Rulla Nehme Pontarelli is making it clear that what viewers have seen so far is only part of the picture.
Following a tense confrontation on Sunday’s episode, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli is speaking out after going head-to-head with Jo-Ellen over claims involving her husband, Brian. The conflict began after Jo-Ellen accused Brian of contacting her workplace in an alleged attempt to get her in trouble after she accused him of being unfaithful.
Brian acknowledged that he did speak with one of Jo-Ellen’s colleagues, but denied any malicious intent. He maintained that it was not an effort to get her fired, but simply to “have her stop saying certain things” about him, referring to what he described as “gossip.”
As the situation escalated onscreen, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli is now making it clear she was not involved in any such actions.
In an interview with PopCulture, she said she had “nothing to do with any phone call about anyone’s job,” while also suggesting that Jo-Ellen amplified the situation beyond what actually occurred.
According to Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, Jo-Ellen “turned it into, ‘You threatened my family, and you threatened my job, and I’m going to come after you.’” Questioning that reaction, she added, “Who says that? What woman with a family and children comes at someone like that?”
Still, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli insists viewers shouldn’t rush to judgment just yet.
Hinting at what’s still to come this season, she shared that “the viewers will get to understand a little bit more” and expressed hope that audiences will “hopefully think differently” about her situation — and “maybe also feel with [her] a little bit more.”
Beyond the feud, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli also addressed the state of her marriage, admitting that revisiting that period during filming was particularly difficult.
She revealed that it was “definitely the hardest part” of the experience, but emphasized that she and Brian are no longer in that same place. According to Rulla Nehme Pontarelli, they are “in a much different place today than we were then and then we were before prior to filming.”
At the same time, she acknowledged the added pressure that comes with public scrutiny.
“Being in the limelight certainly takes a toll, in addition to just having this type of situation going on behind the scenes,” she explained, adding that viewers will see more unfold as the season continues — especially once the reunion airs.
“I think viewers will get to see a little bit more of the situation play out, and then when we actually get to the reunion, they will see and learn even more. So I am looking forward to that,” she said.
Despite the ongoing rumors, Rulla Nehme Pontarelli maintains that she and her husband remain aligned.
“My husband and I have worked together as we always have in the past to get through any particular issue,” she shared. “We really have never had … any major issues in our relationship. Right now, it’s just fending off negative energy.”
With tensions still unfolding and more revelations ahead, it seems this story is far from over — and, if Rulla Nehme Pontarelli is to be believed, viewers are only seeing part of it.