Lala Kent had mixed feelings about returning to reality TV after joining the full-time cast of The Valley for season 3.
“There was a lot of hesitation,” Kent, 35, exclusively told Us Weekly on Saturday, November 15, at BravoCon 2025 in Las Vegas of her decision to live her life, once again, in front of the cameras. “I was extremely hesitant after coming off of season 11 [of Vanderpump Rules].”
In the season 11 finale of Vanderpump Rules, Kent shocked viewers when she broke the fourth wall and criticized costar Ariana Madix for not filming with Tom Sandoval. News later broke that Vanderpump Rules would be moving forward with an entirely new cast for season 12. (Us confirmed in 2023 that Madix, now 40, and Sandoval, now 43, had split after his affair with costar Rachel Leviss.)
“I don’t care about hate,” Kent continued on Saturday. “But that was a different level and it taught me a lot. So when the offer came to be it was like, ‘I don’t know if I want to do this.’ But then at the end of the day I love doing this. So it was kind of a no brainer. Once I sunk into it, I had a blast.”
One day before Kent’s comments to Us, it was announced that she and former Vanderpump Rules costar Tom Schwartz would be joining the cast of The Valley season 3. When asked whether she brought the drama this season, Kent replied to Us, “It was a different version.”
“I’m coming into a cast where I am friends with most people, but I didn’t watch season 1 or 2,” Kent explained of The Valley. “I wanted to go in with a fresh perspective and make my own judgments. And then what I saw and what I would hear if I didn’t like it, then, yes.”
Kent explained that “everyone” was nervous about facing her wrath this season.
“Well, besides Michelle [Saniei], because we’re friends and Janet [Caperna],” Kent noted. “But I mean, Brittany [Cartwright] knows me. She’s filmed with me before. Same with Kristen Doute.”
Lala Kent is making her way to The Valley after Bravo announced season 12 of the hit show Vanderpump Rules will feature a whole new cast. “It’s natural for Lala to be around everyone [on The Valley]. It’s not forced,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “She’s naturally around them all the time.” The Valley […]
Kent, who has had her ups and downs with Doute, 42, through the years, explained that she’s “so happy” the twosome are getting along.
“I’m excited for you guys to see friendships that become revived,” Kent shared. “It’s fun. Gosh, I don’t want to spill too much.”
One person Kent doesn’t seem to be back on track with? Former Vanderpump Rules costar Scheana Shay, who will not be filming The Valley season 3.
“I have nothing to say about her,” Kent told Us, when asked if she saw her friendship with Shay, 40, taking the turn that it did.
When news broke on Friday, November 14, that Shay would not appear on the show, Kent told panel host Danny Pellegrino that she didn’t want to talk about what happened between the pair. (Scheana previously claimed their friendship fallout happened sometime after she revealed that her husband, Brock Davies, had an affair in 2021.)
Doute, meanwhile, shared that there was a conversation between Shay and The Valley producers — with Shay ultimately deciding “not to” film. “That’s on her,” Doute added.
