Reza Farahan Speaks Out After Vanderpump Rules Firings
Bravo is known for its drama on television, but this time around, things are escalating off-screen. Case in point: On June 9, 2020, Vanderpump Rules stars Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute were fired after their false allegations against former co-star Faith Stowers resurfaced. The reality stars called the cops on Faith in 2018, after seeing a Daily Mail report about an African American woman who was allegedly drugging and robbing men in Los Angeles. "They called the cops and said it was me," Faith shared during an Instagram Live, The Cut noted.
Since then, Stassi and Kristen have both apologized for their previous remarks, but it seems like the damage is already done. Not only have Stassi's agent and publicist quit, per Variety, but she has been dropped from several brands as well. Cast members Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni were also let go by Bravo after their racist tweets resurfaced, Page Six reported.
Although fans might miss Stassi and Kristen's antics on the Bravo series, many agree this was the right call to make. In fact, Andy Cohen revealed he "absolutely supports Bravo's decision" during an episode of his SiriusXM show, Radio Andy, on June 10, 2020.
Meanwhile, Shahs of Sunset star Reza Farahan publicly spoke out about the incident and explained he stands with the network. Keep reading to find out why.
Why Reza Farahan's heart is 'broken'
Reza Farahan took to social media on June 9, 2020, to chat with his fans after Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute were let go from Vanderpump Rules, admitting he is "for" the firings. He also alluded to an offensive podcast (we'll get to that later), sharing in an Instagram video, "When I hear people that are caucasian, like white American people, say things ... I'm not going to say the person's name, but I was listening to a podcast of this person and this person was talking about race and why and oh, my God, I was disgusted and my heart was broken. It breaks my heart."
Reza, who was born in Iran, is especially hurt because he knows what it is to feel like an outsider. "I'm really, really broken-hearted," he continued. "I'm gay. I'm Middle Eastern. I'm half Muslim. I'm half Jewish. I can't claim to know what anyone else goes through, but I can tell you what I've gone through in my life."
The Shahs of Sunset star admitted that since his family had money growing up, he benefited from "one layer of protection from the police." However, Reza made it clear to his followers that "discrimination is real" in today's world, and he is supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement, which gained traction after George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed while in the custody of Minnesota police on May 25, 2020.
Reza Farahan is 'very sad' about Stassi Schroeder's comments
Despite Reza Farahan not being on the same show as Stassi Schroeder — Reza is on Shahs of Sunset while Stassi just got fired from Vanderpump Rules — the real estate agent admitted his interactions with the California transplant were "always pleasant" when they saw one another. So when he listened to a problematic episode of her Straight Up With Stassi podcast that resurfaced amid the firing drama, he was shocked. "I didn't know what her feelings were," he shared in his Instagram video.
For those who don't already know, Reza is seemingly referring to a March 2017 episode in which Stassi made offensive remarks about the #OscarsSoWhite campaign, an initiative that was launched in 2015 to spotlight the lack of diversity in Academy Award nominations. "I'm like, really sick of everyone making everything about race," she complained about the controversy, per TooFab. "I'm kind of over it."
She added, "But like, everyone giving their impassioned speeches about race and all of that stuff, I'm like, 'Why is it always just about African Americans?' Why aren't the Asians being like, 'We're not represented? Why aren't Native Americans and Latinos being like, 'We're not represented?' And whenever they get upset everyone has to go above and beyond to make them happy."
Reza said about her commentary, "It was heartbreaking. It made me very sad."
Reza Farahan is hopeful Stassi Schroeder and others will learn from their mistakes
Ultimately, Reza Farahan is hopeful that people all over the world — including celebrities — will learn from these firings. "When I see people take action, I am about it," he said via Instagram on June 9, 2020. "Defending is not the route, apologizing and making people feel good [is], and I feel like the network is taking action to make people feel good."
However, Reza is not opposed to seeing Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute back on his television screen again. "I am not saying people can't grow, [that] people can't change," he explained. "What I am saying is that I feel good that the network is taking action, making people feel heard. People aren't feeling heard, people aren't feeling represented and that is not okay. Maybe you can come back later, but right now, you can't be here because we are taking a stand."
Meanwhile, Reza also commented on his pal LeeAnne Locken's exit from The Real Housewives of Dallas. Although Locken claimed to have "made the personal decision to step away" from the show, as she told People in February 2020, some fans suspect Bravo pushed her out after she called her co-star, Kary Brittingham, a "chirpy Mexican" during Season 4, per People. "I love LeeAnne, but I don't appreciate [that] she said Mexicans like that," he said about the incident. "LeeAnne is paying for her actions, and I think she realizes it."