Teddi Mellencamp stands her ground in defense of her romantic endeavors amidst a challenging personal battle. The former star of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" recently addressed the scrutiny she's faced for embarking on dating ventures while grappling with stage 4 cancer. During the June 11th episode of her and Tamra Judge's podcast, "Two T's in a Pod," Teddi, 43, unveiled her thoughts on the matter.
"People have been lambasting me for fostering a dog and dating," Teddi confessed. "They say, 'The only things she should concern herself with now are her children and staying alive. How can she possibly be dating in such circumstances?'" Her loyal friend Tamra, stepping in to defend her, lashed out at the critics, urging them to "buzz off" since they have no inkling of the complexities behind the scenes.
"Every single day, you're preoccupied with your health, striving to improve, doing all that's in your power, and spending every possible moment with your kids," Tamra, 54, clarified. "Frankly, shut up. If you want to date, life doesn't grind to a halt just because you have cancer."
Teddi, who co-parents Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, 5, with her ex-partner Edwin Arroyave, echoed this sentiment. She explained that meeting new people keeps her occupied and diverts her mind from dark thoughts. As she continues to brush off these comments, she finds support from those closest to her, including her doctor.
"My doctor mentioned, 'Now that I follow you on Instagram, I see some of the cruel things people write,'" Teddi recounted their conversation. "'I genuinely don't want you to perceive your cancer as fatal. Just because it ended someone else's loved one's journey doesn't mean it's your fate. You deserve to enjoy yourself and find joy in laughter.'"
Indeed, the founder of All In has been openly embracing love in recent times, having recently acknowledged her new relationship. Despite the criticism, Teddi remains focused on the future as she continues her cancer treatment. Earlier in the episode, she revealed that her tumors, which initially appeared in her brain and later spread to her lungs, have "remained stable" and that she falls within "the one percent range of improvement."
"I'm improving," she persisted. "I genuinely feel better, to the extent that I'm exercising four or five times a week. Fostering this new puppy has brought immense joy to our lives, particularly to the kids."
