'RHORI' star Rulla Pontarelli defends Brian's mother's health amid 'Mistress' drama: 'It wasn't fake'

‘RHORI’ star Rulla Nehme Pontarelli responds to alleged claims involving her husband Brian Ponterelli from fellow cast member, Jo-Ellen Tiber, among other things.
A still from 'RHORI' After Show Episode 5 featuring Rulla Nehme Pontarelli (Cover Image Source: YouTube | @Bravo)
A still from 'RHORI' After Show Episode 5 featuring Rulla Nehme Pontarelli (Cover Image Source: YouTube | @Bravo)

‘RHORI’ star Rulla Nehme Pontarelli opened up about her husband Brian Pontarelli’s “disputed” hospital visit amid “mistress” claims from a fellow cast member in her exclusive ‘After Show’ appearance. It happened after Brian’s hospital visit to see his mother, which was allegedly said to be an “excuse to sneak away and visit his ‘mistress’.” The recently released ‘RHORI’ Episode 5 After Show, shared by Bravo, on April 26, revealed the details from Rulla, stating that Brian’s mom was, in fact, sick. “She’s had a lot of trips back and forth to the hospital, and this was a situation where, you know, her hands were cold, her feet were cold. The nurse wasn’t there,” added Rulla. 

A still from 'RHORI' After Show Episode 5 featuring Jo-Ellen Tiberi (Image Source: YouTube | @Bravo)
A still from 'RHORI' After Show Episode 5 featuring Jo-Ellen Tiberi (Image Source: YouTube | @Bravo)

While at the After Show, ‘RHORI’ star also recalled the moment when Brian’s father called him to share the news about the hospitalization. It happened moments before the two boarded a bus to the polo match in Newport, along with fellow ‘RHORI’ cast members. “My father-in-law was in a panic. I didn’t want to be, like, unsupportive to Brian. ‘Bye, I’m gonna go to polo, but you can go, you know, take care (of your mom),’” shared Rulla. Along with the alleged claims related to Brian’s hospital visit, she also reflected on a few other claims. One of them was that Brian removed his wedding ring “sometime between him receiving the phone call about his mom and when they showed up together at the polo match was evidence of any wrongdoing.”

A still from 'RHORI' Episode 5 featuring Rulla Nehme Pontarelli and Brian Pontarelli (Image Source: YouTube | @Bravo)
A still from 'RHORI' Episode 5 featuring Rulla Nehme Pontarelli and Brian Pontarelli (Image Source: YouTube | @Bravo)

The latest ‘RHORI’ episode featured Kelsey Swanson pointing out a moment where Brian was not wearing the wedding ring. Rulla responded that it was when he was putting gel in their son’s hair, and after that, he “forgot to put it back on.” Sharing more about the “wedding ring,” Rulla noted that Brian was a foot and ankle surgeon. “I mean, if you look at him, his colleagues, and a lot of docs…they don’t wear their rings often. Now he’s wearing it just to kind of, like, prove a point.” She added that she did not have any issue with him not wearing the wedding ring. “Whenever we’d go out, he’d wear it.” But throughout their routines, he would not wear it. Additionally, she also shared that she “sometimes” does not wear her wedding ring. “When you know where you’re at, it’s not all about the ring,” she added.

A still from RHORI After Show Episode 5 featuring Rulla Nehme Pontarelli (Image Source: YouTube | @Bravo)
A still from 'RHORI' After Show Episode 5 featuring Rulla Nehme Pontarelli (Image Source: YouTube | @Bravo)

According to Rulla, the ring is a “symbol.” But a lot of people, “for decades and even a century, you know, choose and have chosen not to wear a ring.” While at the After Show, ‘RHORI’ star also shed light on another situation from the show’s latest episode. Fellow cast member Jo-Ellen allegedly mentioned that Brian was seeing his “mistress” every morning when “he claimed to be at the gym.” She also had some text messages between Brian and the alleged mistress that she showed to Rulla. However, in a separate clip, Rulla noted that those were “fabricated” messages created using AI. “You know, a lot of times, like, what Jo-Ellen says doesn’t even faze me, and I think that’s why I stayed so calm,” she added. She also referred to Jo-Ellen as “somewhat incredible herself and a s**t-stirrer.”

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