Scheana Shay Explains “Cringe” Comment About Ariana Madix

Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo

Scheana Shay addressed her controversial comment that Ariana Madix was once just her “backup dancer,” revealed why she said it, and hinted at their “bumps in the road.”

In the past confessional on Vanderpump Rules, Scheana smilingly shared that Ariana – who recently beat her out to get on Dancing with the Stars – has come a long way since being Scheana’s backup dancer in an early season. Many fans perceived it as a jealous diss.

“Do [I] regret [my] comment about Ariana being [my] backup dancer?” asked Scheana on her Scheananigans podcast, reading a fan question. “I literally meant this as a joke. I did not mean shade. I feel like often at times when I tend to be self-deprecating, it’s not received well. It doesn’t land.”

Scheana said she “always look[s] for opportunities” for the show to do “flashbacks,” and she feels she’s “good” at this.

“Ariana is an incredible dancer, as we all saw on Dancing With The Stars. It’s why I asked her to be a part of my Roxy show to begin with. I knew she would elevate that performance,” she continued, via @byewighellodrama on Instagram. “And there’s no way in hell I would have wanted to compete against her on Dancing With The Stars.”

She then apologized that her comment came across as shade, and she explained that her friendship with Ariana is real, and they’ve known each other longer than the Bravo cameras. According to Scheana, she “begged” Ariana to join the show with her, and Scheana’s only friend at the time in the cast was Ariana’s now-ex Tom Sandoval.

Scheana teased that viewers in upcoming episodes will see how she and Ariana navigate “bumps in the road,” but she shared that they are now in a “good” place.

“It’s just, you know, trying to figure out this whole world that we’re in and how to coexist with people who she no longer wants in her life,” said Scheana. “It’s been challenging, but we’re getting through it.”

She later added, “My genuine emotion in the moment, and as cringe as I might be sometimes, I don’t ever regret sharing. That is literally my job here. I feel this season, I was priding myself on trying to be the most open and honest version of myself, even if at times the audience may not agree with me.”

Live Viewing Thread – This is also the live viewing thread for tonight’s new episode of Vanderpump Rules season 11, which airs at 8/7c on Bravo. Feel free to comment and chat below as the episode airs!