‘Really Traumatic’: RHOC Star Shannon Beador Shares Reaction To Bloody Selfie After DUI Arrest

Shannon Beador talks about the photo

In an interview with PEOPLE, Shannon Beador shared, “That experience was extremely distressing for me. My injuries were quite severe, and when I glanced at them, it felt like I was staring at a stranger or an unfamiliar version of myself. I didn’t want to acknowledge that image, let alone have others see me in that state. To be completely honest, I believed I would never reveal those wounds to anyone.”

Instead, Shannon chose to share the image with her RHOC co-star Heather Dubrow during this recent season. She acknowledged that this action would likely generate buzz online and that searching her name would bring up pictures of her injured face. Yet, she didn’t do it for sympathy but rather to initiate a conversation about the situation. By displaying the severity of her injuries, she believed it was the most effective way to convey its significance.

Shannon Beador was arrested

After hitting a planter box in Newport Beach, Beador’s car collapsed. The police then arrested her, recording a blood alcohol level of 0.24 in her system. She was charged with two offenses and following a brief stint in jail, she was freed on bail, awaiting a later sentence of three years probation, 40 hours of community service, and a nine-month alcohol treatment program.

Pondering over the accident’s consequences and the potential harm I could have caused others besides myself, I acknowledge that I truly deserved the injury. I confess, “I made a foolish decision and I paid the price for it.” As a cast member on RHOC, I realized, “I put myself in danger and, luckily, it was only me who got hurt. But it could have been so much worse – I could have taken someone else’s life.”

Shannon shared that her therapy sessions have been instrumental in helping her overcome the guilt and embarrassment she feels. She added, “I constantly remind myself, ‘I might have caused harm, but thankfully, no one was physically injured.’ I don’t want to downplay the gravity of the situation, as it’s always on my mind. Yet, I didn’t inflict harm upon someone, and for that, I am truly grateful.”

After finishing their talk, Shannon remarked that this event would be an experience she’d had, shaping yet not determining her existence. Essentially, it signified the commencement of a fresh phase in her life.