Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
During the Nov. 13 episode ofRHOC, Eddie’s wifeTamra Judgebroke down while attending a group therapy session with her eldest son Ryan Vieth, who is battling depression, and his therapist,Dr. Mcayla Sarno.
While processing with Vieth, 33, and the therapist, Tamra, 52,admitted her worry“that one day Ryan might commit suicide. That’s my biggest fear.”
Tamra reflected on the therapy session during a conversation with Eddie.
“When you’re struggling with childhood issues as a man, you’re not a man,” Eddiereportedlysaid in a confessional in reference to Vieth.
Ryan Vieth, Tamra Judge and her daughter Sofia.Tamra Judge/Instagram
While Eddie’s words were met with criticism from fans, he defended his outlook and clarified his views on mental illness in the Instagram statement.
“I stand behind what I said and never did I say that people with a mental illness need to man up. I understand mental illness. I also understand when someone uses mental illness as an scapegoat,” Eddie continued the post.
“Ryan is not mentally ill and he is not using it as an scapegoat. He is struggling with life. And, you don’t have to be mentally ill to feel depressed,” he said.
Concluding the post, Eddie said that production will edit “a touching moment” as a way to get a “max reaction” from audiences.
On her BravoCon panel on Sunday, Tamra addressed Eddie’s frustrations, explaining that his comment was taken out of context. PEOPLE is out to Bravo for comment.
RHOCviewers have seen Vieth struggle throughout the years, butting heads with Tamra’s ex-husband Simon Barney and leaving Orange Country before eventually moving back to work with his mother a few seasons ago.
Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic
In the end, Dr. Sarno urged Vieth to stick with therapy, no matter how hard it is, promising him that the process would help him resolve some of this trauma.
“You are a good dad,” Tamra said.
She only hoped that he wouldn’t ignore himself as he poured energy into Ava.
The Real Housewives of Orange Countyairs Tuesdays (9 p.m. ET) on Bravo.
source: people.com
