Emily Simpson has been busy on two fronts lately. On Instagram, she is showing off the kettlebell routine behind her body transformation. At the RHOC season 20 premiere, she talked about something serious. She shared the backlash she got for revealing her son’s health struggles on national TV.
The Workout Video Fans Can’t Stop Talking About
Simpson shared a video showing her favorite kettlebell exercises. She also models a variety of colorful bikinis throughout. It is part workout tutorial, part swimsuit showcase, and fans loved both halves.
“Here are a few of my favorite kettlebell exercises I do on repeat,” she wrote over the video.
Why Kettlebells Became Her Go-To
Simpson explained in the caption that kettlebell training has taken over her routine.
“Kettlebell workouts have become my new obsession!” she wrote. “I use heavier kettlebells at the gym but all I have at home is a 15 pound one. Use whatever weight is best for you.”
The video covered one-arm shoulder presses, bicep curls, Russian twists, and single-arm rows. It included her favorite sets and reps for each exercise.
Fans Flooded The Comments
The response was immediate and enthusiastic. One fan asked, “What are you eating these days? Would love to know your diet plan and what works for you. You look great!!!” Another simply wrote, “I will never get enough of these posts! Werrrrrrk.”
One commenter joked about being distracted from the workout itself: “What kettlebell? There’s a kettlebell? All I see is 🔥🔥🔥 I bought tickets to the gun show, and girl you brought them out!”
Others focused on her overall transformation. “Emily we need every single detail because you look AMAZING,” one wrote. Another compared her to a superhero: “You look like Wonder Woman.”
That kind of reaction says a lot about how invested her followers are in this specific chapter of her story.
The Health Scare That Started It All
Simpson has been open about what pushed her toward this lifestyle change in the first place. On Jeff Lewis’ podcast in June 2023, she shared her prediabetes diagnosis. She gained weight and felt emotionally drained.
Her doctor recommended Ozempic, and she tried it briefly.
“So I did. I did that in December,” she said. “For one month, and you know, that was a great kickstart for me.” She did not stick with it long term, though. The side effects outweighed the benefits for her specific situation. “I didn’t like the way it made me feel lethargic and it made me just not have a lot of energy, which was hard with three little kids,” she said. “But it does make you feel full. It was like a refresh.”
Since then, Simpson has focused on regular workouts and healthier habits. This brings her back to the kettlebell videos that fans love.
A Much Harder Conversation At The Season 20 Premiere
Simpson’s interview at the season 20 premiere party highlighted a more personal topic, even though the fitness content has mostly been celebratory. She talked to PEOPLE about sharing her 11-year-old son Luke’s ARFID and PANDAS diagnoses on the show. She also discussed the reaction it caused.
“I would say on social media, I think people were kind of cruel about me sharing about Luke,” she admitted.
BravoCon Changed Her Perspective
Despite the online criticism, Simpson said in-person interactions told a different story. At BravoCon, fans approached her with genuine concern.
“Every single person that came up to me said, ‘How is your son doing?’” she said. “They were very invested, and then they had a story to share about their own child, or a nephew, or a friend’s child. They wanted to talk and share and give me advice. That was my takeaway.”
She admitted she second-guessed the decision at times. “There were so many times I thought, am I doing the right thing by being so honest about what we’re going through?” she said. “I absolutely did the right thing by sharing about him.”
That clarity, after real criticism, shows how much in-person support mattered to her.
How Luke’s Health Crisis Changed Her Marriage
Simpson mentioned that Luke’s health problems changed her marriage to Shane. Season 20 shows this shift unfold on camera.
“After last season, everything going on with my son, our roles in our family changed and shifted, and that plays out on season 20,” she explained. “It’s hard for us to adjust to it, and it’s a marriage. We’ve been together a long time.”
She said Shane took on more responsibility at home as a result. “Shane dedicated himself to being more at home and taking care of the kids and taking on more of a role with the children, and that’s stressful,” she said. “So I think just the stress of us parenting and being married for so long, it plays out on camera.”
Simpson Insists Their Marriage Is Real, Not A Performance
Simpson pushed back on the idea that any of it is exaggerated for the cameras. Speaking with Extra TV’s Bozoma Saint John, she made her case directly. “I’ve been married to the same man for 17 years,” she said. “We have amazing ups, and we have downs, and we have never altered our behavior on camera. So, you know what? The audience can think what they want, to say what they want, but it is a real marriage.”
She continued, “We’re not pretending. We’re not trying to sugarcoat it. We’re not trying to get along because the cameras just got there. We’re like living life and trying to be parents, and trying to navigate marriage, and trying to navigate kids. And I have a son who has lots of issues, and it’s not easy.”
She summed it up simply. “It’s a real marriage with ups and downs, and all the things. But I think at the end of the day, I married my best friend.” That kind of honesty is rare in reality TV. Couples often exaggerate or downplay feelings to fit the storyline. Simpson seems determined not to do either.
What Else To Expect From Season 20
Simpson described the new season as a throwback to the franchise’s early days.
“It goes back to like old school Housewives, like why Housewives was popular in the beginning back in the 2006 era with Victoria Gunvalson in her little family van, and fighting over petty things, and crazy women that drink too much but really love each other at the end of the day,” she said.
She also explained the origin of her nickname for Vicki Gunvalson. Simpson calls her “Victoria” or “Queen Victoria” as a sign of respect.
“I came on season 13 with Victoria, and I feel like she expects and demands respect,” Simpson said. “So, I was very respectful. So, I always call her Victoria or Queen Victoria. And she deserves it.”
