The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Britani Bateman and her on-off boyfriend, Jared Osmond, are breaking down where their relationship currently stands after a season of drama.
“There’s a lot of speculation behind it, and there’s so much I can say. I do love Britani,” Jared, 55, began on the Wednesday, December 31, episode of the “Viall Files” podcast. “My relationship with Britani has been tumultuous in that, here we are at 55, we are both still going through divorces. We’re both divorced, we’ve been bifurcated, but I’m six years in and she’s three and [we are both still dealing with separating assets]. It’s been kind of hard.”
When Britani made her RHOSLC debut in season 5 as a “friend of,” she was dating Donny Osmond’s nephew Jared. Their relationship has since gone through many ebbs and flows, culminating with Britani initiating a 30-day break from Jared during season 6. They’ve since been spotted together on multiple occasions after filming wrapped.
“The first season was hard [because] Britani and I did not understand the rules of engagement,” Jared recalled. “We got on the show, and then we broke up. We would literally break up every month. It looks terrible because it is.”
Keep scrolling for Britani and Jared’s biggest relationship revelations on “The Viall Files” podcast:
Why Jared and Britani Keep Breaking Up
Jared estimated that he and Britani have separated “at least” 24 times over various issues that arose in their relationship.
“We’ve hit the pause button because, ‘This isn’t working’ or ‘I don’t like the show,” he said. “I just go to the gym, drink a protein shake and try to get over it. … I went through some tough things in my divorce, tough things in the dating life and sometimes I have to just, kind of, step back. It’s not because I don’t love her and it’s not because I don’t want to be with her, it’s just I have to step and analyze and go, ‘What are we doing? Why is a show in the middle of everything we do?’”
He added, “The reason that we break up is because of me, I take full responsibility for that.”
Where Jared and Britani Stand Now
Fans watched their emotionally charged breakup at the riverbed, which was filmed back in May.
“We literally got back together right before Thanksgiving, just recently,” Jared revealed. “I’ve dated and gone out with really wonderful people and that kind of thing, but it’s always that feeling that I have. … She’s my best friend [and has been] for all these years, and there’s a closeness and kindness between us. We’re never mean to each other. It’s just moments of pause going, ‘OK,’ and a lot of it has to do with me. I don’t necessarily break up, but she gets nervous.”
According to Jared, he and Britani are “thriving” as a couple while also taking their next steps slowly.
“We want our children to be on our team, and we know we need to show them some sort of stability,” Jared explained. “Whether they do or not, I’m not going to hold my breath. Britani has a great relationship with her kids. I thought I did with mine, but there’s a couple [who] are very triggered by Britani and I together. … It’s not Britani, it’s the show.”
Britani, for her part, added that they were not an official couple during BravoCon in November when she kissed him mid-panel.
Jared and Britani Have Discussed Marriage
“There is timing behind this, and the timing is truly at this age, and it’s just a number,” he told podcast host Nick Viall. “We have other things to consider, including our children.”
The pair were very briefly engaged during RHOSLC season 6, which Jared ultimately called off.
“It didn’t end badly. It ended with a pause with me going, ‘I’m a little sketchy on even the idea of marriage,’” he recalled of the whirlwind proposal. “Because of my trauma, and that is what it is. … I don’t know what we’re doing, but these are sacred things. These are private conversations.”
How Britani and Jared First Met
Jared initially met the Bravo star after his ex-girlfriend started dating Britani’s ex-husband.
“They got together, and we had no idea,” he said. “I called Britani, and said, ‘Are you aware of this?’ There’s so many details I’m going to purposefully leave out, but she was shocked. I was shocked. We literally trauma-bonded into the relationship, and that’s exactly how it started. For a month, we just spoke on the phone [and] I had no idea what she looked like.”
Britani, meanwhile, said that they first “fell in love as friends” while Jared worked through his feelings about his ex’s abrupt then-new romance.
“I was ready for a relationship … [and] was in a completely different spot,” she recalled. “He was not, and so he had one foot out the door because he wasn’t emotionally ready to commit but he loved me, and so he was straddling this, ‘I want you, but I don’t want you. I’m not ready.’ Over the course of two and a half years, it switched, like, every time he pulled something [similar], I would feel unsafe.”
Their Respective Kids Still Don’t Approve
Britani had previously been estranged from her two daughters, both of whom felt their mom consistently chose her romantic partner over them.
“They’re triggered as well,” Britani said on Wednesday’s episode. “My older daughter, Taylor, not as much, but Olivia definitely is. … Olivia was younger when the trauma happened, and that might have contributed.”
Britani further explained that she is “really receptive” to any of Olivia’s feedback about their dynamic.
“I’m going to have to keep demonstrating for the rest of my life,” she stated.
Jared Isn’t a Fan of ‘RHOSLC’
“I’m on a reality television show that, quite honestly, I don’t want to be on,” he said. “I went on reluctantly, and I’ve been on and it’s hard. It’s a show that has painted me as the villain.”
Jared joined the show because of Britani herself.
“I didn’t see this coming. So, when Britani got the phone call, I guess that’s how it works [that] they reach out to several people,” Jared recalled. “When her final interview happened, I wasn’t in the room, and they pulled me into the interview. I sat there on the sofa in this screen with seven Bravo execs firing questions at both of us about how we met, which is very controversial. I had no idea that the requirement was for me to be a part of her story on set.”
Will Jared Return to Future Seasons of ‘RHOSLC?’
Jared initially didn’t appear on RHOSLC season 5 because he didn’t agree to sign a production waiver.
“I said, ‘I’m not filming. What was the expectation that I would film?’” he recalled. “I could see it in Britani’s eyes that she’s, like, ‘Come on, you’re part of my story.’”
After watching the show seemingly take his comments out of context, he agreed to film in season 6.
“I’m good at, apparently, being the controversial [villain] on the Housewives. That’s the role that I’ve assumed,” he stated. “I’ve said everything I’ve said, [and] I am not going to sit here and tell you I didn’t. The problem is … the edits, I don’t think, are totally fair. I’ll say something that sounds controversial, but there’s always another part. Maybe I’m long-winded, but I’m trying to explain that party and then it gets cut out.”
Jared further stressed that he’s not a Bravo fan in the slightest.
“I don’t like it. I don’t need it for my career,” he said. “It doesn’t do anything for me. I’m grateful for Britani in my life and I’m happy to support her, and that’s what I’ve wanted to do.”
When it comes to a potential season 7, Jared proclaimed that he’s “done filming” completely.
“It’s not my thing. It’s not my life,” he said. “I really think the story doesn’t need to be about Britani and I all the time anymore. Britani is so good on her own, and she brings so much content to the show. She’s so interesting to watch, she’s raw and vulnerable. … I also want to live up to my word to my children that I’m done with reality television so my children jump back on ‘Team Dad’ and understand that my resolve is this now that [the show] is Britani’s career, not mine. I don’t get paid to do this.”
