Lisa Vanderpump is a success story. Like her or not, she’s a force in the restaurant industry and devotes the rest of her time to saving dogs. She’s also an original icon of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and its spinoff, Vanderpump Rules.
LVP is an executive producer of her namesake program and she takes that role very seriously. Scandoval was a blessing in disguise as Pump Rules was hanging on by a thread before Season 10. When Rachel Leviss didn’t return after the drama, it left the show in a pickle. Now Lisa shares her thoughts on Rachel taking to Bethenny Frankel’s podcast instead of taking to Season 11. Page Six has the details.
The disappointment of it all
Of course LVP is pissed Rach didn’t come back after Scandoval. The entire cast was banking on the majority of their content being their wrath.
She was a key element in the ordeal and her choice to not return was a power move. What Rachel did do was pop on over to Bethenny’s podcast when the “reality reckoning” was still a thing and speak for the first time after months of silence.
Lisa said, “I wish she’d actually come to me instead of sitting in the safety of somebody else’s podcast.” Honestly, too bad, too sad. Let’s be real, they NEEDED her more than she needed them.
“Had she come to me, I think I would’ve been good to her. Because it’s one thing just saying this out here, just saying that out there. And some of it wasn’t true! Like I was paying her like an intern. I know exactly how much money she made. It was six figures. It was good,” she added. Um. Yeah I don’t see Lisa “being good” to Rachel but the point is moot.
Much like everyone else on the show, LVP wishes Rach had “come back and really spoken her truth.” On someone else’s turf. With the entire world against her. Gee, I can’t imagine someone not wanting to do that.
“She knows I’m not gonna be judgmental. I’m gonna listen and give her a moment,” Lisa continued. Really? Does she know that? When Lisa can’t even lower herself to address her as “Rachel”?
“Growth and contrition”
“All the people that are so involved in the story wanted to see growth [and] contrition.” And Rachel wanted to take care of her mental health and tell her story on her own terms. “I think it would’ve behooved her to come back. I really do. But maybe not the whole season because I think they were all pretty kind of reticent.”
Translation: the cast had to do it on their own without an easy mark. Ultimately, Lisa noted “maybe it was too much for [Rachel] to come back,” and said she “understand[s] that, too.”
Vanderpump Rules Season 11 returns January 30 at 8 PM/ET on Bravo.
TELL US – WHY DO YOU REALLY THINK LISA WANTED RACHEL TO RETURN?
