Credit: Todd Williamson/Bravo
Ariana Madix is speaking out about the controversial claim that Lala Kent made against her in the trailer for Vanderpump Rules season 11.
“I have never experienced someone who gets cheated on and suddenly she becomes God,” Lala, 33, said in the preview clip, seemingly suggesting Ariana, 38, began acting as if she was above the cast after Tom Sandoval, 41, cheated on her with their former castmate and friend, Rachel “Raquel” Leviss, 29.
“You’re gonna have to find out why I said that,” Lala teased during a January 17 interview with Entertainment Tonight at the Pump Rules season 11 premiere party. “You’ll see why I say it. Bottom line is, no matter what types of beefs I go through with the girls on this show, I have a tremendous amount of respect for all of them and that will not change.”
“You’re gonna see, you know, everything plays out. And I think what’s great about this season is that people will be torn,” she continued. “And I love when people are torn on reality TV because it creates the conversation. You know, cause there’s nothing more I love than like Bravo talk.”
At the same event, Ariana was asked about Lala’s trailer diss.
“Well, come correct. It’s goddess,” she clarified, before adding, “I always was one and so was she.”
Also speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Lala reflected on her decision to reach out to Raquel in hopes of convincing her to return to Pump Rules, saying that she “didn’t ask the group” beforehand.
“I told them later — and you guys will see how they react,” Lala said of an upcoming scene.
While many distanced themselves from Raquel after learning of her sordid affair with Sandoval, Lala felt some sympathy toward her.
“It resonated with me that she had been isolated, or she said she had been isolated, by Tom Sandoval. I know that feeling,” Lala shared. “I also felt that she needed to come back and apologize wholeheartedly when dust had settled, not when we’re three weeks into Scandoval at a reunion, you know? Like, really have productive conversations.”
But Raquel didn’t return to the show. Instead, she shared her side of “Scandoval” in a tell-all interview with Bethenny Frankel, 53, before launching her own podcast, Rachel Goes Rogue, which Lala feels “was not a good decision.”
“I think if she opted out and then moved on to live a very normal life? Great, don’t come back,” Lala reasoned. “But to not come back and do a podcast instead, I just thought it was one of the lamest decisions to make, and I felt like she was extremely ill-advised.”
Vanderpump Rules season 11 premieres on Tuesday, January 30, at 8/7c on Bravo.
