Share one last cry with Romance. After the jump, the Romanian god of love reality TV talks about his scuffle with 12 Pack, coping with the loss of his teacup yorkie and those pesky gay rumors.

Did you enjoy your time on the show?

Overall, it was an amazing experience. It was the best time of my life, no matter how bad or good they make me look. I'd never been to L.A., I'd never been to a mansion, I'd never been in a house with all that food in it! I look at the small things in life. That's what gets me through and keeps a smile on my face.

Do you think it was unfair of New York to say that you tell "sob stories?"

I do think it was unfair. She came from a good background, where as with me, my mom has worked a swing shift my whole life, just trying to put food on the table. I thought that was a lot more touching than the other guys' responses to the questions [during Round 2 of the mangeant]. It wasn't a sob story, that's how I am, that's where I come from in life. I didn't like the way New York did that, and I don't think my mom did, either. She was bawling her eyes out watching it.

You seem like an emotional guy – do you cry a lot generally, or only when you're on a reality show?

I wouldn't say I cry a lot. I value things in life, so just getting the opportunity to go out to L.A. and doing this show was a blessing. It was emotional at the start for me, and I wasn't going to hold that back. For me, just to step in that mansion, I could cry. I'm just thankful for God blessing me with it. But, no, I wouldn't say I cry a lot. It was the experience that made me more emotional, not to mention recently losing my dog. But I'm an emotional sensitive guy. That was not fake, that's the real Ricky/Romance.

When was the last time that you cried?

Probably when the show aired. I was just so thankful to see myself on TV. I don't know if it's just coming out of the area of Buffalo, NY, which has such a bad economy and that getting on TV was a dream come true. I wasn't crying rivers or anything, but I had some tears. I was very thankful. I think I stand out, and maybe that's because of my swag[ger]. My style is unique.

Let's talk about that style for a minute. Your trademark seems to be your hair. Do you do that with gel?

I actually do it with glue, spiker glue. I have a certain style of my hair that no one else will see. I always have a double edge-up, which means my edge-up will always be outlined, as well. And I always have unique sideburns. But I don't just spike it up, I think the Gotti boys are old news, and my hair is in.

How much of that glue do you go through a month?

I probably go through about a bottle a week. It's a little too much, but I have curly hair that I have to tame. You always wish for something you don't got.

Are you still mourning the death of your teacup yorkie, Princess?

Time always heals wounds, and it happened right around the show. But it's sad that I didn't have her for Christmas, because I'd always take her on a shopping spree in Toronto. But I did get a new teacup, Bella. She's kind of been helping me heal for the time being and she's a sweetheart. Nothing's ever going to replace Princess, though.

When you were leaving the house, New York told you that you needed Prozac, and there were other references to your being crazy. How did you feel about that? Do you get it a lot?

No one's ever said I needed Prozac, but people who do know me do say I'm crazy. I stepped up to a dude [12 Pack], and New York should have respected that. I only stepped up and got crazy on him because he was lying, and I know he was lying. Just his body language and everything, and the fact that he didn't give her a straight answer. The reason that I got crazy is because I felt like I was fighting for my girl. I just didn't want to see my girl get her heart broken, and I know that 12 Pack was just there for Hollywood.

I thought maybe you were lying to get him out of the house.

No. It was the truth. I know he had a girlfriend at the time, I'm sure he had a couple. He's a very good-looking guy. It's not hard for him to get laid. I think the way he goes about his business, though, is trash.

How have people responded to your time on the show?

Good. I get a lot of comments on MySpace like, "You're the realest guy on the show. I might not want to watch the show anymore because you're no longer there." I think people know that I wasn't an actor. A lot of the guys blended together, but I was like a star shining out. People see that I'm genuine, and that's what it's about – it's about who's real in Hollywood. Hollywood has the tendency to flip your personality, to make you something you aren't. I've got a lot of women who are crazy for me, obviously, because they like a sensitive guy. Women are insane for me. Besides all the crying, all the Prozac, is them seeing how genuine I was.

What about the buzz suggesting that you might be gay?

I think a lot of people say I'm gay because I'm emotional, and those people are hiding from themselves. They're hiding from their own emotions. Be yourself, honestly. The world's going to judge you for who you are, not what you try to be. I get this gay stuff often because my swag is so, so authentic and my style is just so much better than all those other guys on the show. And that's another thing – I walk around in Louis Vuitton and all this stuff, and they're like, "Wow, look at his hair. He's got these big glasses." And it's just a stereotype. "He's gay because he's got money to spend on clothes." But you know, I'm not gay. I like to look good. I like to take care of myself. I like to take care of a woman. I like women to be turned on by me. I'm not the type to wear a button-down polo, push my hair to the side and say, "Hey, let's go on a date." I'm the future! I have the new style, and that's what it's about. And that's why I'm hard on the eyes, because my style is so different. I'm living in the future. I will do anything that will set me apart from this modern-day style. I just like looking good, that's what it boils down to.

So, Romance, do nice guys finish last?

Here they do! I don't know exactly what New York was looking for, or what she is into, but if she was looking for love and romance, she would have picked me.

What's next for you?

I loved doing the show, I love television. I like reality TV. I would like to be in a movie or a soap opera. I want to pursue my career in Hollywood. I think I'm different and I think that will help me down the way.

Comments

[J]

I would kiss a cow on the ass before I would kiss that Pig named "New York" on her filthy mouth. There's only one New York the last time I checked and it is a state on the Northeast coast of the U.S.. Whats with the dumbass names anyway, new york, flava, you people make me want to vomit.

[angelina]

Oh, bless his heart.

Rich, I love your writing. Been lurking at fourfour forever and I'm glad to find you here as well.

[Special K]

new york is 2 fast for you. You need a church girl

[c]

new york is deadass ugly and she is not a person to cry over

[deeyou]

He totally loves the man-puss. Wash the hair gel out and call me!

[amalt05]

this is the worse show i've ever seen!!!!!!!!! New York get a life!!!!and stop trying to be like Flav

[Ashley]

i cant stand new york that what she get alot of people want to beat her up she think she can fight on flav she act like she was scard of water now she want to copy his show and oh new york u need to pick chance i cant stan ur mama tell her tha people say u was a man so u gayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy bootz was abot to beat u wha u think tha girl put on her sneakers 4 i like the way u talk but i still dont like u tho u think u cute wit ur gay self

[Ashley]

u did not have to hurt him like tha

[Ashley]

u did not have to hurt him like tha

[Mimi]

he is too sentimental....grow up b***h...this is da real world...suck it up..im sorry yea there could b moments but not like that...wow

[Mimi]

n den @ da end of da show he pops his collar...like its nothing...WTF..i think he was bullshitting bout 12 pack, just cause he aint try 2 show her dat 12 pack was fake...if 12 pack is denying his girl, and romance was saying da truth.then he got away wit it...lolz dats life

[the real]

Too much of that crying man. This guys want too much sympathy to be shown towards him. What a fake.....oh well if it wasn't........who has time for that. Suck it up cuz you are in the real world.....things will happen and you will have to learn to move on...if not ofr yourself but for your kids,family or someone else who are still here and still loves you.

From someone who knows what it is to loose someone dearly.

[stacey]

that show sucks new york needs a life she needs to stop bein like other people because thats jus not workin for her leave it up to flav

[Kansas Girl]

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! NY is my girl! She keeps the excitement going lol...she ain't fake..on Flav the first season, she let all them bytches know she was not goin to smile and grin in they faces and that's on the real!! I really hope she does find true love b/c Flav punked her twice and now I hear him and Delishious isn't together anymore cause she cheated on him w/ Busta..that's what his ass gets. He should have picked NY!!!!!

[Romanian]

CUPID IS NOT THE ROMANIAN GOD OF LOVE, IT IS THE roman GOD OF LOVE. get serious, vh1!

[trick please]

@ Romanian: It is not VH1 that erroneously called Cupid a Romanian god; the blog author is merely quoting a mistake that Romance made in the 1st episode.

We all know that some of these men are no Einsteins.

Some of you are taking this ish too seriously. It's only television.

p.s. I still think this boy is crazy

[kidd]

u r a asshole cocksucking bitch motherfucker

[LA'Taja]

i luv new york she might b ugly but shit she go get hers she real and if she wanna b like flav let her do her thang. she aint gone grin n a bitch face then backstb em later, she go come n wit da knives u feel me. but i hope she find somebody cuz hre show go b da shit. hate it or love it, u acn change da fuckin channel. real talk 4 yo ass, va style

[lyankee23]

Is there an uglier man in the world than Sister Patterson??? She looks like a drag queen all made up and ready to go to a nonexistent drag queen review.

[CAblkrose]

FLAAAV-ER FLAAAV! New York got balls for days! (literally). She and her mother are drag queens. They think they are all that and they both lack class and style. Sister Patterson should not call anybody ugly or crispy. How dare they call somebody to black and crispy? Her mother said if New York and Trendz has a baby, what will their children look like? Hell, the little monsters will look like gremlins!...taking after the mother's side. Her forhead (well 12head) doesn't even look real. New York, why in the hell does your weave look like that? Her hairstylist must be on drugs. Stop saying you have "real indian hear" when we can see your "real crispy roots."

Get another interior decorator too...the Ghetto pad is not the business!

[shantese simmons]

i think that boy is so i don't even think he knew newyork was person.

[skycandy]

Can we say Robin Givens and her mother, all over again, As much as we hate NY and her gold digging mama we keep watching the show, every one loves a lil drama in ther life right???????

[TITATA]

new york is such a b*t*h you don't need her.
go find you somebodyelse cause she is ugly anyways.

[shaaronie]

Wow! Who knew that in 2007, African Americans still display color predjudice against dark african americans. Trendz is an original Black Man with Beautiful Skin. The fact that New York sees his complexion as hideous; says a lot about how she thinks of herself. I used to think of her as just funny and over the top; now she's sad, uneducated, unelightened and just plain ignorant; Signed a Dark Complexioned and Beautiful Genuine African American Sister with my genuine long black hair, eyebrows and real breasts!

[shacara]

I Hate newyork and her ugly mother romance was real