What Teddi Mellencamp Has Said About Dating After Edwin Arroyave Split

Teddi Mellencamp is moving on with her life.

In the months since her separation from estranged husband Edwin Arroyave, Mellencamp has started dating again — even amid her battle with cancer.

As of July 2025, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum is dating TV producer Ricci Rea. The two were first photographed cozying up together during a walk in L.A. in June, and while Mellencamp didn’t reveal his identity at the time she has made it no secret that she had dipped her toe back in the pool.

Her love life has been a frequent topic on iHeartRadio’s “Two Ts in a Pod” podcast, which she cohosts with Tamra Judge. She has opened up about dating while battling cancer and navigating life as a single mom.

Mellencamp and Arroyave share daughters Slate and Dove and son Cruz. She is also the stepmother to Arroyave’s daughter Isabella from a previous marriage.

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Keep scrolling for everything Mellencamp has said about dating since her split with Arroyave.

Dating While Fighting Cancer

Teddi Mellencamp Photo by Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic

Mellencamp doesn’t hold back on her condition. As she revealed on the June 20 episode of “Two Ts in a Pod,” she prefers to put her cards on the table in order to avoid wasting her time.

“I’ve had to make it clear to people I’ve dated [that] this is where I am. This is what I’ve got,” she said. “If it’s enough for you, great. If it’s not enough, I won’t be upset. I mean, yes, my feelings will probably be hurting, but this is all I got to give. And if that’s enough, great.”

‘Good Guy’ Ricci Rea

Even before Rea’s name was revealed, Mellencamp sang his praises, sharing sweet stories and calling him an all-around “nice” guy.

“I haven’t had to say any of those things, but he is really sweet and kind,” she said on the same “Two Ts in a Pod” episode. “He came and picked us up this week from the show, and he could tell that I was down. He sat and watched, like, one million hours of horse show rounds. He’s just a good guy. I know I deserve it, and it’s really nice.”

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She also acknowledged that Rea likes to stay out of the public eye, respecting his privacy and not naming him on the podcast.

“I’m dating somebody,” she confirmed on the June 3 episode. “He’s very kind to me, he’s taking good care of me. He’s nice … he’s not married, he doesn’t have any kids. But he’s also a private person.”

Laying It All Out There

Cruz Arroyave, Teddi Mellencamp, Slate Arroyave, Dove Arroyave, Christina Mecklenburg and Isabella Arroyave Photo by Sara Jaye/Getty Images for Trü Frü

Mellencamp knows that a potential partner will have to help her navigate more than her cancer battle. She told Rea everything on her plate, and he was ready for it all.

“If for some reason you realize you need somebody that doesn’t have three kids, 1 million activities to do, 87 podcasts, you want more time than I’m able to give? I understand,” she said she told him. “I would not be mad at you for not even a second. He’s like, ‘I am willing to do anything to be able to spend time with you.’”

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‘Crazy S***’ in the Hospital

Mellencamp’s hospitalization didn’t keep her from meeting people. On a March episode of her podcast, she told former castmate Erika Jayne that she was doing more than just resting up in the hospital.

“I’m not gonna say I’ve had some d*** appointments but I’m gonna say that I had some real crazy s*** happen while I was in the hospital,” she said.

Hitting Back at the Haters

Yes, Mellencamp has a lot going on. No, that does not mean she thinks she should stay away from the dating scene — and she doesn’t care who disagrees.

“[They say that], ‘The only thing she should be worried about right now are her kids and staying alive,’” she said on the June 11 episode of her podcast. “‘How can she be dating?’”

She also shouted out Arroyave, pointing out that the two share custody of their kids.

“I’m not going on dates while my kids are, like, sitting here, looking up [and] waiting to hang out with me,” she said. “I would like to say that [the criticism] doesn’t bother me, but it does, like, when people wrote, ‘Doesn’t she know she has terminal cancer? Why the f*** would she even be dating anyone?”