'Selling Sunset' stars Chrishell Stause and Jason Oppenheim cuddle in Italy
Former "Dancing With the Stars" contestant Chrishell Stause has a new beau: her "Selling Sunset" co-star Jason Oppenheim.
The two were seen cuddling in photographs Stause shared on Instagram Wednesday. Oppenheim confirmed the relationship in a statement to Us Weekly.
“Chrishell and I became close friends and it has developed into an amazing relationship,” he said. “I care about her deeply and we’re very happy together.”
A representative for Stause did not respond to a request for comment.
Currently, the two are on vacation together in Italy with their co-stars, including Oppenheim's twin brother, Brett. Their romance has already received his stamp of approval.
"Love you Chrishell. Thank you for making my brother happy," he wrote in an Instagram comment.
But why is this making such big waves for fans of the Netflix reality TV series? Here's a brief summary:
Who have they been linked to in the past?
When "Selling Sunset" began filming, Stause was married to "This Is Us" star Justin Hartley, but he filed for divorce in 2019. (Yes, that — and Stause's ensuing heartbreak — was all documented in season three of the show.) Afterward, she was linked to her "Dancing With the Stars" co-star Keo Motsepe, but they split earlier this year.
Oppenheim hasn't been as open about his personal life, but fans of the show know that he previously dated realtor Mary Fitzgerald, who also appears on the series. Fitzgerald has been married to Romain Bonnet since 2018, and the two are currently in Italy with Stause and Oppenheim.
"So happy for you guys! Finally people will stop with Jason and Mary hopefully," Bonnet commented on Stause's photos.
Were there signs of romance on the show?
Not really. For much of "Selling Sunset," Stause was married to Hartley and producers focused on Oppenheim's past with Fitzgerald. In November 2020, Oppenheim told Us Weekly that he was single and "not huge on dating."
"I think because I’m very happy right now, I’m definitely not going to settle,” he said. “I have to find a really impressive woman, I think, to get me there. But I’m so open to it, for sure. I mean, I think I’m just open to being happy.”
OK, but were they friends?
Yes. Oppenheim said in a separate interview with Us Weekly late last year that he and Stause had become "so close."
"It’s just been fun to watch her grow and to kind of just get to know her better and become really good friends," he said.
Will this appear on the series?
Perhaps. "Selling Sunset," which in March was renewed for two more seasons, began production earlier this year. However, People reported that this vacation takes place during a break in filming.
Season four of the reality TV series is expected to premiere later this year, according to People.
