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Kelsey Swanson reacted to being labeled a “polygamist” during an interview earlier this month.
As she opened up about her relationships with her boyfriend, rumored to be John Caprio, and her “other man,” Bill L’Europa, the Real Housewives of Rhode Island star confirmed whether she and Bill were ever official, revealed that her boyfriend originally planned to film alongside her, shared her thoughts on futures with both men, and more.
“I was used to [questions about my love life], and I was prepared for it, and I just wanted to be open,” Kelsey said during an interview with Pop Culture.
According to Kelsey, she “wasn’t mad” that her co-stars didn’t understand her situation. Still, being labeled a polygamist “was triggering.”
“The only thing that I cared about was that [Rosie DiMare] was saying it, not anybody else,” Kelsey continued. “So, that was where my frustration was at, not at actually talking about it.”
While Bill recently made his debut on the show, his appearance wasn’t a hard launch, and he was “never [her] boyfriend.” Instead, Kelsey was seeing him “on the side.”
“They wanted to label it right away, ‘Oh, she has two boyfriends,’ but no, there was no label on him at that point,” she clarified.
As for her actual boyfriend, who she has not yet named, he was featured on her casting tapes but ultimately backed out of filming after learning the series would be part of the Real Housewives franchise.
“He was the one who was going to be on the show; however, once we realized that it was going to be a Housewife show … he was like, ‘Yeah, no. I’m not putting my trust in six ladies to not talk sh*t about me, so I’m gonna be out on this one,’” Kelsey explained.
Regarding Bill, Kelsey said he “also didn’t really want to be involved, but he did it for [Kelsey].”
As RHORI fans recently saw on the show, Kelsey shared that because her boyfriend was “not being loyal,” she felt that she, too, should be able to have her fun, and did so with Bill.
“We actually grew up together,” Kelsey explained to Bravo during an interview earlier this month. “I’ve known him since the 7th grade, and he was actually one of my first crushes. We kind of saw each other here and there in high school, but always had different friend groups. Eventually, we connected a couple of years ago, and kind of stayed connected ever since.”
“He’s very, very generous and kind and sweet — and probably loves me more than anyone I’ve ever met in my life, other than my parents,” she added.
In addition to sharing that her mom, Julie, often joked about Bill being her “future son-in-law,” Kelsey said that her parents want her “to have more for [herself]” than her current situation with her boyfriend.
After considering that Bill, who works “in the insurance business and restoration business,” would “be a good dad,” Kelsey said that she was “keeping him at arm’s length” until she figures out where her relationship with her boyfriend is headed.
“Although he’s very successful, he can’t offer me the life that I’m living, not having to work,” she reasoned. “I don’t have any problem working. I can do it. It’s just, do I want to? No.”
Looking ahead, Kelsey admitted she was at a crossroads.
“I just hit 30, and I want more for myself. I want to be in a committed relationship with one person. But at [my boyfriend’s] age in his life, there’s not one thing he’s going to change. He is who he is, and either I accept it or I have to leave,” she noted.
That said, Kelsey acknowledged that she “would be very happy” with either man.
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island season one airs Sundays at 9/8c on Bravo.
