Rulla Nehme Pontarelli and Jo-Ellen Tiberi, former enemies from "Real Housewives of Rhode Island," revealed during the 2026 VRT Awards that they are now friends. The reconciliation stems from Rulla’s husband, Brian Pontarelli, admitting to an affair, which led both women to move past their feud. The event was sponsored by several companies including Tri-State Cadillac and Philo, with the full show available for free on Philo starting October 9.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The second annual Virtual Reali-Tea (VRT) Awards took place in New York City on Tuesday night, sponsored by Tri-State Cadillac, CoverGirl, Philo, and Kahlúa at the Edison Ballroom. Over 60 reality TV stars from shows like "Real Housewives," "Summer House," and "Selling Sunset" attended the event, with hosts Danny Murphy and Evan Real leading a red carpet celebration followed by an awards ceremony. Notable winners included Ariana Biermann as "Breakout Star," Kyle Cooke for "Hot-Tea of the Year," and Meredith Marks for "Style Icon." Additionally, Luann de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan, Dorinda Medley, and Kelly Bensimon were honored with a Golden Kettle lifetime achievement award. The event also saw discussions about relationships and personal challenges among attendees, such as Ariana Biermann addressing her brother's arrest while accepting an award. Philo offers free ad-supported streaming of the full show starting Oct. 9.
Written for “VRT Awards 2026 Red Carpet” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 8 other(s) covering the same event.
Hell hath frozen over — because Rulla Nehme Pontarelli and Jo-Ellen Tiberi have buried the hatchet.
asserted
Pontarelli → freeze → hatchet
The “Real Housewives of Rhode Island” stars gave a shocking update on their friendship when “Virtual Reali-Tea” co-hosts Danny Murphy and Evan Real stopped to talk to them in the crowd during the 2026 VRT Awards, sponsored by Tri-State Cadillac, CoverGirl, Philo and Kahlúa.
asserted
Murphy → give → Cadillac
“We’ve had an epiphany,” Rulla told the guys.
asserted
Rulla → have → guys
“Jo-Ellen realized that I have feelings, that I’m innocent; we’ve bridged the gap.”
asserted
we → realize → gap
Want to watch from home?Philo is the exclusive streaming partner for the 2026 VRT Awards, and the only place you’ll find the full show this year.
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you → want → show
It’s free to watch on Philo’s ad-supported platform starting Oct. 9.Plus
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It → ’ → Oct.
, you can catch up on last year’s awards now on Philo.com/VRTs.
asserted
you → catch → Philo.com/VRTs
On the other side of the table, Tiberi confirmed as much, explaining that Rulla’s husband, Brian Pontarelli, finally “admitted the truth” about his affair with another woman.
asserted
husband → confirm → woman
“They moved past it, and that’s the best thing,” Tiberi said.
asserted
Tiberi → move → it
“I was vindicated.”
asserted
I → vindicate → ?
Their feud began before cameras went up for “RHORI” Season 1, with Rulla accusing Tiberi of gossiping around town about Brian’s affair and showing people photos of him with his alleged “mistress.”
asserted
Rulla → begin → mistress
While Brian repeatedly insisted his relationship with the unnamed mistress — later identified as Cranston-based medical aesthetician Beth Walker — was a thing of the past, Tiberi continued to present evidence that said otherwise.
asserted
that → insist → evidence
As Tiberi’s sleuthing persisted, she uncovered a video of Brian and Walker, allegedly taken during filming for “RHORI” Season 1, as well as incriminating photos that were posted on social media.
uncertain
that → persist → media
Tiberi, of course, had her own set of issues with the couple, whom she accused of trying to get her fired from her office job at a local aesthetics center.
asserted
her → have → center
Their beef continued well into the Season 1 reunion, with Tiberi questioning whether Brian was still married to his ex-wife when he and Rulla began their relationship over a decade ago, and doubling down on the claims that his affair with Walker was still ongoing at the time of filming.
uncertain
affair → continue → filming
The women traded insults, as Rulla called Tiberi a “slut” and Tiberi threatened to “break” Rulla’s newly redone nose.
asserted
Tiberi → trade → nose
While they failed to reconcile their friendship during the two-part reunion, it sounds like “RHORI” Season 2 — which recently wrapped filming — was able to give the women a fresh start.
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which → fail → start
Whether or not that will last remains to be seen.
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last → last → ?
However, as of the VRT Awards — where they joined their co-stars on stage to accept the award for “Best Cast” — the frenemies seemed to have put their differences aside, at least for the night.
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frenemies → join → night
“I’ve grown as a person, we’ve grown together, and the most important thing is that our family is very strong,” Brian told Page Six on the red carpet earlier in the evening.
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Brian → grow → evening
“If we can just show other families going through the same thing that with hard work and dedication and, most importantly, love, we can get through it.”
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we → show → it
“The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” Season 1 is currently streaming on Peacock.
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Season → stream → Peacock
Conversation
Your voice matters.
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voice → matter → Conversation
Discussions are moderated for civility.
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Discussions → moderate → civility
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