"Real Housewives of O.C." star Gretchen Rossi's ongoing defamation suit against her ex-BF just backfired royally,TMZ has learned, after a judge ruled she has to pay his lawyer fees.

Gretchen Rossi, one of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” has been ordered to pay $40,799 to former beau Jay Photoglou to cover his legal fees. Judge Gregory Munoz of Orange County… ...