Faith Stowers applauds Bravo for firing Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute: 'I was very surprised'
As news of Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute's firing from Vanderpump Rules rocks the Bravo world, no one is more shocked than their former co-star, Faith Stowers. And if it were up to her, the network wouldn't stop there. (Here's looking at you, Jax Taylor.)
Last week, Stowers recounted how Schroeder and Doute called the cops on her in 2018, explaining that the racially charged incident made her not want to return to the show. She appeared on the fourth and sixth seasons. Bravo announced on Tuesday the two original cast members were fired ahead of production on Season 9.
In an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, Stowers admits she was "very surprised" by Bravo's decision.
"I’ve never seen anything like this happen before," Stowers shares over the phone on Wednesday. "I haven’t seen reality platforms let go of their big stars… Stassi and Kristen did seem untouchable, so I think for me, it was most shocking to see Bravo act on it the way they did. It only took a few days. I’m really happy they did what they did."
In 2018, the Daily Mail published an article about a black woman who was drugging and robbing people. The post included a photo of the suspect, who had tattoos. Schroeder and Doute called the police and claimed it was Stowers. Doute tweeted the article out, writing, "Hey tweeties, doesn’t this ex #pumprules thief look familiar?" Schroeder even boasted about playing detective on Jackie Schimmel's Bitch Bible podcast two years ago. However, the story didn't gain traction until Stowers retold it recently during an Instagram Live with Candace Renee Rice.
"I was speaking my truth and it just so happened I was heard this time around, because I had said something about this a while ago when it first happened to me," Stowers says. "To put myself in the line if fire like that? It actually did some good."
While Schroeder and Doute faced consequences for their actions, Vanderpump Rules fans are left wondering where Taylor's future stands. In 2017, he publicly accused Stowers of crimes she didn't commit. Stowers tells Yahoo she was just made aware of his comments a few days ago.
Shes wanted by the police for grand theft auto and “awol” from military, bad idea to be on a reality show dude. Someone’s going to jail https://t.co/s30K35r2xA
— Jax (@mrjaxtaylor) December 5, 2017
"I didn’t even know he was doing that too, kind of riding that train of racial profiling and just that disgusting thing they tried to do to me," Stowers says, adding "it's only fair" he’s fired too.
"He may not have called the cops, but he definitely painted the picture of me to be a thief, which contributed to my life being in a dark place. I would get phone calls from casting directors that wanted to work with me and the first question they’d have to ask me is if I stole things and if I drugged people," Stowers explains. "So, that was really hard for me, to be associated with that."
Schroeder and Doute both publicly apologized. Taylor has not.
"Lisa [Vanderpump] said in her statement that everything should have a consequence, so if that’s true, you’d think he’d have some consequence as well," Stowers notes.
Lisa Vanderpump, who created the spinoff, broke her silence earlier on Wednesday and said she's "deeply saddened by some of the lack of judgment that has been displayed" by her employees. But in the lengthy mea culpa, Vanderpump never mentioned Stowers by name. Stowers tells Yahoo while she found the apology to be impersonal, she's at peace with it.
"I’m just glad she put out a statement, to be honest with you!" Stowers shares. "It would have been really nice for it to be more personal, I feel like my attack was really personal — and racial. At least, how I took it."
(Doute and Schroeder said in their apologies their motives weren't racially driven.)
Stowers explains she truly believes "Lisa stands for a lot that's good," and that she still admires her.
"It would have been nice for [Lisa] to show that she stood by me specifically, or at least saying my name. It was kind of generic, but I will say from reading it that it did seem like she understood the issue," Stowers adds, calling it a "step in the right direction."
Someone who needs to take another step in the right direction is Schroeder. Stowers revealed she has yet to hear directly from her former co-star.
"Kristen reached out to me through DM’s, but that was after days of being pressured by all the fans," Stowers notes. "[Podcast host] Jackie Schimmel apologized as well through DM, she was the first one actually to reach out personally. Stassi never did. Her brother did before she did. It’s actually really sad."
As for whether she accepts Doute and Schroeder's apologies, Stowers replies, "I may not understand the sincerity in their apologies; however, I [forgave] them [for] two years ago."
Vanderpump Rules might still have a viewer in Stowers, though.
"Lisa also said [in her statement] she’s excited about showcasing her multifaceted empire, so I’m excited to see what she has in store and I’m hoping it’s more diverse," Stowers says. "Now, I can be proud of the network and Vanderpump Rules because they took a stand when they didn’t have to. That means a lot to me."
As for what's next with Stowers, she will continue to pursue an acting career.
"I want to be part of projects and productions that are against social injustice and want to bring people together. The people I’ve seen do that the most are Ryan Murphy, Lee Daniels and Tyler Perry. To me, those people would be a dream to work with," she exclaims. "They want to bring people together and their projects show that."
Stowers, who recently gave birth to a baby boy with her boyfriend, explains she has new purpose in life.
"I just want to make sure that whatever I do, it shows my son that the world can be a better place if you stand up for yourself and if you stand up for people who don’t have a voice," she concluded. "Any project that’s working towards what America is moving towards, and bringing people together, and showing that every race matters — but right now the focus should be black lives — that’s what I’m for."
Watch — Andy Cohen supports Pump Rules firings, says “it was the right decision”:
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