The Twot Seat: STACEY RUSCH (RHOP)

To Teas in a pod with Teddy Mellencamp and cam Ridge Edge.

Hi, Stacy, Hi, First of all, thank you so much for joining me today.

I know Teddy would have loved to be here to talk to.

You, and I'm thinking of her and praying for her.

Thank you, just really hoping for the best for her and her family. I'm following along just like everyone, so sending prayers to her as much as I can.

Thank you. All the prayers are needed, please everybody.

Amen?

Yes, So, how let's just before we get into the TJ of it all, let's just talk about this season a little bit. Sure, how are you feeling now that the season is over?

You know, this has been a wild ride, Like think about your first season as a housewife.

For sure, you know you're having a lot of fun.

You're learning a lot, not only about the dynamics within the group of each individual woman, but you're also you know, learning about yourself. I feel like I've grown up a lot one season. I know that's like quite dramatic, but no.

That's that's all I feel.

But that's good because I always say there's two types of housewives. There's housewives to watch themselves and go.

Ah, damn.

I don't really like that part of me, and I'm going to change it. And there's other ones that just don't even see it. So if you're growing from it, that's a positive.

I'm I'm definitely growing from this experience.

Now you came from QVC prior, as I'm sure there's a huge difference between QVC and Housewives.

Oh my goodness, it's so different.

Like QVC is you know, the epitome of working at Disneyland, you know, like we And when I say we, I'll say that because I used to be a part of the host team.

But it really is about like spreading love.

And joy and helping people with products that can improve their lives. And there's preparation and you're studying, and you want to make sure that you know, you're connecting to the viewers. It's a it's emotional work and I feel like with the Housewives it's also emotional work, but in a completely different way.

And the perks way unprepared. You're totally unprepared.

There's nothing to study there. It's impossible. You just have to be yourself and sort of ride the way.

You know, Yeah, did you leave QVC to do Housewives.

Or were you already done with QVC.

So when I decided to leave QVC, it was primarily because I was going through a divorce.

No one knew. I'm a very private person, says the person on reality TV. But I didn't tell anyone about my divorce. And so.

At the time, I knew that I wanted to come back to the DC area because my daughter needed that. It was a really big transition for us to be living in Philly because when I was working for QVC, we had to live in Philadelphia. So I knew that my daughter needed to be home. I knew that my daughter needed to be.

Surrounded by friends and family.

So it was almost as if, you know, God made it so that it was perfect timing and gave me this opportunity to come home and start the show. So my daughter got to come home, I could finish things with my divorce and then start this incredible journey on this crazy show.

How did you get cast for Housewives?

So I was cast by a wonderful man. But there was a casting agent that I've known four years. I've known him for about five or six years and we've always kept in touch. And like I said, I don't know. It was divine timing. He called me and said, hey, you know, how are things going with you?

Like what are you doing?

And I was like, oh my gosh, this is happening. This is happening. And he was like, stop, you got to come on the show.

And how did you know? Did you know any of the housewives?

Yes? Yes, you know.

You know, DC is really small, especially when you talk about the social circle that I'm in, So I had met a lot of the women.

Just socially at parties.

I had already met Ashley and Giselle and Wendy. Wendy and I served together on a board for a charitable organization, so I knew a lot of the ladies socially. I knew a casting agent. It was just it was a very easy transition for me. I think a lot of people say that, a lot of people are like, wow, it just seems like you're such a great fit.

I think because it was the perfect time, the combination of.

Knowing a little bit about the ladies, but not like knowing everything you know, So it was just perfect.

So now, looking back, you had said that Karen reached out to you to meet you before you started filming, do you think she did that to steer you in certain directions or what was your thought on that.

Well, I think it's apparent now having watched the finale episode, that that's something that she does with a lot of newbies. So I think she was just taking me out to welcome me into the group and to talk about things. As I've said, Karen and I have known each other for years. I wouldn't say that we were best friends and we were going out every Friday night for drinks, but we've known each other for years.

So we decided to get together.

She invited me, and she told me what to expect from the ladies in the group, or maybe those were her expectations, but that's something that she does with all the new girls, So I don't think that that was Looking back, I think I was one of many newbies to make it to the tally ho.

You know, having lunch.

That's funny. She takes them all there.

Now, I'm gonna tell you this, I see a spark in your eye every once in a while. Usually you're very sweet and very kind, but I'm like, oh, Stacy's gonna snap. She has it in her. She has it in her, and you did a few times. Now, are do you think you are the same person on camera as you are off camera? Did you try to play it safe when you came in there was rumors that you were boring and not tough enough to be a housewife. And I'm like, uh ah, I see it in her.

I'm at heart.

I am a very kind and loving and compassionate person. I've said this many times. My life speaks for itself. I taught yoga for seven years. I've taught all over the world.

I serve on.

Many organizations to help animals, dogs and people.

I am who I am, right, Yeah.

However, I'm a human being. And you can only laugh it off and take the jabs and die the jabs so much, and you have to at some point speak up for yourself. And so you know, people are like, oh my goodness, I thought that you are so prim and proper. I can't believe that you're raising your voice. I can only take so much. I'm a human being. And I also think this is my first season. You know, like,

But if you know, I will absolutely agree, You're not the person that's going to laughter somebody for no no, some reason.

If you get pushed, you're going to push right back.

At some point. I'm a human being. I have to take up for myself. I do have self respect.

For God's sake, you can only take so much, even as the nice girl.

Yeah, how did you reach out to Karen after she went to court?

I didn't.

Yeah, you guys are not on good terms. I take it.

You know, honestly, when you think about the entire season and all the things that happened with Karen, we did not end in a good place. But I have a tremendous amount of respect for Karen and who she is and the legacy that she has begun to build in our community beyond Housewives and our community, and with her family.

There's a lot of things that I know about.

So at this time, despite where we are, I just want the best for her.

I sincerely want her to.

Heal and get well, and I want her to come back stronger than ever, because that is what I would expect from the Grandame. It doesn't matter where we ended at the season. As of today, I'm standing behind her to get back to the phenomenal woman I know her to be.

So the Grandama has said that she wants to ditch that title and just go by Karen and get wants people to know who she is. Now, there's been talk that you guys will start filming pretty soon, and of course she will not be in this season. Do you think that it's going to affect the season at all?

I think that Karen has been a part of the Real Housewives of Potomac brand since it's beginning, and that is commendable and we love her for that. But I also feel like our brand is strong and it is, as you know, an ensemble cast, and I think we have some really wonderful stories that still need to be told and shared. So I think that while she heals and she gets back to herself Karen Huger, I think that we can hold down the fort YEP.

I think you can.

I think.

So let's talk about the reunion. So this was your first reunion. You guys all looked beautiful.

I do. I did like it was amazing.

Favorite of course, you of course, know, you guys all look beautiful.

There was a lot of boobs. There was a lot of boobs.

I'm not gonna a lot of Like I just felt like I needed to push them down a little bit, Like.

It was like bring them out, bring them out.

Yeah, some of y'all looked really uncomfortable, like sitting on the beads and you know the type.

Something really funny.

M hm.

So do you remember when and Andy wanted to show me the video? Oh, yes, I do, a tj y and.

We were all I was we were laughing a little bit after. You know, you can always find laughter even in the worst moments. But I was saying I couldn't even get up to sit next to him to look at the video because I was so snatched.

You know, with the corset and the dress.

So we were all laughing that we all like were glued to our seats because we couldn't move.

Well, it looked like that, say, you guys are beautiful. It looked really uncomfortable.

Even if I wanted to run off the stage, like it was impossible.

Girl, I was like glued to that seat. So we were just laughing about that.

Oh, bless your hearts because I could never do that.

I've done like on my.

Skin from the corset, I could show you that I still have marks, and that was filmed months ago where it was made of wire flowers.

So it cut into my skin. Oh my god, for that reunion.

Oh yes you did, You're still bleeding, I think.

Oh yeah, let's talk about your best friend TJ.

Sure, Andy did play you the tape showing TJ accusing you of paying him to be love interest on the show?

Is there any truth to this?

Like?

How where did he come up with us?

A lot of people are not believing you and thinking that it's absolutely true that you paid him. He is a working actor. Did he get confused somehow, thinking like you're gonna bring me on and somehow you're gonna pay me?

You know, I'm I'm okay with not everyone believing me. That's life.

I'm never I didn't come on this show to win people over or to have people on my side, or to be the most popular. I understand that life happens and everyone's going to have an opinion, especially on a platform like this, And I don't want to bash TJ despite what he did and that he betrayed me in a way that greatly affected me in a way that I've never been affected in my life. I have not paid TJ to be my boyfriend in any way. And

Never spoke ill of.

I've only said the positive things and the positive blessings that he brought to my life. And I didn't do that because I was following a script. I didn't do that because I'm a liar or I'm a fraud. I spoke highly of him because that is who I thought he was.

So when it was brought to my.

Attention in front of the world that he said that I paid him, knowing that he knew what that would imply about me, right, knowing that he said that, knowing that it would hurt me, knowing that I'm going to have to, you know, defend this and come on and explain.

Why does he want to hurt you? That's what I understand. Why would he want to hurt you if he's your best friend.

I think that it was.

I think it was really difficult for him to see his worst moments and the way that he treated me. I think it was really hard. He was very upset with production and the way that he was. He feels he was portrayed. I think a lot of things that were said about his behavior at Wendy's birthday party. There were just a lot of things that he did that were disrespectful, and I think a lot of people saw that and they wanted to defend me, and he read

I also think, you know, I hate to.

I don't want to ever be the type of person that says like, well you didn't see this moment or production did this. Like I accept that my job is to allow reality to play out and you know this right, But what you didn't see. There was a moment when I was with the girls on stage and I said, you know, Andy said, TJ's not here.

Why is he not here?

I said, well, we broke up. He said, oh, so you broke up with TJ. You're divorced.

I said, you know what. Yeah, And it feels good to stand on my own. It feels good to be here, Justice Dacy. I don't need anybody. I'm so confident.

I feel so good, and I just think it's so ironic when I chose to stand on my own this happened.

I just think I'm not the first or the last woman that this will happen to.

I think for me, it's quite obvious how this is playing out.

How long did you know him?

I'm about two years, okay, two two years.

Do you think it's possible that he used you to get on TV?

A lot of people say that, a lot of people seem to think that I.

Was wanting more of a relationship.

And when I say wanting more of a relationship, I want to say that our plan together was to try to be in an intimate relationship after my divorce.

Was final finalized.

That was our plan, and I think I was so excited about that, and I think he was so excited to be a part of rhop and be on camera.

Unfortunately, I think so too.

But you don't see things when you're in it. You know, It's what can I do? No, I get to know about you. But like for my first season watching the show, after you filmed for months and they put it all together, it was hard for me.

There were a lot of things that I forgot.

There were a lot of moments that I had to relive, like you know, when I was at Wendy's birthday party and to see him.

Act that way.

It you know, my mother called me and said, Hey, is everything okay?

Is this man? What is going on? That was hard for me?

Was your breakup bad?

Were you guys when you broke up? Were you still talking? Was it did it get dirty?

Like?

Was there anything?

You know?

And that's what's so surprising for me. No, we ended with.

I thought that we ended things with a mutual respect for each other. I said that I needed time. He knew before a lot of other people knew when my divorce would be final. And I said, you know, I think you are fantastic, but I just need like a moment, you know.

I was like, I got to catch my breath.

I moved from Philadelphia, quitting a job that I love to take care of my daughter. I started the show. I had to figure out how to find my feet with these women, the filming schedule, our relationship, a divorce from a man that I was married to for sixteen years. I said to him, you know, I think you're fantastic and I think there's a future, but I just need to.

Breathe can you give me a moment?

And then he said those things at the reunion.

I was totally caught off guard.

He gave you a moment, and I do think that he gave me a moment. He gave you a moment.

And he also put suspicion out there that you were paying him. Now, let me just tell you this. I did see a lot of comments on Instagram saying that prior to him saying that, do you think that he read those and thought, ah, I'm going to bring this up. Another thing is why did they call him? Do you think this was planned?

We talked in depth about what people were saying about the show.

I'm going to keep it completely real with you.

We as soon as the show aired and people started making comments about him and their perception of the way that he treated me. He and I looked at comments and we were like, wow, oh my gosh, this is awful. And he was furious about the way he thought production portrayed him. And I said, you know, I don't know what to say about this. I think that, like, these are things that happened the camera and our MIC's caught them, and I think we have to try to work through this.

It was really difficult.

I'm sure, especially your first year, you're like, whoa this is?

You know, total shock to the body.

Are you worried that TJ will fabricate or attempt to show receipts? And if he does do something like that and you are set in your truth, what will you do?

I can't worry about what he will do.

Do you think he will?

I don't know. I don't. I don't I honestly, I don't know.

I haven't called him since the conversation that we had after the reunion where he was very remorseful and he wanted to publicly apologize, and there were a lot of people that wanted him to do that, and there were a lot of people who said I would be crazy to allow him one more moment of camera time.

Quite frankly, would you want him to publicly apologize to you, even if it's on his social media, to take some account of ability?

You know what I want for TJ? I want TJ to have the life that he deserves.

I am so.

Grateful to have had this experience. My daughter is healthy and well. I am home in Virginia. My life is so full right now. My best friends were with me when I was filming watch What Happens Live. I don't wish ill for TJ. I don't worry about what he's going to do. It's not my lie to disprove. I don't have to fix anything. I can stand in my truth and who I am.

I am. My life speaks for itself, and my life is blessed. God is good. I can't worry about other people.

I think I who live like that.

A lot of people do, a lot of people they do yes, And I would have to say it takes a really big, strong person to be like, say whatever you want about me. I don't care because I know my truth and I don't care what other people are saying about me.

My husband is like that hundred percent. He's like, I don't care. Is that their opinion can't matter to me nothing. I'm getting that.

I'm getting to that point where I'm like, I, you know what doesn't really bother me what other people think, especially on this platform, because you could be given away millions of dollars and doing charities and people will still find something to pick on you.

I am okay with people believing TJ. I am okay with people saying, oh, I'm not a fan of hers.

Do you know what I use to concentrate on.

I concentrate on, you know, Opening my phone this morning and reading message is like, Stacy, You're a breath of fresh air.

We stand by you.

Stacy. Don't let this stop you. Please come back next next season.

I love so much fun.

I focus on good. I don't focus on negativity, and how can I My life isn't like that, and I have a pretty great life because I have not chosen to focus on things like that. Well, when you're sometimes worried about him, I'm not worried about people who don't believe me, even people on the show.

You know, I I am the girls, And yeah, the girls didn't seem to believe you, and I will agree with that, because when you focus on negativity, negativity comes into your.

Life and that isn't anything any of us want. But the girls did not believe you. How did you leave?

Like?

Are you?

Who are you talking to? Who are you not talking to?

Right now?

On the show?

I've spoken to everyone on the show, and I have had conversations about how to move forward. Some people have voiced their opinion to say I don't believe you. Some people have voiced their opinions and said, it doesn't matter. Everyone feels differently, and I don't want to speak for them.

I think that I'll allow them to speak for themselves.

I won't do that, but I'll say this to you, as I've said to my friends on the show. If you choose not to believe me, that's okay. I'm okay with that.

It's okay.

That's a good place to be, Stacy, it really is. Let's switch from TJ because I've had enough of this guy, and TJ. Do the right thing, buddy, do the right thing. Let's talk about something that really really pissed me off, and that was the Miami trip. You went to Miami to MIA's birthday party, You paid for a hotel, a babysitter, you paid for a flight, and Mia ghosted you.

Guys crazy, Who does that? I know?

And this is the thing, you know, I am so forgiving, I am always nice, right mm hmm. For me to say to me at the reunion, I can't receive this right now shows.

You how strongly I felt in that moment.

I couldn't even receive what she was saying to me because it was so obvious that she blatantly ghosted me and didn't care about me.

I love seeing I love seeing you all redd up.

When you're talking to her about that, I'm.

Like you, I believe I was like hot, you are hot. That's why I'm like, she's got it in her. Stop saying she's got it in her.

But only when you do something that I'm a human being. You can't tread me this way. The nicest like Gandhi wouldn't be treated this way.

For God's sake.

No, And I'm like, oh my god, if somebody did that to me, I would be like, you're done.

I'm done with you.

What.

I don't know if they you know that I've spoken.

To her, Mia, Yes, what were your thoughts on me and leaving the reunion? I know this was your first one, but what were the girls saying about it? You know you're trying to be nice. You're trying to be nice. I know you have some words in there that you want to get out.

I feel like you're hip to my game. Girl. You know, I'm going to take a breath and.

Think I have I can. I can read people very easy, very easy.

You can. I have to be careful with you.

I'm like she wants to say it, and she's trying to be nice about it.

Okay, I'm just gonna tell Okay, let me just say this. After being on the receiving end of a beatdown from the ladies, I can understand why it was too much for her and she walked away.

Honestly, I don't think it was right.

I think that, you know, she should have stood there and defended herself like she did all season when we would bring things up to her about you know, things she said, sorry about her children, horrible things that she said about Giselle's children. In those moments, Mia was like big, bad gl Amazon.

She stood up, she said how she felt.

But when we all sort of questioned her and her motives and her behavior, she ran away. Not right, but I understand, That's all I'm saying. It's tough in this group. It is really tough when you feel like everyone is coming down on you.

So I get it.

I called her after the reunion to make sure she was all right, and she was.

You know how Mia is, She's already moved on to the next thing.

So Mia running out.

She lied a lot, and I she got caught in a lot of lies. However, The reason why she ran out was not because she was lying. It was because I think it was just Giselle said called.

Her a bad mom or something like that. Mom. I didn't like that at all. I would have probably got up and left too. I don't know if I would have went.

Home but the lot, but it was a lot, so you know, I would have been pissed off too.

But that's my point. I understand it. I get it because I you know, when they gang up on you. I said this at their reunion. I really, I've never been in a sorority. Have you been in a sorority?

No?

God, no, I was had a baby at eighteen. I want a school of hard knocks.

Well, I've never been in a sorority.

But or this is Hey, the way that I have been treated on this show is what I would imagine.

Hazing to be.

Well, just you know, it's like we're going to make sure we like beat you down before we accept you.

I'll never understand, well because looking for friendships.

Yeah.

The good thing is is next season we get to see a different side of you.

I'm sure because you get to know the girls better.

And you know how next season, yeah, I do, and I just wanted I have fun with it, be yourself and keep a TJ away. And I just want to say thank you so much for taking the time to come on the podcast. You are beautiful, you are lovely, and like I said, I can't wait to see you next season.

Okay, thanks honey, thank you for inviting me, and your beautiful face.

You as well, you as well. Thank you Stacy, thank you.

Bye.