Vanderpump Rules stars Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute have been fired from the show after former cast member Faith Stowers recalled a racist incident in which the duo falsely accused her of theft and called the police on her. Schroeder and Doute’s exit was announced Tuesday by Bravo, per Variety. The network also announced that new cast members Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni will also no longer return to the series; both were ousted over old, racist tweets, including ones in which Caprioni used the N-word.
“Bravo and Evolution Media confirmed today that Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni will not be returning to Vanderpump Rules,” the company’s statement reads.
The firings arrive amid a nation-wide reckoning with racism and police brutality after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was allegedly suffocated to death by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneaopolis. Floyd’s death has sparked protests in all 50 states and in countries all over the world, and has, as a result, propelled conversations about race and racism in a slew of industries, including film and TV.
Stowers recalled her experience working with Schroeder and Doute in a recent Instagram Live interview with actress Candace Renee Rice nearly one week ago, explaining that the duo called the police on her after reading a news story about a black woman committing robberies in the area. Per Stowers, the woman allegedly committing the crimes didn’t resemble her, but also happened to be black.
“They called the cops and said it was me,” Stowers said. “This is like, a true story. I heard this from, actually, Stassi during an interview.”
Stowers continued, adding, “It was just funny, because they thought it was me because it was a black woman with a weave. So they just assumed it would be me, and they called the cops on me.” She added that the police did not pursue Schroeder and Doute’s claims.
After Stowers’ story went viral, Schroeder was dropped by her agent and publicist, according to Variety. On Monday, she posted a statement addressing her and Doute’s police call—as well as resurfaced racially insensitive remarks from her podcast, Straight Up with Stassi, in which Schroeder said she’s tired of African-American people complaining about racism. (“Why is it always just about the African-Americans?” she asked. “It’s always just that and then whenever they get upset, everybody has to go above and beyond to make them happy.”)
“I did not recognize then the serious ramifications that could have transpired because of my actions,” she said in her statement about Stowers. “What I did to Faith was wrong. I apologize and I do not expect forgiveness. I am also sorry to anyone that feels disappointed in me.”
Doute also released a statement addressing Stowers, saying that “although, my actions were not racially driven, I am no completely aware of how my privilege blinded me from the reality of law enforcement’s treatment of the black community, and how dangerous my actions could have been to her.”
“I’m ashamed, embarrassed, and incredibly sorry,” she continued. “I will do better. I have to do better.”
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