Kyle Richards continues to have Teddi Mellencamp’s back. 

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star demonstrated this reality on Wednesday, June 11, when Teddi spoke about the negative feedback she received during her battle with Stage 4 cancer. Teddi mentioned seeing online comments that criticized her for choosing to date a new person and foster a dog while facing health challenges. Some individuals believe these choices serve as distractions, arguing she should concentrate more on her family and recovery.

Teddi Mellencamp says she caught heat for dating amid her health issues

“People have been criticizing me for fostering a dog and for dating,” she shared during the June 11 episode of her podcast, Two T’s in a Pod. “[They say], ‘The only thing she should focus on right now are her kids and staying alive.'”

Teddi’s podcast co-host, Tamra Judge from The Real Housewives of Orange County, denounced the criticism, asserting that Teddi is “constantly” attentive to her health and prioritizing time with her children.

“If you want to date… life doesn’t stop because you have cancer,” Tamra said. 

“Yeah. And if I want to put myself in a situation where I’m staying busy so I’m not getting depressed, why have a problem with that?” Teddi said before admitting the criticism does “bother” her. “Clearly, I’m not going on dates while my kids are sitting here, looking up, waiting to hang out with me.”

Kyle Richards speaks out in support of Teddi Mellencamp

Page Six shared Teddi’s remarks in a June 11 Instagram post that came across Kyle’s feed. The Housewife hopped in the comments section and showed support for her longtime friend.

“The fact that she even has to defend herself…” she wrote.

Kyle has remained in Teddi’s corner since she was first diagnosed with Stage 2 melanoma in late 2022. In fact, it was Kyle who noticed an abnormal spot on Teddi’s back and encouraged her to get it checked out. Fast-forward to February 2025, when Teddi learned her skin cancer had metastasized to her brain in lungs, resulting in multiple tumors. 

Kyle Richards says she’s “in awe” of Teddi Mellencamp’s strength

Kyle reflected on Teddi’s health journey during an April charity event for the Women’s Cancer Research Fund, saying she was “so incredibly proud of” Teddi’s resilience. 

“I’m so in awe of her strength,” Kyle told ExtraTV. “She’s very fortunate that she’s so loved. She has an incredible amount of love around her with family and friends, and she really is just giving women a lot of hope — everyone a lot of hope.

Kyle continued: “When she’s had her down days, I said, ‘You are inspiring people. And when you come out on the other side of this — and I do believe you will — you have no idea how many people you are helping…’ Obviously, this hit really hard, having someone you love go through something like this. Just a reminder to all of us that life is precious and we just always have to be there for each other.”

Teddi Mellencamp & Kyle Richards reveal their matching tattoos

Weeks before the charity event, Kyle and Teddi solidified their bond by getting matching tattoos. The friends received the body art during a friend’s at-home birthday party with Los Angeles-based tattoo artist Wesley Austin.

“We love our new tattoos,” Kyle captioned an April 9 Instagram. “A perfect match.”

The third slide provided a close-up of Kyle and Teddi’s matching forearm ink: a small match with a lit flame.

Teddi Mellencamp shares an update on her Stage 4 cancer

Elsewhere in the June 11 Two T’s in a Pod episode, Teddi shared the results of her recent MRI. The Indiana native said she had the scan because she began experiencing symptoms that led her to believe her brain tumors were growing and/or multiplying. 

“I had gotten pretty nervous because I started getting headaches again,” she told Tamra. “So I was like, ‘Oh no, that was the sign of this happening in the first place. I hope it means that the tumors aren’t getting bigger again.’ But the doctors came in and said that the tumors have not grown at all. If anything, they’re shrinking. I’m in the 1% range of improvement… But I am still Stage 4 cancer.”

Teddi said her headaches may have been caused by dehydration, stress, or lack of sleep. 

“Was there a level of like just happiness and relief?” Tamra asked, referring to the MRI results.

“Do you want me to lie?” Teddi asked. “No, there wasn’t. There was sadness because I think I believe that I’m gonna go in and they’re gonna say, ‘Wow, it’s a miracle and you no longer have any cancer, and you’re in remission.’ But there’s also the immunotherapy and the cancer-free bell [at the cancer treatment facility], and I look at it and I get really down, like will I ever be able to [ring it]?”

Tamra encouraged Teddi to just “be patient,” reminding her she was battling Stage 4 cancer and making improvements.

“That is like a miracle in itself,” the OC mom said. 

Find out more about Teddi’s health journey and the “really sweet guy” she’s dating.