Tom Schwartz’s Fling Jo Wenberg got ‘Lots of Hate’ after ‘VPR’ debut

Tom Schwartz‘s friend Jo Wenberg don’t allow Vanderpump Rules Strong opinions from fans reached her after her first official appearance on the show.

“Oh man. I can’t do it. A lot of hate. However, a lot of hate. So we will continue this journey. I really hope that everyone…” Wenberg said via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, February 21, before she became distracted and with someone in the lobby of her building spoke.

Wenberg further noted that she was still navigating her new normal as she stepped into the Bravo spotlight.

“We will continue this journey and it will be fine. Everything will be fine. Thank you so much for the kind words from most of you,” she continued. “Vanderpump Rules is a new step for me, so you’re damned if you did and damned if you’re not kidding. Sorry, I’m really tired.’

Related: Tom Schwartz and Jo Wenberg’s relationship timeline

Tom Schwartz’s love life — especially his romance with Jo Wenberg — has intrigued Vanderpump Rules viewers since his divorce from Katie Maloney. Schwartz and Maloney announced their split in March 2022, months before season 10 was filmed. Schwartz later surprised Bravo fans when he hooked up with Raquel Leviss at Scheana Shay and Brock Davies’ […]

Bravo viewers were introduced to Wenberg during the Tuesday, February 20 episode Vanderpump Rules. Wenberg’s first scene showed her cutting Schwartz’s hair as he jokingly asked if she preferred “cash or a trip to Olive Garden” as payment.

In a confessional, Schwartz, 41, clarified Wenberg’s presence in his life, adding: “Jo is a human being – Jo is a light in my life. I want to clear things up. Jo never lived with me. Did she stay with me sporadically? Yes. She’s not my girlfriend, she never was. We had a whirlwind romance, but we’re just buds now.

Schwartz was later asked to explain his complicated relationship status with Wenberg on Tuesday’s episode Watch what happens live with Andy Cohen. Schwartz elaborated on why he denied dating Wenberg before calling their relationship a “whirlwind romance.”

Related: Everything Tom Schwartz said about Bond with Jo after Katie Maloney split

Tom Schwartz’s close bond with Jo Wenberg has raised eyebrows following his split from Katie Maloney – and he has provided a surprising amount of insight into their friendship. Before filming for season 10 of Vanderpump Rules began, Tom and Katie announced their decision to split after more than a decade together. When the cameras started […]

“We had a lightning strike situation there for a while,” he explained. “I don’t know if it was sustainable, given my mental state. I don’t know if I was equipped for a conventional relationship.”

Schwartz joked that he “should have been committed” instead of looking for a girlfriend, adding, “I was in a very strange place, like nothing I’ve ever experienced in my entire life.” I will be silent now.”

Before Wenberg’s long-awaited performance VPRSchwartz and his ex-wife, Katie Maloneydiscussed her at length throughout season 10. Besides being Kristen Doute’Wenberg, a former friend of his, was linked to Schwartz following his divorce from Maloney, 37.

Despite Schwartz’s high opinion of Wenberg, Maloney did not share the same praise.

“Jo is creepy. I mean, none of us could stand to be around her. Her energy is comparable to a crackhead,” wrote Maloney in an Instagram comment in February 2023. “But when Tom and I announced our divorce almost a year ago, the last thing she texted was[ed] I was: ‘I love you, and I so support your inner thoughts and visions / live in the moment, you are a gem and I have always respected you. I love you. Xo Jo.” She is a psychopath and I will set her on fire too.”

After filming scenes for season 11 of Vanderpump RulesWenberg offered an update on where she stands with her costars.

“I filmed this season of Vanderpump Rules and it was a really big, eye-opening experience. I’m usually behind the camera, and being in front of the camera was really hard for me,” she admitted via her Instagram Story in November 2023. “But I will say the producers were really great.”

Wenberg had nothing but kind words for certain cast members, adding, “I’ll say that too Lala [Kent] was so nice to me. She gave me grace. I didn’t even really know her and I thought that was so sweet. We don’t even follow each other on Instagram and we don’t have each other’s phone numbers. But I wanted to give a shout-out about her because she was so sweet.

She went on to discuss Maloney’s digs. “That doesn’t make any sense [what I just tried to say]. This is probably why people think I’m a crackhead. I’m just really bad at talking. I’m not a crackhead, can we just make it clear? I’ve never done it in my life,” she added. “I’m really scared to actually pull the plug and go public [online]. The reason I do this is because I don’t think it will hurt me. At this point you will see the season and I had no idea what I was doing.

Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 8pm ET and will be available to stream on Peacock the next day.