While multiple media outlets reported that Rossi and Smiley were the ones who contacted Bellino, Rossi claims it was the other way around.
"First of all Slade and I were contacted by Jim, not the other way around. Even though we had not spoken to him since the show many yrs ago, we had no bad blood with him. He knew we had been in a similar case for years and had won a judgment against the individual who perpetuated those lies against us."
"He also asked if we would come in and testify against Tamra. We made it very clear we had no intention of voluntarily testifying against her and did not want to be involved. Since then his attorney has requested the court to lift the discovery hold so they can subpoena us and others in order to force our testimony. If the court allows this then we would no longer have a choice to be involved or not, even if it’s against our will (which is the whole point behind why lawyers issue subpoenas)"
Rossi continued: "For those that are sending me messages saying I can just plead the fifth, that is not how it works in this situation. You can only plead the fifth for self-incrimination. For those that say I should just not show up, that’s not how it works either. When a subpoena is issued it becomes a court order from the Judge and if I don’t show up I could be held in contempt of court. So please stop making assumptions about things you do not know and ignorant statements."
Rossi makes it clear that she is not "desperate" or trying to be "relevant" as many on social media have accused her for being linked to Bellino's lawsuit against Beador and Judge.
"I just got out of a long 8yr court battle and don’t care to see the inside of a court room ever again! Many of the stories circulating are false and inaccurate! (swipe right) I am not desperate to be in the limelight or trying to stay relevant, I am not trying to get back on the show, I am not getting paid, desperate for money, nor is my business failing," she added. "I have not joined Jim Bellino’s court case and am not a party to this matter. I did not agree to testify, thus the reason they intend to subpoena our testimony."
Gretchen also took to Twitter to share the news with RHOC fans about the topic.
As previously reported, Jim filed paperwork on Monday, September 25, claiming he was contacted by Smiley, who told him he and Rossi want to help him in his lawsuit against Beador and Judge, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly.
Jim said in the documents that Smiley told him the couple will “provide testimony regarding the anger, hostility and ill-will that Defendants harbor with respect to Bellino.”
Smiley also allegedly told Jim he and Rossi can provide evidence that “the Defendants have a pattern of making up stories to create notoriety for themselves in the media,” per court documents via the publication.