Following this week’s chaotic and frankly ridiculous episode of Real Housewives of Orange County, the ladies are speaking out about what happened and why they just can’t get along! Gretchen Rossi and Vicki Gunvalson have never been the best of friends, but Gretchen’s new relationship with Tamra Barney–along with Slade Smiley‘s rather harsh comedy routine centered around Vicki–has deepened the rift.

In her new Bravo Blog, Gretchen opens up about dealing with Vicki, and why she thinks Vicki lacks empathy for others. “Unfortunately, her actions are constantly proving to me that somehow she always believes her situation is more important than anyone else’s,” Gretchen remarks. “The crazy part is that even despite the harsh and incorrect things said about Slade not being a good dad or a “deadbeat” (as she liked to put it at times), I still find compassion for her and would not wish what Slade or I have been through on my worst enemy.”

Gretchen is also tired of Vicki discounting Grayson‘s cancer diagnosis. “I wish when she was making such horrible statements she could put herself in Slade’s shoes and think about the fact that it’s already scary and hard enough to deal with your child being sick, let alone having someone claim you are a bad or deadbeat parent on top of that pain. It’s moments like this that make me realize why Slade has so much hurt and pain still.”

Believing that the root of Vicki’s issues lie in her jealousy over her friendship with Tamra, Gretchen calls her out for being fake! “Vicki said to Tamra she is so happy her and I are friends, but was it just me or were you not believing her for one second?;” Gretchen wonders.

“I love how Tamra kept calling Vicki out about being full of it when it came to loving Alexis [Bellino] all of a sudden. Vicki has never really been a huge fan of myself or Alexis, so it was obvious she was just saying those things in spite to Tamra.”

And defending herself and Slade against the insulting improv show, which also happened to be not funny, Gretchen insists Alexis wasn’t the only person laughing!

“Obviously Slade’s set caused some turmoil between him and I. I was trying to make amends with Tamra at this point, so I had every right to be frustrated with his content. However, on another hand, I actually really understood where he was coming from.”

She continues, “Just because I am ready to forgive and move on doesn’t automatically mean he is too. I have to respect that. Even though I didn’t agree with his content, he is his own person and has to deal with his emotions how he sees fit. I know the woman have said a lot of hurtful and untrue things about who he is as a father without knowing all the details or facts (as Tamra openly admitted at our first lunch together) so Slade’s emotions are understandable.”

“Overall the show was a huge success — so much so that the owner of all the Improvs across the country came up to us afterwards and asked us to tour the show and manage Slade,” Gretchen expects us to believe.

I’m sure their appearance on a popular reality show with millions of viewers worldwide had nothing to do with that. I’m also sure that their willingness to trash their co-tarts from that popular reality show had nothing to do with the owner of all the Improvs asking them to tour. I guess Liz was wrong – comedy is Slave’s calling (eye roll).

Gretchen is quick to point out that no matter what, she loves Slade. “My loyalty is and will always be with Slade,” she writes. “I will always have his back, and I will always fight for him when necessary. Otherwise I will allow him to fight his own battles.”

Meanwhile, Life Style is now reporting that an engagement is on the way for Gretchen and Slade! According to the mag, Slade was spotted shopping for engagement rings at the Jewelry Mart in NYC on Feb. 12.

Slade reportedly zeroed in on a dazzling 4.5-carat yellow diamond set in a bed of smaller white diamonds. “It was everything he was looking for,” an onlooker tells the mag. “He knew it would steal Gretchen’s heart.”

So many questions, so little time, but we’ll give it a go! For starters, how can Slade afford this ring? Plus, doesn’t he have other priorities aka the $138,000? Yes you read that right, he reportedly owes that amount in back child support. Perhaps this upcoming engagement is an attempt by the couple to get their own Bravo spinoff a la’ Bethenny Frankel and Kim Zolciak.

And speaking of loyalty, Alexis is defending her bestie – Vicki! “Watching Vicki in the beginning scene while cooking in the kitchen was so hilarious! She just cracks me up! I couldn’t stop laughing at Vicki,” Alexis writes in her Bravo Blog. “The more I get to know her, the more I think she is so fabulous. There is never a dull moment around her and I enjoy her so much!”

Despite defending Slade’s actions on this week’s show, Alexis is now backpedaling and calling him out for being hurtful. “Slade’s comedy act was definitely hurtful to Vicki and Tamra, and I don’t think it’s funny to make fun of other people, especially as part of an act where they aren’t able to defend themselves,” Alexis explains.

“However, some parts of his act were funny. I have to give both he and Gretchen props for getting up on that stage, because whether the show was good or bad, comedy has to be one of the most difficult things to attempt, and I wouldn’t have the nerve to do it.”

[Photo Credits: WENN.com]

DO YOU BELIEVE SLADE’S ACT WILL REALLY BE TOURING? WAS HIS ROUTINE FUNNY OR NOT? ARE YOU SURPRISED ALEXIS AND VICKI ARE REALLY FRIENDS?