Lead bartender Natalie Maguire’s off-the-clock behavior at SUR landed her in hot water on the Vanderpump Rules Season 12 premiere.
Natalie explained to new bartender Chris Hahn on the Dec. 2 episode that she had recently been “suspended” from SUR for an incident involving her ex-boyfriend Paulo. As she put it, “I was just defending myself. Everyone’s gonna tell you I was crazy and screaming — which is true.”
After noting in a confessional that she’d brought her stepdad and brother, who were visiting from out of town, to see where she works, Natalie added that a “verbal encounter” with Paulo ensued after she asked him to unblock her number.
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“He started telling me I’m a bad person and all this drama,” she elaborated to her new co-worker. “Then, I’m being asked to leave by my best friends. I don’t know, I just lost my mind.”
Later on, Natalie revealed to a producer how longtime SUR assistant manager Demy Selem was also caught in the crossfire.
“The night where I went off on Paulo, I also accidentally happened to go off on Demy,” she added. “I was very loud, I was very passionate, I was very Italian. And I’m really sorry about that, but I am who I am.”
Who is Paulo on Vanderpump Rules Season 12?
Paulo is Natalie’s ex-boyfriend who also works at SUR. She described him as being 54 years old — “but a hot 54.” Paulo also previously dated Demy, just prior to his relationship with Natalie.
As server Kim Suarez put it in an Episode 1 confessional, “Demy was dating Paulo literally up until the day that Natalie started dating Paulo.”Â
Inside Natalie Maguire’s post-suspension meeting with Lisa Vanderpump
When Natalie returned from her suspension, SUR boss Lisa Vanderpump pulled her aside for a mid-shift one-on-one to further unpack what happened between her and Paulo in what she described as a “ridiculous scene” in the middle of her West Hollywood restaurant and lounge.
“Paulo and I broke up three months ago, and we never had any separation,” Natalie told LVP. “Which is fine. It’s what happens when you date someone that you work with.”
That’s when Lisa interjected, “Darling, you came here on your night off. That is a night for separation. And then you went after him. I’ve seen the tape. You were relentless.”
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After security footage from the incident rolled, Natalie admitted that LVP’s description was correct. Meanwhile, in separate confessionals, her castmates shared their eyewitness accounts of the incident that ended with Demy kicking Natalie out of SUR.
“I’m embarrassed,” Natalie told Lisa. “I went into fight or flight mode.”
At the same time, however, Natalie had already compiled a list of reasons why she “really shouldn’t be in trouble at all” that she read to a producer from her phone. Her defense included factors such as Mercury being in retrograde and having “no sex life” with her “very private” ex. Â
Why Lisa Vanderpump didn’t fire Natalie Maguire
Despite the dustup, LVP decided to end Natalie’s punishment with the suspension, explaining, “You’re a young woman that’s been here a long time and, you know, that is the only reason, after that behavior, why I’m actually going to give you a break. Otherwise, I would’ve let you go like that.”
Regardless, Lisa put Natalie on notice, adding, “But listen very carefully: I will be keeping an eye on you. All this kind of flagrant f–kery is done.”
After their sitdown, Natalie exclusively told The Daily Dish, “I just wanted Lisa to know where I’m coming from — and she might be right — but I want her to know why maybe I reacted the wrong way. Like, my intention was not horrible. I try to be innocent. I tried.”
As the drama heats up, find out what else is ahead for Natalie and her castmates on Vanderpump Rules Season 12.
