Teddi Mellencamp has ended her relationship with Ricci Rea just one month after photos surfaced of the pair together, citing her ongoing cancer treatment and divorce as reasons she doesn’t have the capacity for a serious relationship right now.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum revealed the breakup on her latest Diamonds in the Rough podcast episode. She told co-host Erika Girardi that the split actually happened before the relationship made headlines.
“You guys, [the] press needs to get on it a little bit faster because by the time they figured out who my mystery man was, we’re already done,” the 43-year-old said. “I had to call things off.”
“All of a sudden, I open up the freaking worldwide web. I’m like, ‘The mystery man.’ Oh, now you guys figured it out.”
When Girardi asked what happened between them, Mellencamp explained the relationship was getting more serious than she could handle.
“Right now, it started getting to the point where it’s starting to get a little bit more serious. I was like, ‘I don’t have the capacity for this right now. He’s a really nice guy, couldn’t be a nicer guy.”
Health and Personal Struggles Take Priority
Mellencamp is currently receiving treatment for stage 4 cancer while also navigating her divorce from husband Edwin Arroyave.
She acknowledged that the timing wasn’t right for romance. “I don’t feel my best. So, when I have downtime, I want to rest. It’s not even, like, about a need right now, and I think that’s the crazy thing about this.”
The reality star had previously opened up about needing a partner who accepts where she is in life. On a June 20 podcast episode, she explained her approach to dating during this difficult period.
“I’ve had to make it clear to people I’ve dated [that] this is where I am. This is what I’ve got. If it’s enough for you, great. If it’s not enough, I won’t be upset.”
Brief Romance Made Headlines
Mellencamp and Rea were first photographed together during a walk in Encino, California on June 1.
In those snapshots, Rea was seen with his arm around Mellencamp’s shoulders and waist as she placed a hand on his arm.
She confirmed the relationship on her Two Ts In A Pod podcast just days later, saying they’d gone on a walk, visited Gelson’s, and went to the mall to pick up her daughter Slate’s graduation dress.
At the time, Mellencamp had praised Rea’s understanding nature. She described how he watched “one million hours of horse show rounds” and could tell when she was feeling down.
“He’s just a good guy… I know I deserve it, and it’s really nice,” she said in June.
Ongoing Life Changes
The photos of Mellencamp and Rea surfaced seven months after she announced her split from Arroyave following 13 years of marriage.
“After a great deal of care and consideration, I have made the difficult decision to file for divorce,” she shared on Instagram. “My priority is my children and ensuring that every care is taken with their privacy and well-being throughout this new chapter.”
Mellencamp had made it clear to potential partners that she has limited capacity due to her three children, multiple podcasts, and health challenges. She expressed understanding if someone decided they needed more than she could give.
