Billie Lee has decided to quit SUR and subsequently Vanderpump Rules.
The reality star took to her blog on Monday (July 22) to announce that she will no longer be a member of the Bravo reality show so that she can focus on her well-being, adding that the “bullying” she experienced on the job that brought up “suicidal thoughts.”
In a post titled “Two Weeks Notice,” Billie says that she met many “wonderful” people working at SUR, but some of her co-workers “were threatened by my differences, going out of their way to exclude me, one demanding I be fired from the show because he didn’t feel comfortable working with me.”
Without naming names, Billie alleged that the person who wanted her fired said, “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 tiptoe 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.”
Billie added: “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.”
Billie then went on to thank boss Lisa Vanderpump, saying, “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.”
You can read Billie Lee‘s entire blog post here.
