Karen Huger is not mincing words when it comes to what she thinks about The Real Housewives of Potomac costar Stacey Rusch’s new relationship.
“Well, they’re not married. It was a sexless relationship,” Karen, 61, exclusively told Us at the Us Weekly + Pluto TV Reality Stars of the Year Party at the Dream Hotel on Thursday, October 10. “There’s a difference. I’m married. Twenty-eight years. Praise the Lord. Shout-out to Ray.”
Karen, best known as the Grand Dame of RHOP, has been married to Ray Huger since 1996, and they share two kids. Stacey, 39, meanwhile, joined the Bravo series in the currently airing season 9 alongside her boyfriend, Thomas Anthony Jones (nicknamed TJ), and revealed that they are celibate.
While speaking with Us on Thursday, Karen quipped that she was “absolutely not” surprised by Stacey’s relationship. (The Bravo newcomer, formerly a QVC host, met TJ through the shopping network.)
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“I read that from the jump,” Karen said. “It’s over, isn’t it? Stay tuned.”
Stacey has not publicly confirmed the status of her relationship but gushed about TJ during the season 9 premiere that aired earlier this week. Us Weekly reached out for comment.
“TJ and I met at his audition to become a host on QVC,” Stacey said during the premiere. “It was this genuine friendship, and then after about six months, we just both couldn’t deny that we wanted to be a part of one another’s lives.”
In a preview for an upcoming episode, Stacey revealed to costar Ashley Darby that she and her beau might be “on that journey” of an eventual marriage.
“I love someone,” she added. “He is a devout Christian, so we are not intimate at all.”
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Karen also gave Us her thoughts on Stacey’s RHOP debut.
“Was it a transition or a rejection [from QVC]? Let us see. I’m just saying,” Karen quipped on Thursday. “The daggers you saw between Stacey and I, I think is phenomenal TV, but it is real? … I’m the viewer watching. So, let’s see what unfolds in the future for Miss Stacey.”
Despite drama with Stacey, Karen was pleased with how she appeared in the season premiere.
“With me, I always like authenticity and I feel I spoke out the authenticity of others that were phony,” Karen told Us at the Los Angeles party. “I actually called it ‘My Press Conference With No Press No. 2,’ but I labeled the party ‘The Interrogation Party’ and I just flipped it on them.”
She added, “I cannot say that these new girls didn’t step up to the plate and … I’m excited to see what they do in the future. You have to stay tuned.”
The Real Housewives of Potomac airs on Bravo Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
With reporting by Mike Vulpo
