RHORI Star Rulla Never Expected Her Marriage to Steal the Spotlight
Real Housewives of Rhode Island newcomer Rulla Nehme Pontarelli hit the ground running in episode two on Sunday, April 2, as her marriage to Brian Pontarelli and a brewing clash with Jo-Ellen Tiberi surged into the spotlight—hardly the storyline she expected.
Well, that escalated fast. The Real Housewives of Rhode Island is only two episodes in, and newcomer Rulla Nehme Pontarelli is already watching her marriage become the storyline she says she never signed up for.
How we got here
Rulla officially joined the party in the new Bravo series' second episode, which aired Sunday, April 2. Within minutes, the show steered straight into her long-simmering tension with Jo-Ellen Tiberi, a rep in the beauty business. Rulla and her husband, Brian, run in those industry circles too, and Rulla says Jo-Ellen may look friendly and bubbly on the surface, but the vibe does not always match the reality.
Over lunch with Liz McGraw and Kelsey Swanson, Rulla said Jo-Ellen had been talking about her. In a confessional, Liz went bigger: according to her, there are rumors 'all around Rhode Island' that Brian has a mistress. Liz says she heard about photos online of Brian with another woman and connected Rulla with Jo-Ellen, who had seen those pics.
At first, Rulla thought Jo-Ellen was being supportive. Then she says she found out Jo-Ellen had shared the pictures with the whole group and was spreading the story around town. According to Rulla, Brian was seeing the other woman in summer 2024, but it ended. Liz is not convinced any of that is in the past.
'It is pretty out there that Brian is still doing his thing with this woman... If Rulla chooses not to acknowledge what is really going on and live in that land of delusion. I am sorry, Elizabeth is allergic to bulls***.'
Jo-Ellen's version
Jo-Ellen says she is unfairly taking the heat for Brian's behavior. Her stance: she shared a picture the alleged mistress posted publicly on the internet. Then, according to Jo-Ellen, Rulla and Brian tried to get her fired afterward. The show tees that up as something we will hear more about later this season.
Where Rulla stands now
Rulla says she 'certainly did not' expect her marriage to be a plot point on TV, but here we are. She maintains the alleged affair happened last summer and is over. As for Jo-Ellen, Rulla questions her credibility and says people in Rhode Island who know Jo-Ellen and her past would back that up. What really set Rulla off, she says, was Jo-Ellen continuing to push the story to the group and basically the whole state. Rulla's question: to what end.
What they both told the press
In a follow-up interview, Jo-Ellen did not hold back about Brian. She said she is not a fan and does not think he is a great person, while calling Rulla smart, brilliant, and beautiful, and saying Rulla did not deserve what he put her through. Rulla, meanwhile, does not buy that Jo-Ellen is on her side and stands by her concerns about Jo-Ellen's authenticity and motives.
Who is who in this mess
- Rulla Nehme Pontarelli: New to the cast, did not expect her marriage to become a storyline. Says Brian's alleged summer 2024 fling is over. Thinks Jo-Ellen lacks credibility.
- Brian Pontarelli: Rulla's husband. At the center of rumors and alleged photos with another woman.
- Jo-Ellen Tiberi: Beauty industry rep. Says she only shared a public photo, claims Rulla and Brian tried to get her fired. Not a fan of Brian, sympathetic to Rulla.
- Liz McGraw: Heard the statewide rumors, says the situation might still be ongoing. Delivered the episode's spiciest line about being allergic to BS.
- Kelsey Swanson: At the lunch where this all got dragged into the open.
When to watch
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo, with episodes streaming on Peacock the next day.