to the behavior she has displayed throughout!”
“This is an insult to anyone on the spectrum. What a load of crap,” a third added.
“Diagnosing autism is a lengthy process, it doesn’t happen in one therapy session ? she’s full of it,” someone else wrote while another added, “Omg! Hilarious! Autism does not look like this. Diagnosed with narcissism yes. Borderline personality disorder yes. Autism no!”
Upon the backlash, Tamra Judge released a statement on Instagram, which read:
“I started therapy because this year had been really hard on me. I started feeling really insecure, I was having intrusive thoughts, and I didn’t wanna leave my house unless I had to. I even considered just being admitted into a mental health facility.
In my conversations with my therapist, who I’ve known for years, we talked about a lot over the course of two hours. And she told me that many of the things about me — like how I process information, my sensory issues, my social anxiety, my aversion to eye contact with new people, my not wanting to be out of my routine, etc. — were all signs of being on the spectrum.
Now, ‘On the spectrum’ it’s such a broad term. I don’t really understand it fully, and my therapist told me more evaluation was needed. But when I sat down at the mic to record my podcast 15 minutes later and my head was spinning from what she had said. I had no time to process things, or even talk to my family — I was just back at work. And I was so emotional, I just blurted it out.
Afterwards, my instinct was to have it removed. But I’m used to being so open with everything in my life, I thought against it. Now, I wish I had. I just want to take people through the journey with me as I’ve always done, but I realize now I spoke too soon publicly, and that processing this with such an onslaught of negative comments has been horrible.
If you know me, you know I don’t like to look weak or play the victim. I also hate labels, just as much as I hate excuses. But I’m working on myself — not a TV show; to be a better person for me and the people around me. This isn’t some storyline. It’s my real life.
I have past trauma that is deep and painful. This is something I’ve suppressed for 15 years. But I’m finally getting the help I need, and I’m proud of myself for that.
So as much as I appreciate the amazing people who reached out, I think it’s best to move forward more privately until I get to a better mental space. My mental health is just not strong enough where I can be judged and hated on right now. Yes, I’m admitting I’m weak. And I’m okay with that right now.”
Tamra Judge later spoke to PEOPLE about, in her opinion, the unfair backlash she was receiving online.
The Bravo star shared, “I just want to take people through the journey with me as I’ve always done, but I realize now I spoke too soon publicly, and that processing this with such an onslaught of negative comments has been horrible. If you know me, you know I don’t like to look weak or play the victim. I also hate labels, just as much as I hate excuses. But I’m working on myself, not a TV show: to be a better person for me and the people around me. This isn’t some storyline. It’s my real life. I have past trauma that is deep and painful. This is something I’ve suppressed for 15 years. But I’m finally getting the help I need, and I’m proud of myself for that. My mental health is just not strong enough where I can be judged and hated on right now. Yes, I’m admitting I’m weak. And I’m okay with that right now.”
The Real Housewives of Orange County airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.