Katie Maloney Says Tom Schwartz Split Was Not Abrupt But Was 'Building Up' For Months

Katie Maloney is getting candid about the cause of her split from husband Tom Schwartz.

During Friday's episode of her "You're Gonna Love Me" podcast, the "Vanderpump Rules" star, 35, explained that she and Schwartz, 39, had ongoing issues that eventually led to her pulling the plug on their marriage.

"I know [for] some people [it] may seem like a shock, or it may seem like an abrupt thing, but for us, it's not like we just decided this this week or yesterday or the day before," she said.

Maloney got emotional as she explained that there was no "crazy incident" or fight that led to what she described as "the hardest and most painful decision" she'd ever had to make.

Instead, she said the best way to describe what happened was her "waking up inside of my life and having this voice that just became louder and louder, and just events in my life and our relationship coming into focus and feeling the weight of them on me."

"It got to a point where it felt like I was going to burst. For months it was building up," Maloney explained. "I felt disconnected, I felt like I was drifted away further and further, I felt like I was drifting. And I couldn't stop it."

She admitted that she initially denied her unhappiness and pushed the negative feelings "out of my head."

"I love Tom, we built a life together, and he was my person and I wanted to be him with forever. But ultimately, I just wasn't happy," she said.

After spending some time with her thoughts, and not sharing them with anyone else, the Bravo star found that the feelings she was experiencing "didn't stop." Though they had many happy memories together, Maloney said she was just "not fulfilled" at that point.

The reality star described the moment she told Schwartz about her decision as the "hardest, hardest thing to do" but said she realized that she had to prioritize herself and her happiness, adding, "It just needed to happen."

Maloney married Schwartz in 2016, though they didn't file the official paperwork to be legally wed until 2019.

Schwartz also spoke about their breakup when photographers caught up with him outside a Home Depot in Los Angeles Wednesday, a day after he and Maloney announced they were calling it quits.

When asked how he was doing, Schwartz told photographers that he is "OK," according to a video obtained by E! News. "Of course I'm sad, but, you know, we still love each other very much," he added.

The Bravo star was also asked about the rumors that his pal Tom Sandoval had something to do with his separation from Maloney. Schwartz denied the claims and took all the blame for the end of their marriage.

"No, no, that's all on me. I wish I had a scapegoat, but that's all on me," Schwartz said. "It's complicated, obviously. But nothing in particular. You know, life, you know. It's complicated."

Maloney said on her podcast that she and Schwartz are still living together and are working on becoming friends.