It may be called Vanderpump Rules, but Lisa Vanderpump doesn’t make all of the rules. The longtime Bravo personality got candid about the network’s decision to fire Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni for the first time in a new interview.
“I think it’s sad, really, what happened, because I do think that people can learn from their mistakes, and I’m all about that,” the 59-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday, August 13. “I think you’ve seen that on the show. Of course, we do know that we’re in this momentum of really people kind of standing up for what’s right, and I’m all about that and embracing that — and I do believe in zero tolerance for that — but I also believe that you can come back from that and you’re young and you can learn from it.”
Vanderpump continued: “So, if it were up to me, I would like to see them go on but really have a better understanding of where they went wrong and really, you know — I’m not into just kind of getting rid of people, because they get it wrong. Otherwise, I’d probably have nobody working for me at this point.”
The restaurateur noted that both Schroeder, 32, and Doute, 37, have not been her employees for years, reiterating that it was the network’s decision to cut ties with the former SURvers after their racially insensitive behavior.
“Stassi hadn’t worked for me for a couple of years, nor had Kristen. So that part wasn’t down to me really at all,” Vanderpump told ET. “It’s not my decision. And I think that was then and this is now, but I’m all about giving people second chances, yes, but also about holding people accountable.”
Vanderpump added that she’s “reached out” to Schroeder, who is pregnant with her first child, “two or three” times in recent months, but they haven’t connected. (The SUR owner hasn’t been on good terms with Doute in years.)
“I haven’t heard back from [Stassi] and I really, you know, I do love them both,” she said, adding that she understands if the Next Level Basic author wants to “step away” and focus on “a happy time in her life” with fiancé Beau Clark.
Schroeder and Doute came under fire earlier this year after former costar Faith Stowers, who was the only Black cast member on the show during season 4, revealed they reported her for a crime she didn’t commit. Vanderpump told ET that their actions were “totally inappropriate.”
In July, the “All Things Vanderpump” podcast host interacted with a social media user who called out the “lack of diversity” across Vanderpump Rules’ main cast.
After one fan pointed out that the show only follows one group of friends, Vanderpump added, “That is so true … also not everybody wants to be in the eye of the storm.”
When asked about the situation, Vanderpump told ET that there will be “new cast members” if the show does return for season 9.
“It’s really up to people that want to be front and center,” she added regarding the lack of diversity. “I mean, I’m always all about that. Our companies are like the United Nations.”
