“The Real Housewives of Orange County” star Gretchen Rossi just took a big hit in court — TMZ has learned her defamation allegations against ex boyfriend Jay Photoglou were just tossed out.

Gretchen had  filed a lawsuit against Jay earlier this year alleging he slandered her to the media by claiming her relationship with, now deceased, Jeff Beitzel was staged for the show — and that  it was actually Jay who was Gretchen’s boyfriend during the entire taping.

The case was heard in an OC court this afternoon … and the judge dismissed 3 huge causes — ruling that Jay is off the hook for slander, defamation, and false light…”

Read TMZ‘s full story here.

In other news, it has been reported Slade Smiley has had a reverse vasectomy done and is now officically engaged to be Mr Rossi to Gretchen. The ring is said to be a yellow diamond…rent-a-rock. Now that’s l-o-v-e! Awww…