Real Housewives of Potomac star Ashley Darby is holding space for Stacey Rusch, but she’s proceeding with caution.
In an interview with Us Weekly, Ashley explains why forging a friendship with Stacey has been such a challenge.
Face card VS face value:
Like Ashley, Stacey is going to serve a gorgeous lewk. But – with Stacey – what you see may not be what you get.
“The hardest part I have about Stacey is I see her and I take her for what she presents to me, because she comes across as very genuine,” explained Ashley. “I think it’s that Midwest in her. She’s from Detroit. She has that sort of charm that I think, ‘Oh, she’s obviously going to be honest and genuine with me.’”
“Then, when there are moments that contradict that. I feel like she’s tricking me [and] I’m falling for something with her. That is why I get really upset. I come in and I try to be as honest with her as possible. I just want it reciprocated back to me. It just feels like she’s trying to trick me.”
Stacey and Thiemo’s rekindled romance:
RHOP fans were surprised to see Stacey back with her ex-husband Thiemo Rusch during the season premiere. According to Ashley, viewers weren’t the only ones shooketh by the re-coupling.
“Babe, shock and awe. I had no idea,” they were back together. Ashley did point out that she “started seeing little things.” For instance, she saw Stacey wearing a ring. “I was like, ‘That’s not costume jewelry.’”
As for claims that Stacey may have paid Thomas Anthony “TJ” Jones to be her boyfriend on the show last season, Ashley believes it’s true. “I do think that they’re still having some business arrangement issues. I think that’s still happening.”
Proof 👏:
Ashley believes Stacey promised TJ 50% of her earnings from the show. In fact, the Love Hotel personality claimed to have seen evidence.
“Let me tell you, I saw the paperwork. I zoomed in — Gizelle [Bryant] and I both. It was actual, intimate details. I tried to grab my phone and take the picture, but [it] was real quick.”
“Obviously with Stacey, it’s just quite a roller-coaster ride with her,” she explained.
The door is open:
No matter what has happened in the past, Ashley said she is still open to building a friendship with Stacey. “I never give up on anybody. I really don’t.”
Ashley added, “I will always have space for Stacey. It’s just a matter of her meeting me halfway.”
She also noted there was a lot of “ebbing and flowing in our group” … and that was before Wendy and Eddie Osefo’s arrests.
