RHOC star Shannon Beador is recalling her “surreal” jail experience. The mother of three was locked up after she had her DUI hit and run. Now, she is reflecting on what that night was like and how it felt to be behind bars while in the most intense pain. Keep reading for all of the details on Shannon’s experience.
RHOC Shannon Beador Recalls ‘Surreal’ Jail Experience
Shannon Beador’s co-stars have long talked about her drinking and how she needed to slow down. Yet, she kept going and living her life until one night, she made a horrible mistake. The RHOC star drank and drove from her ex-boyfriend, John Janssen’s house. They had a fight which led her to leave. Though she knew she should not drive because she had alcohol, she did and ended up having a hit-and-run. It eventually led to her getting arrested for a DUI as Shannon had left the scene with her dog, Archie by her side.
Since that happened, she has had to serve community service, go to an alcohol treatment program, and relive the nightmare on Season 18 of RHOC. Now, she is opening up about having to spend time in jail after that fateful night that has changed her life forever. According to People, Shannon is claustrophobic so being in a cell added to the nightmare:
“I said to the policeman, ‘Oh no, I can’t go in there. That’s too small. I can’t go in there.’ And there were no bars for air. It was a door. They go, ‘Well, this is the bigger one.’ So I walked in to see, and they shut the door. And then I’m like, ‘No, you gotta let me go. I can’t be here.”
She added that she tried to pretend she was in a bedroom in an attempt to get over her claustrophobia. As much as it distressed her, Shannon had to serve her “fine” of five hours in jail. It was not a pretty sight for Shannon Beador who was bloodied up and barefoot:
“I was injured. I had blood all over me. And when they let me out, literally, it was like in the movies. They opened up this garage door. I didn’t even know where. I’m like, ‘What am I supposed to do?’ [and] they go, ‘You can go.’”
This taught Shannon where she never wanted to be again in her life. It was a true wake-up call:
“I had no shoes on. It was surreal and it is something that I will never let happen again. I’m never going to make poor decisions like that again. I’m not going to.”
Changing Her Ways
Though being behind bars was a horrific experience, it should have been enough for Shannon Beador to change her ways. However, as seen in clips for RHOC Season 18, she still has a few cocktails here and there. Yet, Shannon notes that she drinks with a different mindset now, and is not an escape tactic. Her friendship with Tamra Judge also suffered as they were doing the ‘Tres Amigas’ tour with Vicki Gunvalson. Some of the jokes involved drinking and Tamra felt it was too soon after Shannon’s arrest to go down that road. Plus her schedule did not align with their tour.
So, she backed out which has caused major dissension between the women and has been a friendship ender. Tamra also has talked about seeing Shannon sneak alcohol shortly after her arrest which she had a hard time with. Shannon maintains that she has changed, that this has been lifechanging but it really shook her three girls:
“They were shocked. I’m a huge lecturer on never drinking and driving, and for me at my age to be setting such a poor example was just devastating. I made a horrible, horrible decision. I think about it every day, and I’m so grateful that I didn’t hurt anyone.”
Do you think Shannon has really learned or will it take some more time? Let us know your thoughts and watch RHOC Thursdays on Bravo.
Amanda has been a professional freelance writer for over a decade, holding both a BA and an MA. Her passions include animals, iced coffee, gnomes, summer, music, and ‘Vanderpump Rules’.
