Season 12 of Vanderpump Rules kicked off with a brand-new cast and some familiar behavior. Server Marcus Johnson and his girlfriend, Kim Suarez, are among the new Pump Rules cast members living their best life at SUR. However, Marcus infuriated Lisa Vanderpump by downing sangria on the job and teaching this skill to new hire Jason Cohen.
So, Lisa called a meeting and slammed Marcus. “I want you to get your sh*t, go home, and have a really good think about it,” the restaurateur told Marcus. “Because let me tell you, I don’t want to speak to you anymore.”
Lisa Vanderpump explains not firing or suspending Marcus Johnson on VPR
During Season 12, Episode 2 of Pump Rules, Lisa met with Marcus privately. She informed him that she heard that Marcus was “drinking way more” than before. She also noted that he looked “tired” and “unhappy.”
According to Marcus, he has been having a rough time. His mother passed away in September 2024. Plus, his father also died a “couple [of] years ago.” Marcus explained, “When I lost my dad, I was devastated. But now that I lost my mom too, I’ve just felt like, alone in the world.”
In the end, Lisa opted not to fire or suspend Marcus. “I want you to come back to your job, but I’m gonna check on you,” she said. She added that she was also arranging mandatory grief counseling for him. “I know I need help,” Marcus stated. “I just feel like, right now, this job is all I have.”
Meanwhile, Lisa felt she had made the right decision. “I’m not gonna suspend Marcus. When somebody’s struggling, you need to bolster them,” Lisa explained. “You can’t take anything more away.” Lisa seems to have a soft spot for Marcus, much like VPR alum Jax Taylor.
Vanderpump Rules airs on Tuesdays at 9/8c on Bravo. It can be streamed on Peacock the next day, or Hayu in Canada, the UK and Ireland.
TELL US – DID LISA MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR MARCUS? HAS HE LEARNED HIS LESSON?
