The reality star, 43, spoke to PEOPLE Wednesday, two days after a preview of Sunday’s upcomingReal Housewives of Orange Countyseason 13 reunion was released during which Gunvalson accuses Dodd of using cocaine.
Though Dodd denied the allegation immediately to Gunvalson in the preview, she said news of the allegation has already done irreparable damage to her reputation.
“Now it’s out there in the universe. You don’t think people are going to be like, ‘Maybe shedoesdo it?’ ” Dodd adds. “This ismylife. This ismyname. It’s like character assassination. It’s really hurt me.”
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“My daughter doesn’t watch the show, but she reads social media,” Dodd explains. “She’s seen what people are saying and it upsets her. I try to be a good example to my daughter. I can have sophomoric humor sometimes, but my daughter knows me. She knows I’m a good mom. I don’t want my daughter even thinking that at all.”
“She goes to a very conservative Catholic school. Her friends’ moms are all into the show, they’re seeing everything that’s going on. My daughter’s been crying, thinking that her friend’s parents aren’t going to let her see them because they’ll think that I do drugs.” Dodd says. “It hurts my daughter! Vicki’s a mother, she should know better.”
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AsRHOCfans know, Dodd and Gunvalson have had a rough season. Thepair’s close friendship became fracturedafter Gunvalson helped introduceDodd’s ex-husbandto his new girlfriend. She even went on a few double dates with them and her boyfriend Steve Lodge — something Gunvalson never mentioned to Dodd.
“I couldn’t believe she said that,’ Dodd said. “I asked her, ‘did you see me do it?’ And she said, ‘No.’ It was just a rumor that she heard. And it’s like, you don’t repeat rumors like that! She apologized for it. I think I got her so mad that that’s what came to her mouth from her mind. But she didn’t think of my daughter. She didn’t think of the consequences.”
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At the time, Dodd was able to accept Gunvalson’s apology and move on. The reunion trailer’s airing, however, changed things. “We left the reunion in a good place, but I didn’t know the repercussions it would have on me and my daughter,” Dodd says. “I didn’t know how damaging it really was. If I knew then what I knew now, I would not have forgiven her so quick.”
Asked if their friendship could be repaired, Dodd was uncertain. “For Vicki to do that to me, it’s so hurtful and irresponsible,” she said. “She is so far off base, how can I have a relationship with her?”
Gunvalson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The Real Housewives of Orange Countyreunion airs Sunday (9 p.m. ET) on Bravo.
source: people.com
