Rulla Nehme Pontarelli is perhaps the only person on this planet who didn’t believe her partner was having an affair. Her Real Housewives of Rhode Island castmates thought it, the viewers thought it, and seemingly, Bravo exec Andy Cohen thought it, too. In a new interview, he opened up about Rulla’s marriage drama … and her role on RHORI.
The Bravo boss shared his take on one of RHORI’s biggest storylines
To recap, much of Rulla’s storyline on this season of RHORI has revolved around her marriage to Brian Pontarelli and what was, at the time of filming, an alleged affair. Although Rulla later confirmed Brian did have a mistress, the rumor impacted her RHORI relationships while filming Season 1. It also prompted her to skip certain scenes and cast trips, for which she has been criticized by viewers.
Despite the “evidence” put forward by her castmates that Brian did have a mistress, Rulla continued to defend her husband and their relationship. But what does Bravo big boss, Andy, who has seen it all when it comes to the relationships of the Real Housewives, make of the situation? Well, he just hinted that Rulla was “hiding” something during Season 1.
“Rulla feels like an interesting case study of someone who, in her first season of Housewives, seems to think she can hide more from the cameras than is possible,” he told Vulture this month in an article about the “masterminds of reality TV.”
Whether or not Rulla is hiding anything from the cameras, Andy commended how she handled things while still filming. “She has a different way of reacting. You’re talking about the allegations that her husband was involved in an affair while we’re shooting,” he said. “You’re looking at someone who’s making decisions on behalf of her family.”
“I’m not viewing her as stonewalling,” he went on. “I’m viewing her as an active participant in the show.”
Real Housewives of Rhode Island airs Sundays at 9/8c on Bravo. Episodes can be streamed on Peacock.
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