Lisa Vanderpump Teases Stassi Schroeder’s ‘Fun’ Appearance on ‘Vanderpump Villa’ After Bravo Exit (Exclusive)

Lisa Vanderpump is so ready for Stassi Schroeder’s long-awaited return to reality TV.

“I love having somebody to play with,” Vanderpump, 64, told Us Weekly exclusively for this week’s cover story. “I don’t want to be the boss all the time.”

Schroeder is making an appearance on Vanderpump Villa season 2 — set to premiere via Hulu on Thursday, April 24 — as a “special VIP” in the Italian castle Vanderpump rented out for the cast’s summer stay.

“It’s fun to have somebody to banter with,” Vanderpump continued. “I can’t be as casual with my staff as I would be with a friend, so to speak.”

Schroeder worked under Vanderpump for eight seasons of Vanderpump Rules until she was fired from Bravo in 2020. (She and former and costar Kristen Doute reported Black costar Faith Stowers to the police for a crime she didn’t commit.)

“I understood why [she was let go], but I would’ve rather kept her, chastised her and let her learn from it,” Vanderpump told Us of the decision to let her former employee go, noting that she “always” wanted Schroeder to come back.

“It was a difficult position for me,” Vanderpump recalled. “I wasn’t consulted. Everything was in such disarray.”

Schroeder references her firing during her Vanderpump Villa season 2 cameo, admitting that she never wanted to leave Vanderpump Rules. In many ways, her appearance in the Hulu series offers her a second chance.

“It was very poignant, because it was a sign of the times and her actions. The world is changing,” Vanderpump added. “I hate this cancellation policy — people are expected to be exemplary and not make mistakes. We all make mistakes. She did something totally inappropriate and learned from it.”

While she’s grown from her past — Schroeder is now married to Beau Clark and a mother of two — Vanderpump hints that not too much has changed over the past two years.

“She’s still Stassi and says things most people wouldn’t even think of, but there’s an essence of responsibility that has continually grown,” the restaurant owner added.

Looking back at her own reality TV journey, Vanderpump has experienced some growth of her own. (Aside from starring in Vanderpump Rules, which is gearing up for a revamped season, she appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills from 2010 to 2019.)

“It’s been an incredible journey,” she gushed. “I’ve done hundreds of episodes. I’ve had so much fun; I’ve had sadness; I’ve had surprise; I’ve had every element. Maybe it’s been magnified because it’s been on reality television, but an extraordinary experience for sure.”

For more from Lisa Vanderpump, watch the video above and pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.