Stassi Schroeder, a prominent figure on Bravo’s hit reality series Vanderpump Rules, experienced an abrupt and highly publicized departure from the show in June 2020. This Vanderpump Rules exit, which significantly altered the trajectory of her reality television career, stemmed from a resurfaced incident involving former castmate Faith Stowers. The controversy and its fallout garnered renewed attention following the debut of Schroeder’s new show, House of Stassi, prompting a reexamination of the events that led to her firing.
Schroeder’s Rise on ‘Vanderpump Rules’
Before her contentious Vanderpump Rules exit, Stassi Schroeder had established herself as a foundational and often polarizing personality on the series. Debuting in 2013, Vanderpump Rules, a spin-off of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, quickly captivated audiences with its dramatic portrayal of young, aspiring restaurant staff navigating relationships and careers in West Hollywood. Schroeder was a breakout star from the outset, known for her sharp wit, dramatic confrontations, and a compelling narrative arc that often positioned her at the center of the show’s most memorable moments.
Over eight seasons, Schroeder cultivated a significant following, leveraging her reality TV fame into a successful podcast, lucrative endorsement deals, and a burgeoning brand. She was a central figure, her storylines often driving the show’s plotlines and contributing to its widespread popularity. Her influence within the Vanderpump Rules ecosystem was undeniable, making her sudden termination in 2020 a shock to many viewers and an unprecedented move for the network.
The Faith Stowers Incident: A 2018 Event Resurfaces
The catalyst for Stassi Schroeder’s firing was the re-emergence of a 2018 incident involving Faith Stowers, a former Black cast member of Vanderpump Rules. In June 2020, amid a national reckoning on racial injustice and heightened awareness surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement, Stowers spoke out publicly about an experience she had with Schroeder and fellow cast member Kristen Doute.
During an Instagram Live chat, Stowers recounted how Schroeder and Doute had falsely accused her of crimes she did not commit. Stowers detailed that in 2018, the two women had contacted law enforcement after seeing a Daily Mail article about a Black woman who was allegedly robbing people. Mistaking the individual in the "weird photo" for Stowers, Schroeder and Doute reported her to the police. Stowers emphasized that she learned of this incident directly from Schroeder during a past interview.
Past Admissions and Amplification
Indeed, Stassi Schroeder had previously discussed the incident and admitted to calling the police during a 2018 appearance on the "B—- Bible" podcast. During the podcast, Schroeder recounted the events, expressing satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment by stating, "We are like, we just solved a f—— a crime." She also noted the difficulty in getting police attention unless it was deemed an emergency. This admission, while initially made two years prior, gained new significance and scrutiny in the summer of 2020.
Kristen Doute further amplified the false accusation in 2018 by posting about it on social media. Doute took to Twitter, now known as X, to share a link to the Daily Mail article, tweeting, "hey tweeties, doesn’t this ex #pumprules thief look familiar? Someone put her on mtv & gave her a platform for press. I didn’t wanna go there but I’m going there." Both women’s actions were widely interpreted as racial profiling, using their public platforms to target a Black woman based on a mistaken identity and without proper verification. The resurfacing of these comments in 2020 ignited a firestorm of criticism against Schroeder and Doute.
Public Outcry and Calls for Accountability
The renewed public attention to the incident with Faith Stowers coincided with a period of intense social and political activism in the United States. As protests against racial injustice and police brutality gained momentum, there was increased demand for public figures and institutions to be held accountable for past discriminatory actions or statements. The actions of Schroeder and Doute, involving a false police report against a Black woman, resonated deeply within this context, drawing widespread condemnation from viewers, activists, and former cast members.
The public outcry quickly translated into calls for Bravo to take action. Viewers argued that allowing Schroeder and Doute to remain on Vanderpump Rules would be a tacit endorsement of their behavior and a failure to uphold principles of diversity and inclusion. The network, along with its parent company NBCUniversal, faced significant pressure to demonstrate its commitment to addressing racial insensitivity within its programming and among its talent. This mounting pressure ultimately forced Bravo’s hand in addressing the Vanderpump Rules exit.
Bravo’s Decision and Network-Wide Firings
On June 9, 2020, Bravo announced that Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute had been fired from Vanderpump Rules. The network released a statement confirming their departure, signaling a decisive move to address the controversy. This decision was not isolated; in the same wave of firings, cast members Brett Caprioni and Max Boyens were also terminated from the show after past racist tweets resurfaced. These collective actions underscored a broader shift in accountability within reality television, with networks demonstrating a reduced tolerance for racially insensitive behavior or past remarks from their talent.
The firings sent a clear message across the entertainment industry: public figures, particularly those on reality television, would be held to a higher standard regarding their conduct and past statements. The incident highlighted the evolving nature of celebrity and the increased scrutiny that comes with maintaining a public persona in the age of social media. For Schroeder, her eight-season run as a central figure on Vanderpump Rules came to an abrupt end, significantly impacting her career and public image.
Reactions from Industry Figures
The high-profile firings prompted reactions from key figures associated with Vanderpump Rules and Bravo. Andy Cohen, executive producer of The Real Housewives franchise and host of Watch What Happens Live and the Vanderpump Rules reunions, publicly supported Bravo’s decision. Speaking on his SiriusXM program "Radio Andy," Cohen stated he "absolutely" believed it "was the right decision." He clarified his role, emphasizing, "I don’t have anything to do with the show except I love it and that I host the reunions. I don’t produce the show, so what I want people to know is I have no say in hiring and firing." His statement, while distancing himself from the decision-making process, validated the network’s stance on accountability.
Lisa Vanderpump, the show’s namesake, executive producer, and owner of the restaurants featured in the series, also addressed the controversy. In an Instagram statement, Vanderpump acknowledged her prior silence, stating it was "necessary for [her] to be quiet until now, until decisions had been made." She then articulated a strong condemnation of the actions that led to the firings: "Now I can freely speak from the heart… As we’ve seen such devastating sadness that has played out globally, 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."
Vanderpump expressed deep sadness over "the lack of judgment shown by some employees," and unequivocally condemned "all forms of cruelty, racism, homophobia, bigotry and unequal treatment." Her statement underscored the gravity of the situation and the imperative for public figures to uphold ethical standards. As the matriarch of the Vanderpump Rules universe, her words carried significant weight, reinforcing the network’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and respectful environment.
Broader Implications and Aftermath
The Vanderpump Rules exit of Stassi Schroeder and others marked a significant moment for reality television, highlighting the increased demand for diversity, ethical conduct, and accountability. It spurred discussions within the industry about casting practices, the portrayal of minority cast members, and the responsibility of networks to address offensive behavior. For Schroeder, the consequences extended beyond her television role, as she lost her talent agency, several endorsement deals, and her podcast temporarily went on hiatus.
In the years following her firing, Schroeder has worked to rebuild her career and public image. Her new series, House of Stassi, signifies an attempt to re-enter the entertainment landscape, albeit in a different capacity and under renewed public scrutiny. The events of 2020 remain a stark reminder of the evolving expectations for public figures and the enduring impact of past actions, particularly in an era where social media holds individuals and institutions to increasingly rigorous standards of conduct and social responsibility. The Vanderpump Rules firing of its star cast member underscored a cultural shift where accountability for racially insensitive behavior became an undeniable imperative for major media platforms.
