In case you hadn’t heard, Vanderpump Rules lost another cast member.
Billie Lee, one of the only trans women on reality TV, left SUR and the show last week.
It wasn’t exactly a shocking decision, as she hasn’t been on the best terms with all of her coworkers this past season — and that’s just what we’ve seen captured on camera!
Oh, and social media…
Video: Lisa Vanderpump Officially Confirms She’s Leaving RHOBH
There were early reports Billie was unwilling to go through with a storyline about her hooking up with coworker Tom Sandoval.
However, now that Billie is breaking her silence on her choice to leave, it sounds like it may have been even worse than just personality clashes or disagreements with producers.
The trans activist took to her blog, A Self Love Story, this week to set the record straight — and to spill the tea.
She began by referencing SUR as her big break into TV and even calling boss Lisa Vanderpump her “fairy godmother.” She wrote:
“During my time at SUR, I met some of the most wonderful people, a few in particular that I now call family. They saw me in a way I never saw myself — they saw beauty, light and love. They saw a powerful activist who was unstoppable. These beautiful souls put a mirror in front of me, they showed me how far I’ve come and how far I can go.”
However, it doesn’t stay positive because, as Billie writes, “with good always comes evil.”
Yeah. Wow. Here we go.
She writes:
“Some of my coworkers were threatened by my differences, going out of their way to exclude me…”
OK, going to pause there. Clearly she’s referring to the incident where costars Katie Maloney, Brittany Cartwright, Ariana Madix, and Scheana Marie participated in a scheduled girls night and didn’t include her.
Billie made it clear at the time she thought it was because she was the only trans woman, tweeting:
“When yo coworkers don’t include the only trans girl in GIRLS night at your own job! On the night you work! ?? #rudeAF #TransIsBeautiful”
But it gets worse. She says the friction included one male coworker “demanding I be fired from the show because he didn’t feel comfortable working with me.”
Whoa, what?? She continues:
“His exact words were, ‘I’m not gonna lose all I have worked hard for for something stupid I may say or do to offend her. Are we all supposed to tip toe around her because she’s trans?’ Like most men during the #MeToo movement he was so afraid of saying the wrong thing that he just wanted me gone.”
Um… So as not to offend the trans community you discriminate against them by not allowing them to work there? Solid decision making right there.
Which idiot thought up that strategy? Seriously, who was it??
Billie doesn’t name names, instead focusing on what this did to her emotional state:
“The bullying on and off camera brought my deep insecurities to the surface, this dark black mirror held up high for everyone in public to see and to judge. The reflection of fear and anger led me back to depression and suicidal thoughts.
I honestly thought I was finished with this type of bullying after high school and college but once again I found myself 34, depressed, and fantasizing about taking my own life.”
Oh no! Thankfully Billie was able to find what she needed to shake the depression.
Unfortunately for fans, it meant leaving the restaurant:
“During this time, I realized that SUR was no longer right for me! I had many people try to convince me to stay, ‘Billie do another year! You are stronger than this.’ But honestly, I couldn’t do another year and I wasn’t strong enough.”
We wish she didn’t see it that way, like it’s some deficit on her part. But it is important to know how much you’re able to put up with. And if Billie says it’s too much for her at SUR, then we all have to respect it.
She finishes on another positive note, looking back at the good that’s come from working at SUR and being on Vanderpump Rules:
“SUR will always be a place I cherish. I’m so grateful for everyone including the owners Nathalie and Guillermo for always having my back. I’m also grateful for Lisa, your encouragement and blessing to move forward with this new chapter of mine means the world to me.
With the help of so many powerful people including Lisa I now have the opportunity to lead my own projects that you will see in 2020.”
Currently that includes an anti-bullying campaign with Regenix and a partnership with GLSEN.
Billie concludes:
“If you ask me, my journey has only just begun. I now have the opportunity to educate and inspire others with my activism work and new projects taking off. Every day is an opportunity to take back your dream, to embrace your journey and live the life you’ve always wanted. You are never too old or “too gay” and it’s never too late to start over.”
Who do YOU think was responsible for the bullying Billie describes??
[Image via FayesVision/WENN/Bravo/YouTube.]
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