DidReal Housewives of PotomacStar Stacey Rusch Really Pay Thomas Anthony 'TJ' Jones To Be Her Boyfriend?

Mar. 15, 2025

Thomas Anthony ‘TJ’ Jones and Stacey Rusch on ‘Real Housewives of Potomac’ season 9.Photo:Brian Stukes/Bravo

Brian Stukes/Bravo

Stacey Ruschdropped a bomb on last week’s second installment of theReal Housewives of Potomacseason 9 reunion when she revealed that she and boyfriendThomas Anthony “TJ” Joneshad gone their separate ways.

But on the reunion’s third installment, which aired on Sunday, March 2, TJ dropped a bomb of his own, claiming that Stacey had offered him financial compensation to appear on the Bravo series and still owed him the dough.

“I ain’t going to that fake ass show with those fake ass people. Obviously she didn’t invite me,” TJ said when asked why he wasn’t in attendance, adding, “I ain’t never gonna be in DC again.”

“Look, she’s wack man, so that’s it,” TJ noted.

Stacey Rusch and Andy Cohen on ‘The Real Housewives of Potomac’ season 9 reunion.Clifton Prescod/Bravo

Clifton Prescod/Bravo

“It’s is hurtful. It’s so very hurtful. That’s all I can say,” a flabbergasted Stacey said, moments after reunion hostAndy Cohenshowed her video of TJ’s words. “I can’t believe someone who prides himself on being a man of God and being honest — and someone who would, I think, loves me, even if we’re not together — would say that?”

The former QVC host insisted TJ was not telling the truth.

“I’ve never paid TJ a dime and I’ve never owed him anything,” she said, noting that she never even offered to pay his expenses to come to the reunion. “I’ve never paid for him to come and see me! It’s just not true. … I’ve never paid him any capacity.”

“I can’t believe that he’s saying that. I just feel like the rug has been pulled from under me,” Stacey added.

Thomas Anthony Jones and Stacey Rusch on ‘The Real Housewives of Potomac’ season 9 reunion.Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty

“To see the way that he spoke to me, and to see the way my family reacted to that, it was tough,” she said.

The pressure of having their romance in the spotlight — Stacey’s first since splitting from her husband of 16 years Thiemo Rusch — ultimately led to their demise, she noted. But the two were still “best friends.”

“I am concentrating on myself,” she said, stressing that she was entering a new chapter now that her divorce had been finalized.

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Stacey Rusch in a photoshoot for ‘The Real Housewives of Potomac’ season 9.Phylicia Munn/Bravo

Phylicia Munn/Bravo

“TJ and I are no longer together, and I don’t owe him a call [right now] about a lie. … It is a lie,” Stacey said. “I will absolutely be calling himwith my attorney.”

“TJ was acting like a paid actor. … Let’s just stop,” said Keiarna. “I really like you Stacey. This is bulls—.”

None of that swayed Stacey, though. “I don’t care,” she said when told no one believed her, after denying that TJ would have any payment receipts to share on social media. “It’s neither here nor there. It doesn’t not matter to me and I know who I am and I stand in my truth. If any of you, if your opinions have changed, I’ll give you that. But I don’t care.”

Phylicia J. L. Munn/Bravo

She also stressed that TJ had nothing to do with her becoming a Housewife. “Let me say it so that you hear me: I didn’t need TJ to get on this platform or any platform,” she told Ashley. “Let me be clear. I don’t need an accessory, and I’m not going to say it again.”

“I didn’t want him to come [to the reunion],” she told theWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenhost. “He’s very much aware of the way I felt watching the way he treated me. We talked about that. We’ve talked extensively about this show and this season. So the only thing I can tell you all is, hurt people hurt people.”

The Bravo star questioned, too, why her costars were trusting TJ’s words. “Every one of you had doubts about TJ. You all had doubts and you all talked so poorly of him,” she said. “And now, when it’s a little salacious for you and you feel like he’s going to say something to hurt me, now you’re literally believing this man over me. You know me!”

Season 9 ofThe Real Housewives of Potomaccan be streamed in full on Peacock.

source: people.com