As they say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Or, in this case, an unpaid man who allegedly was hired to be a Real Housewives of Potomac star’s boyfriend. It’s an age-old story. Boy meets girl. Girl needs date. A contract is drawn up. Stacey Rusch found herself in quite a predicament this season that seemed to take ideas from Kenya Moore’s Real Housewives of Atlanta dating drama. Here’s what we know.
Stacey Rusch’s best friend was sketchy at best
During the third part of the Real Housewives of Potomac reunion, the tea was spilled. Fans learned via Eddie Osefo’s FaceTime call that TJ Jones was just in it for a chance to add “boyfriend” to his resume. The mother of one told Andy Cohen that she and TJ were no longer together. But Wendy Osefo wanted answers and noted, “TJ let Eddie know that you actually paid him to be your love interest.” It was a pearl-clutching moment. Wendy continued, “And TJ also told Eddie that you told him not to come. And TJ also said, run him his money, because the money is not adding up.”
Stacey denied hiring TJ and owning the man money. But Eddie had more info, sharing, “He was tired of the narrative that was being painted of him, being this flamboyant person. He was just tired of being played with.” Poor Stacey sat dumbfounded by the accusations and had everyone cringing on her behalf.
Kenya Moore pays for no man
Kenya was the first to introduce the idea of hiring an air boyfriend. Fans met Water during Season 5. Kenya, as usual, is madly in love, while Walter seems very skeptical of the whole love thing to begin with. The beauty queen’s relationship with Walter was definitely a situation-ship that she attempted to make into something more when the cameras began rolling. NeNe Leakes called them frauds from the start, and the OG is never wrong. At the time, NeNe took to her Bravo blog, noting, “Walter and Kenya Fishing. They acted out that scene well! It was almost believable.”
In 2013, Walter took to the podcasts to share what went on between him and Kenya. The runaway boyfriend swore that Kenya told him pretending to be in a relationship was “like acting.” He did admit that the duo dated three years prior to Season 5 but had not been together since. Walter’s interview was damning noting their relationship was a “business arrangement.” Lord, the shade! Kenya released her own statement to Bravo saying, “The truth is and has always been that I want to be in a loving, honest, long-term relationship with someone who genuinely loves me for me – Walter’s recent statements are completely false. I am embarrassed that I allowed a deceitful and hateful person in my life. He says he ‘did it for fame.'”
A tale of two Bravo housewives
The tales of both Bravo housewives are eerily similar. Both men were accused of being gay by the franchise co-stars. Both men have accused Kenya and Stacey of hiring them to do a paid acting job. Unlike Walter, who spoke with a few blogs, TJ has yet to break his silence. Though I imagine, given an opportunity, TJ might be happy to jump in front of a camera or microphone to share his story. Walter and TJ forcing the ladies to break up with them when they were just quitting was weak. Neither Walter nor TJ seemed to have the energy to break up with the ladies on their own accord.
Walter and Kenya’s story is still making the news ten years on. Simone Whitmore just talked about their relationship recently. It turns out Cecil Whitmore is Walter’s uncle. What a small Bravo world, eh? Simone relit the rumor noting “She asked him if he’d be willing to film with her. I don’t think she paid.” Perhaps the only difference between these two stories is the fact that Walter actively didn’t like Kenya, whereas TJ seemed for a period of time to be in love with Stacey.
The Real Housewives of Potomac is available to stream on Peacock.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK STACEY’S AND KENYA’S STORIES ARE ALIKE?
