#Scandoval left us with questions, but now we're wondering, "Who is Jo on Vanderpump Rules?" Did we miss something?
Pulling away from the Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss affair for a moment, we've learned that there are other issues on the show besides the restauranteur and musician's infidelity. Who would've guessed it?
During the first installment of that heated three-part Vanderpump Rules reunion, which aired on Wednesday, May 24, Katie Maloney goes back and forth with her ex-husband Tom Schwartz about Jo Weinberg, but no one's quite sure who she is...or what the problem is exactly? Fear not, we're here to walk you through the chaos, so have a Pumptini ready.
Who is Jo on 'Vanderpump Rules'?
Jo's a name you've likely heard tossed around quite a bit, though she is not actually featured on the Bravo reality show. The 35-year-old hairstylist—who's worked with celebrities in the past—also came out of a long-term relationship alongside the cast members. At the time of publication, her Instagram account is set to private and her personal website is inaccessible.
Jo Wenberg is close friends with former Pump Rules star, Kristen Doute, and allegedly, Schwartzy. In fact, they're so close that Jo moved into Schwartz's apartment right after his divorce. At the beginning of Vanderpump Rules season 10, fans speculated that the two were an item, especially after Schwartz confided in Scheana Shay that the two were out until 4am.
Naturally, this did not sit well with Maloney, who has on more than one occasion called out Jo on social media, particularly Instagram Stories in March 2023, according to US Weekly.
“Jo is spooky. I mean none of us could stand to be around her. Her energy is on par with a crackhead,” Maloney wrote. "But when Tom and I announced our divorce almost a year ago the last thing she text me was ‘Bieber loves you / I love you, and I’m so supporting of your inner thoughts and visions / live in the moment, you’re a gem and I’ve always respected you. I love you. Xo Jo.’”
The icing on the cake came with Maloney's final sentence: "She is a psycho and I will also light her on fire with Rachel."
At the reunion, Maloney did not hold back—no surprise there—and Schwartz stood up for his friend, who had been called a "creep" by his ex-wife.
"No, she’s not. Katie don’t do that, don’t disparage her,” Schwartz said. “You’re going to get a cease and desist if you keep attacking her in the comments, too.”
Are Tom Schwartz and Jo Wenberg dating?
Though at one point Schwartz and Wenberg were a "‘situationship’ or a ‘friends with benefits’ type thing with clearly defined boundaries," according to his own words, they're currently not an item. As of February 2023, she's no longer living under the same roof as Schwartz, but they remain friends.
“She’s just someone who I appreciate on a deep level and she’s a really cool human being, and we’re just hanging out," he revealed to US Weekly.
Well, we have to give credit where it's due: Jo managed to take the spotlight off Raquel for a few minutes. Kudos to you, Jo!
Here's how to watch the Vanderpump Rules reunion, no matter your locale, as the rest of the drama continues to unravel.
