Tom Schwartz is still coming to terms with the Vanderpump Rules firings.
Earlier this week, during an appearance on Lala Kent and Randall Emmett's podcast, the Vanderpump Rules star revealed how he's doing in the wake of his co-stars Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Brett Caprioni and Max Boyens being fired.
"I don't think I've processed it. It doesn't feel real," the Bravo personality said. "Maybe I'm running from it a little bit or I'm in denial that it ever happened."
Continuing on this point, Katie Maloney-Schwartz's husband noted that, despite the firings, he's "optimistic" about the show's future.
He added, "I'm optimistic about the future of Vanderpump Rules. I feel like the show still has legs…it has so much life to give."
Schwartz has appeared on the Bravo hit since season 1, becoming a main cast member in season 3.
"It's never gonna be the same, that's for sure," the TomTom co-owner stated.
Although Schwartz danced around commenting directly on the firings, he did note: "I love my friends and I support them. It's been rough, but we'll be OK. We'll get through it."
As E! readers may recall, the four Vanderpump Rules stars were fired back in June.
"Bravo and Evolution Media confirmed today that Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni will not be returning to Vanderpump Rules," the network said in a statement at the time.
Schroeder and Doute were terminated days after apologizing for allegedly calling the police on former co-star Faith Stowers.
In a post on Instagram, Doute stated, "I have been taking some time to really process what I've been seeing, feeling and learning. And I need to address something specifically that happened a few years ago with my former castmate, Faith Stowers."
She continued, "Although, my actions were not racially driven, I am now 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 would have been to her." Kristen explained that "it never was my intention to add to the injustice and imbalance." "I'm ashamed, embarrassed, and incredibly sorry," she concluded. "I will do better. I have to do better."
Schroeder's statement read, "Racially insensitive comments from my past have resurfaced. It is important that I continue to take accountability for what I have said and done, while pushing myself to do better. I have grown significantly from the person I was then, and I am still filled with remorse and regret for the hurt I caused. I am grateful for the people in my life that continue to check me and push me to evolve into a more educated person. I also want to address my former castmate, Faith Stowers. My emotions over something that happened between our friends outweighed my logic, and there is no excuse for that. I did not recognize then the serious ramifications that could have transpired because of my actions. What I did to Faith was wrong. I apologize and I do not expect forgiveness. I am also sorry to anyone else that feels disappointed in me. I am going to continue to look closer at myself and my actions—to take the time to listen, to learn and to take accountability for my own privilege."
Caprioni and Boyens, who both joined the cast for season 8, issued public apologies in January after their past offensive tweets resurfaced.
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