It goes without saying that Shannon Beador is Bravo’s strongest soldier. Ever since viewers were first introduced to the fun-loving mom from RHOC, it quickly became evident despite her best efforts that Shannon’s Real Housewife track record was destined to revolve around Archie’s mom constantly getting herself out of a pickle. About 22 seconds into her debut on season 9 of The Real Housewives Of Orange County, Heather Dubrow made sure to push Shannon’s buttons by bringing up rumors about her marriage. The on season 10, between shouting matches with Bravo’s retired FBI agent MKE about starting charities, Shannon made a valiant but ultimately fruitless effort to save her marriage with David Beado (who is definitely a human male and not a demonic leprechaun sent to earth to destroy female happiness). She survived multiple friend breakups with Tamra and Vicki and that time Heather returned to the show dressed as a character from Grease and threatened Shannon like a mob boss. Unfortunately for Ms. Storms Beador, season 18’s problem is possibly the most serious yet, and completely of her own doing. Let’s unpack everything there is to know about Shannon Beador’s DUI arrest as discussed on RHOC. *Tough love incoming*.
Did Shannon Beador go to jail for her DUI?
After being arrested in September, 2023 for driving under the influence with a .24% blood alcohol content, as reported by TMZ, Shannon has been sentenced to three years probation in addition to 40 hours of community service. Newport Police records show that Shannon drove her car into a neighboring home and then walked away from the scene, pretending that she was out walking her dog Archie at 1:17 a.m.. Ultimately Shannon pleaded no contest to two charges of DUI and hit and run, according to People, the second of which was dropped prior to sentencing. Her statement noted she was ” grateful” no one was injured besides herself from her “terrible mistake.” She also is instructed to complete nine months of alcohol education classes. Shannon did not serve any jail time.
What has Shannon Beador said about her DUI?
In October 2023, about a month after the arrest, Shannon took to Instagram to break her silence on the accident. At the time, she stated she was “not in the position to comment” because of legal reasons but was ” focusing on getting healthy, getting back to myself and walking Archie.” At BravoCon in November of 2023, Shannon shared with E! News her extreme remorse for the incident caused by “drinking more alcohol” because of a “lot of unhealthy things going on” in her life. She had already spent time in a “behavioral wellness place with an alcohol component in it”, prior to the court’s mandated courses. Ahead of the Orange County season 18 premiere, Shannon addressed Tamra Judge’s commentary on the situation (Tamra has commented publicly and on the forthcoming season about her disapproval of Shannon’s choice to drink after the arrest during their Tres Amigas tour). Shannon is very unhappy with her former BFF’s apparent lack of empathy, whom she says had not supported her since the day after DUI. Meanwhile, Shannon is intent is focusing on bettering herself with weekly trama therapy among other treatments. In a teaser for the RHOC season 18 premiere, Shannon tearfully expresses to her daughters how much disappointment and humiliation she feels for being such a horrible role model who was unable to drive Stella to college. Shannon describes in her confessional how she “lost control of the car” after intentionally revving the engine to prove a point to John. He had just called her a “drunken idiot” after a fight at his home.
It’s not a hot take to say drinking and driving, for any reason, is wildly dangerous and completely unacceptable. Like her daughters said, all she can do from here is take accountability and learn from this. Hopefully, Shannon’s genuine remorse and consistent steps to work on her mental health will live up to her promise to never get herself or others into this situation again. I do think it’s worth a small tip of the hat that Shannon is willing to face the music, on camera, and all over again as the season airs to show fans more than just the highlights of being a Real Housewife.
