Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz were the heart of Vanderpump Rules during the show's early seasons. Appearing in smaller roles originally but becoming key characters on the reality TV show, audiences followed the highs and lows of their romance. From tequila Katie arguing with Tom to their romantic wedding and their sad split, fans fell in love with Katie and Tom.
Sadly, Bravo reported that after 12 years together, including six years of marriage, they filed for divorce in March 2022. The Bravo show subsequently followed the pair as they tried to stay friends after their split, all while battling Scandoval.
According to E! News, Tom shared, "I still love Kate with all my heart." He continued, "Whenever I think of our relationship, it's still a highlight reel of all the best moments. But I still love Katie a lot — respectfully, with boundaries."
How Katie Maloney Met Tom Schwartz
(And Why It Took Them Months To Get The Second Date)
Katie Maloney met Tom Schwartz through their Vanderpump Rules castmate Kristen Doute before any of them appeared on the reality show.
Kristen set up the pair, although their first meet-up didn't exactly go to plan. Tom showed up for the meeting with another woman as he didn't know he was on a date with Katie.
In an interview with Bravo, Katie said, "That was the funny part, finally I'm meeting this guy that supposedly wants to meet me, that's so perfect for me, and he's got a girl with him."
Tom admitted there was no initial spark, with the pair meeting in June and not dating until September. "The second night I was introduced to her and given a little backstory, that's when it clicked."
He proposed to Katie in June 2015 and they married in August 2016. The couple's wedding in Lake Tahoe, California, was aired on an episode of Vanderpump Rules and was officiated by Lisa Vanderpump herself. The pair legally married in Las Vegas in 2019 after it turned out that they were never legally married since they never filed official paperwork.
Tom and Katie appeared as a couple in the first episode of Vanderpump Rules. However, Tom wasn't a main cast member in Season 1 and only became a series regular in 2014.
What Led To The Breakdown Of Katie Maloney And Tom Schwartz's Marriage
Collider reported that just before filming the tenth season of Vanderpump Rules, Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz called it quits after more than a decade together.
- During the Season 10 premiere of Vanderpump Rules, Katie and Tom addressed their split and what led to the breakdown of their relationship.
- Katie revealed she had asked Tom for a divorce after 12 years together.
We've had a lot of issues. I have never been a priority to him.
“[Katie] laid it all out and it made perfect sense. I can’t probably give you the specifics because I was so upset I wasn’t really listening,” Tom admitted in a confessional, before explaining that he believed the pair split because he wasn't a good listener. "Long story short, I just didn’t know how to make her happy.”
Opening the bar Schwartz and Sandys, which formed a huge part of their Vanderpump Rules plotline, also put a rift in their relationship.
Katie referred to the bar as "the other woman in our marriage" and while she was excited for Tom, she felt "It put a massive strain on our relationship. It just was a lot more of a presence in my life than I thought it would be, without me having say over it."
On her podcast, Katie admitted their split was something that happened slowly over time and not a rash decision. The reality star said she "just wasn't happy" and ending their relationship was "the hardest, hardest thing to do," but she had to "start prioritizing myself and my happiness."
People reported that during an appearance on the podcast We Met At Acme, Katie added that she felt she had "put in the work" during their marriage, but did not feel he did the same. She went on to say that they had both "changed and grown apart" and that she felt this "marriage wasn't the healthiest thing" for them. "Separating was the best option and the best decision for myself," she explained. "And really for the both of us."
Katie continued sharing her story. "It was one day, I just told him, 'This is how I've been feeling, I'm not feeling very happy.' … And then he just didn't really do anything," she admitted.
I think he thought that I was just gonna get over it or something. And then, it was a couple of weeks later, I had decided that I had wanted to get a divorce.
During a segment of Cheap Shots with Cosmo, via Reality Tea, Tom Schwartz reflected on where it all went wrong in his marriage:
- He should have been a better listener.
- He should have validated her feelings before confronting them with logic.
- Tom admits he should have calmed down on the drinking and stopped making out with strangers.
- Ultimately, he should have spent more time on her and less time on his bar with Tom Sandoval.
Katie And Tom's Rocky Relationship Post-Divorce
Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules explored Katie and Tom trying to navigate their relationship post-divorce.
At times, it looks like Tom wanted to reconcile with his ex-wife. In Season 11, he asked Katie if she was interested in a "one-night stand," which she laughed off. Katie has always batted away any ideas of getting back with her ex. “I mean, like I said, I don’t think he has done any type of, like, therapy or work.”
Although Katie and Tom have managed to stay civil post-divorce, Katie was less welcoming to his love interest, Jo Wenberg. Katie felt that Jo moved in too quickly on Tom after their split. "I just feel like you always had it for him, and you were just waiting for your moment," Katie declared on Bravo.
Lala Kent revealed on Watch What Happens Live that Katie and Tom were managing to maintain an unusual friendship, despite their split. “They have a really funky dynamic, and I’m here for it. They really do. It is. She like emotionally abuses him, he loves it. It works. It’s fascinating. It does.”
Page Six reported that Katie announced in the fall of 2024 that she was happily in a new relationship, but refused to name the lucky man. Bravo fans have suspected that it's Sleeping with Sirens guitarist Nick Martin since the two had been seen leaving flirty comments on each other’s Instagram posts and suspect they may be dating, per Page Six.
Likewise, Bravo reported that Tom is also in love and has been dating 24-year-old Sophia Skoro.
In October 2024, an insider told US Weekly that another season of Vanderpump Rules is "uncertain" as there are pay disputes among the cast. As of this article's publishing, discussions are "ongoing" for a new and final season.
