Katie Maloney, a familiar face from Vanderpump Rules initially steered clear of reality television after the show’s final season with the original cast in 2026. However, an invitation from longtime friend and co-star Stassi Schroeder changed her mind. Schroeder, who was assembling the core cast for her new Hulu series House of Stassi extended an offer that Maloney found compelling.
The new series, which premiered on July 29, features a poignant reunion between Maloney and Schroeder, who had experienced a fallout a few years prior. Their first onscreen sit-down at the Belmont, a nod to their Vanderpump Rules days, sets the stage for raw and honest conversations.
Maloney’s Candid Conversations and Trust in the Production
During their first meeting on House of Stassi Maloney doesn’t hold back, addressing Schroeder’s tendency to isolate herself. “You just make your world smaller and smaller and smaller to the point where it’s like if, I don’t know, they didn’t come out of you or they’re not married to you or they’re not on your fucking payroll, they don’t get to be in your life,” Maloney candidly states. Schroeder, who is also an executive producer, responds with admiration for Maloney’s truth-telling.
Maloney reveals to The Hollywood Reporter that she wouldn’t have returned to reality TV if it weren’t for the people involved. “Knowing Stassi’s history with reality TV and her perspective on it, how she wanted to navigate doing the show was something that I really aligned with,” she explains. Coming off the long-running Vanderpump Rules which had taken a toll on her, Maloney sought a different experience. She found it in House of Stassi trusting the producers and the production team.
The Decision to Join House of Stassi
Maloney was aware of the series in development, announced in August 2026, but initially didn’t consider joining. “I didn’t know where they were in the process,” she explains. However, learning that shooting hadn’t started yet, she felt a gut instinct that it was the right time to return. “There was just something that, maybe just innately in my gut, told me like, this is the time,” she shares.
As a seasoned reality star, Maloney was cautious about joining a new show and the cycle that comes with it. “That’s a lot of what I’ve been enjoying away from reality TV, out of the public eye and constant attention,” she admits. However, her experience helped her manage the transition back into the spotlight.
Maloney also reveals that she wasn’t eager to jump into other reality TV experiences after Vanderpump Rules ended. She had made it clear that she wasn’t interested in joining The Valley another show produced by the same team. But House of Stassi offered a fresh start on a new network, Hulu and Freeform backed by Disney.
Navigating a New Network and Unexpected Reactions
Maloney acknowledges the challenge of starring on a new network but tries to treat it as something entirely new. “I’m trying to not compare it constantly,” she says. “It’s hard because, like with anything, that’s sort of my only frame of reference.”
One aspect of her Vanderpump Rules past that Maloney brought to House of Stassi was an appearance by Ariana Madix at their West Hollywood sandwich shop, Something About Her. “She without hesitation agreed to do it,” Maloney says, expressing her gratitude for Madix’s support.
However, not all reactions were positive. Some cast members of House of Stassi expressed reservations about Maloney joining. She admits she didn’t know about these hesitations prior to joining the show. One comment that caught her off guard came from Schroeder’s husband, Beau Clark who expressed concerns about Maloney’s influence on Schroeder.
“The only [comment] I had no idea that was said was Beau’s reaction,” Maloney shares. “And obviously Stassi and I having our friendship break that we had, that’s his wife, he’s gonna have her back, but he was pretty passionate in his feelings about me.” She admits that this comment stung, as she has always gotten along with Clark.
Candid Moments and Viewer Reactions
One memorable moment from House of Stassi was Maloney’s confessional interview before the season’s disastrous Queen Mary finale dinner party. She opens up about her experiences with emotional abandonment in her marriage and finding connection outside of that relationship. Some viewers speculated that Maloney was referring to Tom Schwartz’s infidelities.
In another development, Stassi Schroeder reveals that she couldn’t get Tom Schwartz to appear on House of Stassi due to his contract with Bravo. She also hints at unresolved issues regarding the show’s move to Hulu instead of Bravo.
Schroeder reflects on her time on Vanderpump Rules acknowledging both the opportunities it provided and the darkness it normalized. “I loved Vanderpump Rules but it also is literally what we’re gonna have PTSD about and have to talk to therapists about for the rest of our life,” she shares with Maloney. She expresses her determination to create something different with House of Stassi.
As House of Stassi continues to stream on Hulu viewers are treated to a blend of candid conversations, unexpected reunions, and the complexities of navigating friendships and relationships in the reality TV world.
