Vanderpump Rules star Katie Maloney-Schwartz defended BFF Stassi Schroeder’s apology after former castmate Faith Stowers opened up about working with an “all-white” cast on the Bravo show.
“I know your heart and your commitment to learning, understanding and growing. Love you,” Katie, 33, responded to the Next Level Basic author’s apology.
The “Straight Up With Stassi” host said on June 7 she has “grown significantly” but is “still filled with remorse and regret for the hurt [she’s] caused.” The rest of her Instagram message was directed toward Faith, 31.
“I did not recognize then the serious ramifications that could have transpired because of my actions. What I did to Faith was wrong,” Stassi expressed. I apologize and do not expect forgiveness.” The Basically Stassi star noted she was going to “take time to listen, to learn and to take accountability for my own privilege.” The New Orleans native has since lost her partnerships with shaving brand Billie and vitamin brand Ritual.
Faith specifically called out Stassi and Kristen Doute for their treatment of her after she hooked up with Jax Taylor, who was dating his now-wife, Brittany Cartwright, at the time. The Ex on the Beach star appeared as a recurring guest during season 4, but it was revealed she and the Michigan native, 40, had an affair during the season 5 premiere episode.
“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 said while noting Jax’s extensive past with infidelity.
The army veteran also recalled when Stassi and Kristen called the police and blamed her for theft. “There was this article on Daily Mail where there was an African American lady. 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,” the Challenge star explained. “And they called the cops and said it was me. This is like, a true story. I heard this from actually Stassi during an interview.”
Stassi confirmed these actions in a now-deleted episode of the “Bitch Bible” podcast in 2018. The Queen Bees actress said she and Kristen thought the woman’s hair and tattoos matched up with Faith’s.
“It was just funny because they thought it was me because it was a black woman with a weave. So they just assumed it would be me, and they called the cops on me,” Faith said.
At the time, Kristen tweeted the article and wrote, “Hey tweeties, doesn’t this ex #pumprules thief look familiar? I didn’t wanna go there but I’m going there.”
(@kristendoute)The He’s Making You Crazy author, 37, also issued a written apology on Instagram. She said her “actions were not racially driven,” but she now sees how her “privilege blinded [her].” She expressed, “It was never my intention to add to the injustice and imbalance. I’m ashamed, embarrassed and incredibly sorry.”