Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute‘s damage control campaign has officially begun. The two ex-besties have finally broken their silence after being fired from Vanderpump Rules for past racist behavior against Faith Stowers.
The ramifications from the racism scandal have been swift and intense. Both Stassi and Kristen were immediately dropped by their respective PR reps. The former’s podcast, Straight Up with Stassi, has all but disappeared from basically every streaming platform. Many fans were left wondering when the Pump Rules OGs would make a public statement about the firing. However, it’s safe to say that few, if any, were expecting the ex-besties to join forces and do it together.
It turns out, both now-former Pump Rules stars have hired the same crisis management rep to help them weather the backlash. Their new publicist, Steve Honig, made a statement on Friday (June 12) on the duo’s behalf.
“Stassi and Kristen acknowledged what they did was wrong, have apologized and been punished,” he said according to Deadline. “Without casting aside their actions or the impact of those actions, they want to move forward as part of the solution in ways that are productive, meaningful and sincere. Both of them recognize actions speak louder than words and that is what will guide them as they move forward.”
RELATED: Fired Vanderpump Rules Alum Stassi Schroeder Is Reportedly Pregnant
From a PR standpoint, the statement is classic spin. It noticeably avoids mentioning Faith by name and only passively references them calling the cops on her back in 2018. Interestingly, there’s also no mention of Pump Rules, Bravo or anything to do with the show, either. (This was likely an intentional move to ensure it doesn’t look like they’re asking for their jobs back straight out of the gate.)
What makes the move even more fascinating is that they were barely on speaking terms prior to being fired. They spent the entirety of Season 8 at odds over Kristen’s toxicity, and have clashed repeatedly during the socially-distanced reunion. (As Stassi put it in the Season 8 finale, “Witches of Weho, dunzo.”)
RELATED: Stassi Schroeder’s Brother Begs For Forgiveness On Her Behalf
So it feels ironic that when the entire world has turned against them, they can only lean on each other. In a way, their working together is giving me flashbacks to Season 4. (Remember? When Stassi came crawling back to the show, sleeping on Kristen’s couch with no friends? Eventually that got her back onto good terms with the entire cast, who had essentially written her off.)
Stassi‘s family has also launched a grassroots campaign to get the star back on Bravo. Her mother and little brother both issued pleas for forgiveness via social media. A “Support Stassi” Instagram account and an official petition to rehire the two have been making the rounds online. However, the damage seems to be done. It will be interesting to see if Kristen and Stassi can get back in the public’s good graces.
RELATED: Faith Stowers Says Kristen Doute DM’d Her After Receiving Pressure To Apologize; Stassi Schroeder Has Done Nothing
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[Photo Credit: Bravo]
