Setting the record straight? Stassi Schroeder sat down for her first interview since being fired from Vanderpump Rules in June. “I needed time to process my feelings,” the former reality TV star, 32, explained to Tamron Hall on Thursday, September 17.
“I needed time to process what happened and I feel like one of the most frustrating parts, you know, when this all went down was that people expected me to just understand everything immediately and things like that take time,” Stassi continued. “I felt like it would be better for me to take the time to get a greater understanding of everything and the issues before I opened my mouth again.”
After appearing on the hit Bravo show for eight seasons, Stassi was fired after cast member Faith Stowers accused her, as well as series regular Kristen Doute, of past racist behavior. During an Instagram Live broadcast with Floribama Shore’s Candace Rice, Faith, 31, said her experience on Vanderpump Rules as the only Black cast member was “a lot.”
At the beginning of season 5, the cast learned that Jax Taylor cheated on his then-girlfriend Brittany Cartwright with Faith. “I felt like after their friend did something that we both were involved in that he’s done like, a thousand times, they wanted to attack me instead of him. They wanted to attack, attack, attack, attack, attack,” the Ex on the Beach alum recalled.
“I was wrong, I was this, I was that, calling me names, saying my hair was nappy, which is weird coming out of their mouths,” Faith continued. Moreover, Stassi, who is now expecting baby No. 1 with fiancé Beau Clark, and Kristen, 37, accused the Georgia native of committing a crime.
“There was this article on Daily Mail where there was an African American lady,” Faith explained. “It was a weird photo, so she looked very light-skinned and had these different, weird tattoos. They showcased her, and I guess this woman was robbing people. And they called the cops and said it was me.”
Since Stassi was let go from Vanderpump Rules, she issued a joint apology with Kristen. “Stassi and Kristen acknowledged what they did was wrong, have apologized and been punished,” rep Steve Honig told Life & Style on June 9. “Without casting aside their actions or the impact of those actions, they want to move forward as part of the solution in ways that are productive, meaningful and sincere. Both of them recognize actions speak louder than words and that is what will guide them as they move forward.”
To see the biggest revelations from Stassi’s interview with Tamron Hall, scroll through the gallery below.