Lisa Vanderpump on ‘Rules’ cast firings: ‘Actions should ... have consequences’
“Vanderpump Rules†raison d’etre and creator Lisa Vanderpump has addressed the recent firings of staffers Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute and others from the show, which revolves around one “friend group†from the staffs at her restaurants.
Vanderpump wrote in a Wednesday post on social media that in “the past two weeks,†issues that she “and many others†didn’t know about previously had been brought to her attention. One can assume she was referring in part to a 2018 incident in which Schroeder and Doute, who are white, called the police on former castmate Faith Stowers, who is Black, for a crime Stowers had nothing to do with.
“It was necessary for me to be quiet until now, until decisions had been made,†wrote Vanderpump. “Now I can freely speak from the heart.
“As we’ve seen such devastating sadness that has played out globally,†she continued, “we all have a part to play to create a kinder, more just society. My hope is for this generation to treat each other with respect and humanity, and realize that actions have; and should have, consequences.†She added that she was “deeply saddened by some of the lack of judgment that has been displayed†by a few of her employees.
Vanderpump spoke about the “inclusive company†she and her employees have created, only a fraction of which is seen on the show.
“We will continue to embrace diversity as one of our greatest strengths, and I’m excited to give you deeper look into the multi-faceted fabric of our company in the future,†she wrote. “The world needs to move forward with a kinder generation. Everybody deserves to feel safe, heard and appreciated in their communities.
“So much of what has transpired in the world is not right, fair or acceptable. We all have work to do to create a society we can be proud of and I hope as we venture forward, we strive to live in a world where kindness and compassion are our highest values.â€
Four “Vanderpump Rules†cast members, including originals Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute, have been let go over previous racist behavior.
Schroeder and Doute apparently targeted Stowers after she left the show, Stowers said this week in an Instagram Live interview with Candace Renee Rice. Having seen a picture via the Daily Mail of a light-skinned black woman who was wanted for a crime spree, the pair reported Stowers to authorities. Police dismissed the report.
“They thought it was me because it was a Black woman with a weave,†the 31-year-old mom said in the interview. Being the only Black woman in an otherwise all-white cast was “a lot,†she said. However, she added later that she “loved†Vanderpump and respected her style as a businesswoman.
The two fired cast members also allegedly spread a rumor that Stowers, a former member of the military, was AWOL when in fact she had been honorably discharged, Stowers said.
In addition to Schroeder and Doute, who had been with “Rules†since it started in 2013, new castmates Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni were also let go earlier this week, according to a statement to The Times from a show spokeswoman. The men had appeared in Season 8, according to IMDb.
Boyens and Caprioni had been slammed earlier this year for various racist tweets that had been posted in 2012. Boyens’ tweets included comments about Black and Asian people, while Caprioni used the N-word multiple times. Both have apologized for their postings.
Meanwhile, Andy Cohen, who hosted the three-part, Season 8 “Vanderpump Rules†reunion that has been airing in recent weeks and concludes on Tuesday, said on his Sirius XM show that he “totally†supported Bravo’s decision to fire the four people and thought it was the right move.
However, after receiving tons of messages about the show, he reminded listeners that “I’m not in charge of programming at Bravo anymore. I am not an executive producer of ‘Vanderpump Rules.’ I don’t have anything to do with the show except I love it and that I host the reunions.â€
“I don’t produce the show,†he added, “so what I want people to know is I have no say in hiring and firing.â€
Cohen is an exec producer on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives†shows, including the Beverly Hills, New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, Orange County and Potomac incarnations. “Vanderpump Rules†is a spinoff of “RHOBH.â€
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