Teddi Mellencamp Confirms 2024 Affair, Questions if Her Stage 4 Cancer Is ‘Payback’
Teddi Mellencamp, the daughter of rocker John Mellencamp, rose to fame on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. While Teddi Mellencamp has left the show behind, she hasn’t left the spotlight; her cancer battle has been very public. The mother of three just got even more vulnerable during a podcast appearance. She admitted she wonders if her stage 4 melanoma diagnosis is “payback” for having an affair. The admission is the first time she has basically confirmed she had an affair with horse trainer, Simon Schroeder.
Teddi Mellencamp wonders if her cancer is ‘payback’
Teddi Mellencamp’s 2025 isn’t going the way she intended. The former reality TV star revealed that she has stage 4 melanoma earlier this year, and opened up about the symptoms she is experiencing. For the first time, she’s letting her fans in on the inner workings of her mind. During an appearance on The Jamie Kern Lima Show, Mellencamp opened up about what she thinks about when things get quiet. Mellencamp, through tears, revealed that she often wonders if her cancer is “payback” for hurting people. She seems to ponder if her stage 4 diagnosis is some type of karmic retribution for having an affair.
The affair in question, with Simon Schroeder, a horse trainer, was heavily discussed in reality TV circles in 2024. According to the Daily Mail, Mellencamp and Schroeder had a months-long affair while he was training her horse, Toad. Schroeder’s wife, with whom he was expecting a baby, reportedly confronted both Mellencamp and Schroeder about the liaison. While the affair was heavily discussed when the rumors first started to swirl, Mellencamp refused to acknowledge the story until now. Mellencamp was not yet divorced when the affair took place.
The Bravo celebrity’s cancer journey started in 2022
Teddi Mellencamp was initially diagnosed with stage II melanoma in October 2022 after having a mole removed from her back. The surgery was just the start of her cancer journey. Since then, Mellencamp has had multiple surgeries to remove melanoma lesions.
The Bravo star underwent surgery in 2025 to remove tumors from her brain. The tumors revealed that Mellencamp’s cancer had metastasized. In April 2025, Mellencamp announced that she had officially been diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma. During her recent podcast appearance, she revealed she has a “50/50” chance at surviving the diagnosis. Mellencamp is currently undergoing radiation and immunotherapy. She keeps her fans up to date on her progress through social media and her podcast.
