On Vanderpump Rules, Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz had a rough road, and after years of ups and downs, the couple announced their split. While abrupt, the revelation wasn't entirely shocking to long-term fans of the show. Katie and Tom's relationship was rocky. However, they seemed to stick it out, no matter how many rage texts Katie sent or how many problematic remarks Tom made.
From Jax Taylor and Stassi Schroeder to Jax and Brittany Cartwright to James Kennedy and Kristin Doute (and James and Raquel Leviss), there always seemed to be a more dysfunctional dynamic in the mix than Katie and Tom's. Neither party was perfect, but through it all, they chose each other. On Vanderpump Rules, Katie and Tom were in good company, as many relationships were messy.
The couple got married in 2016, with Lisa Vanderpump as their officiant, and Tom made it clear that he couldn't imagine waking up without her, despite almost becoming "another relationship statistic in Lala land." Tom's best man (and his other partner in life), Tom Sandoval, said, "all I can think of is how much I love Tom, how much I love Katie, and how much I love love."
Later, it came to light that Katie's partner Tom from Vanderpump Rules lost the official marriage certificate. In 2019, he and Katie rectified this with a trip to Las Vegas with their Vanderpump Rules cast members. Despite the highs, Tom's relationships with Tom overshadowed his marriage. Plus, when Katie and Tom fought, they regularly went for the jugular. She once said that Tom's "d**k didn't work." Tom once lashed out, saying, "this is why he didn't sleep with her," after Katie criticized a prank involving the police, calling it tasteless, within the context of police violence. After all that turmoil, as they got older, they found a more peaceful rhythm. Last season, the couple discussed having a baby. While living with fertility issues, Katie and Tom maintained their belief that they could be great parents.
Tom and Katie undoubtedly loved one another, but romance and intimacy often weren't their strong suits. Fans had suspected that a breakup might be imminent when Katie from VPR was spotted without her ring. The official news came from synchronized posts from Tom and Katie. While Katie framed her post as the "end of a marriage" and Tom wasn't ready for the "D" word, both emphasized respect and love for each other. Katie wrote, "I never thought I would have to make an announcement like this. But I feel it's important that I'm open about my life with you. After 12 years on an adventure through life together, Tom and I are ending our marriage." She continued, "This ending is not met with resentment or animosity, no sides to choose. We have deep admiration for one another that will always remain, and we cherish our friendship." Although they are on different paths, they will "continue to love and support one another's happiness."
His post was much longer, starting with "Well, this sucks" and ending with photos of the good times. Tom did indicate that VPR's Katie took the lead on the split and he clearly didn't step up to the plate to change her mind. He wrote, "fully respect Katie's decision, and we've had healthy, productive conversations about it. It would be far sadder if she decided to stay with me whilst not happy." He also said that while viewers might make snap judgments, he hoped for kindness. He said that he and Katie shared, "the most blissful, romantic, fun times humanly possible over the course" of the relationship, adding, "I'm talking heaven on earth level joy."
Overall, both partners acknowledge how much they learned and loved. While Tom joked that they weren't always "a model couple," they could be "model divorcees. A dubious title." Hopefully, fans will get to see Katie's journey with Ariana Madix as they open their sandwich shop, and Tom and Tom will likely never break up. The infamous Bubba tattoo on Tom's butt might not last, but it looks like his love for Katie always will. It's a bittersweet ending for the couple and their fans. With so much growth (and a decade of storytelling in the public eye), closing the chapter is not easy. However, a Vanderpump Rules friendship between Tom and Katie might be more powerful than their romance could ever be.
Sources: Katie Maloney/Instagram, Tom Schwartz/Instagram