After five drama-filled seasons, “Selling Sunset” is holding its first-ever reunion special for season five. One of the biggest topics this season has been Chrishell Stause and Jason Oppenheim’s relationship, but their December breakup wasn’t captured on camera, as it occurred after filming already wrapped. However, for the first time since the season’s premiere, Oppenheim sheds light at the reunion on the couple’s split.
“I think there was a lot of love between us, and still is, and I still care about her very much.”
When host Tan France asks if their romance was real, Oppenheim says, “I hesitate to answer that question . . . because I don’t want to give it any credence. That’s like asking me if the Earth is flat. It’s a stupid question to me.” Oppenheim attempts to elaborate on what he starts to refer to as a “meaningful relationship” before getting choked up in his response. His fellow castmates try to console him with comforting words, as Chelsea Lazkani points out, “I’ve never seen Jason sad.”
“There’s a lot of sadness and loss,” Oppenheim says of the breakup. “I think watching the show made it more difficult. You know, brought it back up. It’s been a few months, but I’m still going through stuff. I think there was a lot of love between us, and still is, and I still care about her very much. This has been a very difficult breakup.”
In addition to Oppenheim’s comments, the reunion will likely share more insight from Stause’s point of view, as well as all the other drama looming from the end of the season. On April 25, Netflix teased the reunion with a cast photo featuring every member present except one: Christine Quinn. The same day, People reported that Quinn missed the taping after testing positive for COVID. Her rep told the publication, “Out of an abundance of caution for the cast and crew, she did not attend the reunion.”
However, on April 26, TMZ shared a photo of Quinn on a film set just three days after her positive COVID test result. (For reference, the CDC recommends that those who test positive self-isolate for at least five days.) On Twitter, Stause quickly called out Quinn’s seemingly contradictory reason for skipping the reunion, replying to TMZ’s article with a tweet that included a GIF of Maury Povich reciting his signature phrase: “The lie-detector test determined that was a lie.”
Stause and Quinn have never gotten along, but their relationship took a turn in season four of “Selling Sunset” after the latter allegedly planted fabricated stories about Stause’s love life in the press.
Fans are speculating that Quinn’s absence from the upcoming reunion could be due to the buildup of tension between her and the other cast members this season. On April 30, Us Weekly reported that Quinn no longer works at The Oppenheim Group, so it’s unlikely that we’ll see her next season. “It was Christine’s decision to leave The Oppenheim Group,” a source confirmed to the outlet.
“Selling Sunset”‘s season five reunion special premieres on May 6. Watch the full teaser trailer above.