Tamra Judge Addresses Backlash After ‘On the Spectrum’ Diagnosis

Tamra Judge is addressing the backlash she received after publicly revealing that she is “on the spectrum.”

The Real Housewives of Orange County star, 57, issued a statement about why she decided to share her recent diagnosis via a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday, October 15.

“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,” she began, claiming that her new diagnosis came about after talking with her therapist — who she’s “known for years” — over the “course of two hours.”

She continued, “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.”

(Her announcement is seemingly a reference to autism spectrum disorder, a neurological disorder affecting interaction and communication with others, per the National Institute of Mental Health.)

The longtime RHOC cast member went on to explain why she felt the need to share her initial diagnosis with her listeners on Tuesday’s episode of her “Two T’s in a Pod” podcast, which she cohosts with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave.

“I had no time to process things, or even talk to my family — I was just back at work,” she explained. “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.”

Judge noted that although she wanted to be transparent with her followers as she’s “always done,” the Bravolebrity wrote that she realized she “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,” she continued, adding that she has “deep and painful” past trauma that she’s “suppressed for 15 years.”

She concluded, “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.”

Judge, whose life has played out on camera for more than 15 years, first joined the cast of RHOC during season 3 in 2007, and served as a main cast member on the show until her exit after season 14 in 2020.

She rejoined the cast for season 17 last year, and stars alongside Heather Dubrow, Shannon Beador, Emily Simpson, Gina Kirschenheiter, Katie Ginella and Jennifer Pedranti on season 18, which is currently airing on Bravo.