RHOP's Stacey Rusch Defends Celibate Relationship With Boyfriend TJ
The Real Housewives of Potomac newcomer Stacey Rusch and the boyfriend Thomas Anthony Jones “TJ” have a strong connection while choosing to remain single.
“TJ is a devout Christian, so when we realized that we had feelings for each other and talked about being close, it was clear to him where he stood in his faith,” said Stacey, 39, in private. Us Weekly while promoting the new season of RHOP. “It wasn't, like, I was trying to change his mind.”
He added, “I have been married for 16 years. I was with my husband [Thiemo Rusch]. Our life was about 18 years; we have lived together. I wasn't ready for the next intimate relationship either.”
Stacey and Thiemo, who share a daughter Arabella, are separated but have not yet finalized their divorce. Meanwhile, each has moved on. Stacey's relationship with TJ was part of her RHOP season 9 storyline.
Stacey continued to comment Us that taking sex off the table “takes the pressure off” their relationship.
“It allows you to focus on what's really important in your life,” says Stacey. “But I get that people think it's weird. I don't think it's weird that people don't believe that or think it's weird because it's not the normal way you would approach your relationship, but, I'm not a normal girl.”
Despite not having sex, Stacey insisted that she and TJ “have no boundaries.”
“We're just taking this day by day,” Stacey explained. “We know where we stand. We know what is important to us as Christians. We know what is important to us, him in the way he lives, me as a mother and what I want from my daughter now that I am divorcing. We're just trying to do our best. We do not set limits. We don't say, 'Let's not do this and that.' We stay true to who we are individually and as a couple and try to do our best.”
Stacey went on to say that their relationship was “good”.
“I'm really, really blessed,” he growled. “I have a lot of people around me right now who are very supportive and wonderful, and TJ is at the top of the list.”
Stacey and TJ aren't rushing their relationship, but she notes that she would “really want” to get married again.
“I would like to get married again. I am a wife, not a virgin. I am Housewife,” he laughed. “Let it be clear, I would like to get married again.”
While Stacey and TJ are on cloud nine, several of her new ones RHOP neighbors question his intentions.
“Thank you for your concern. I feel like everyone is saying, 'We're worried about you and I know that, but I'm fine.' I'm better than OK,” Stacey said Us. “TJ is a successful actor. He is alive. I don't know what motive he could have had. He is a good man.”
In addition to sharing his relationship with TJ on RHOPStacey mingled with other housewives while filming.
“I'm so happy as I watch the episodes, it's just crazy. It's a lot of fun to ride,” he said. “When I came in, I met a few ladies, so I've seen them in public and we've gotten to know each other, but getting to know them on a deeper level, for me, was amazing. So, even though I've watched episodes in the past, I haven't seen things lately because I'm one of those people who hates when you meet someone and they Google you and they know everything about you, it takes the fun out of it too. the mystery of knowing a person.”
Stacey added, “So I didn't want to know everything about women, so I just deliberately said, 'Hey, I'm going to stop everything. Some of them I know socially, I've watched episodes in the past, I'll just go in and let it be organic and see what happens.' So that's literally what I'm doing as I get to know them.”
Stacey found that most of the Bravo stars were “accepting,” while others remained “nervous” about her place on the team.
The Real Housewives of Potomac airs Sundays on Bravo at 8 pm ET.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
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