During Part 3 of The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 9 reunion, viewers were left reeling after Thomas Anthony “TJ” Jones made a jaw-dropping accusation about his former girlfriend, newbie cast member Stacey Rusch. TJ claimed that Stacey had hired him to be her boyfriend for the show, a revelation that sent shockwaves through the reunion episode and left the cast and fans alike questioning the authenticity of their relationship.
In a dramatic twist, TJ shared the bombshell accusation during a phone conversation with Eddie Osefo, who then relayed the explosive details to Stacey Rusch, host Andy Cohen, and the rest of the Season 9 cast—minus Karen Huger. As the reunion unfolded, it became clear that Stacey’s relationship with TJ was far from what it seemed.
After the dust settled, Stacey Rusch addressed the accusations head-on during an appearance on the March 2 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. She shared that she immediately called TJ after the reunion to confront him about the shocking claim he made. “He was very remorseful, he was very emotional, and it was a hard call to have,” she said. But she wasn’t done there. Stacey took to setting the record straight about the accusation that she had paid him to be in a relationship. “I did not pay him. I was in a real relationship with him, and he treated me very poorly,” she revealed, adding that the entire ordeal was “jarring.”
Stacey Rusch also expressed her disappointment over TJ’s behavior during the reunion. “To see him be so disrespectful and to see him be definitely unchristian and do this to me at the reunion—it was jarring, quite frankly,” she said. For Stacey, it was clear: The ladies were right. “He’s not the man for me,” she added. “I was looking for love, and he was in love with being in front of the camera.”
When pressed about why TJ made the claim, Stacey speculated that he was upset with how he was portrayed on the show. “Can you imagine how I felt, being on the receiving end?” she reflected. “So, I think the only way he could rectify the situation was to say it wasn’t real, that he was in fact acting.”
Despite the drama surrounding the accusation, Stacey Rusch wasn’t about to let it define her. She expressed that she was not losing sleep over the situation. “I’m not really worried by that because I live in my truth,” she asserted. “I didn’t pay him, I don’t have to pay anybody.” Stacey also made it clear that her relationships and family were far too important to take such risks. “Do you think I would take that risk going through a divorce, going public with someone, unless I was confident in that relationship? I would never do that. I take my relationships seriously and my family seriously, and I would never do that.”
The entire experience, though painful, has been a valuable lesson for Stacey. “I’m a better woman because of this,” she confessed. “Heaven forbid if I would have invited him into my life? Can you imagine? God is good. … My point is, it was a blessing in disguise, and I’m a better woman for it. My life is full, I am happy, I’m loved, and I’m moving forward.”
After the end of her relationship with TJ, Stacey has decided to take a break from dating. “I am not [dating], no,” she shared. “After the reunion, I think I need some time to concentrate on Stacey.” When asked about any potential future romances in the Bravoverse, Stacey left the door slightly open, but with some time to heal. “Let me get back to you on that at a later time after I’ve healed,” she said.
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