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Vanderpump Rules is more popular than ever thanks to the ‘Scandoval,’ one of the biggest scandals in Bravo history. The show was flipped upside down when Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss‘ months-long affair was exposed to everyone, including Tom’s girlfriend of nine years, Ariana Madix, in March 2023. In turn, Bravo started rolling cameras again to capture the fallout for the shocking season 10 finale. The cast later sat down with Andy Cohen for the dramatic 3-part reunion. In the aftermath of all the drama, Bravo unsurprisingly gave the green light for Vanderpump Rules season 11.
There’s so much anticipation for the new season of VPR following the Scandoval. Bravo released the trailer for season 11 in December 2023 and confirmed the premiere date: January 30.
Will There Be a Vanderpump Rules Season 11
Yes, Vanderpump Rules will be back for season 11. The show’s renewal was confirmed by Bravo on May 9, 2023. Season 11 will premiere on January 30.
Executive producer Alex Baskin addressed season 11 in an interview with Variety before the cast started filming. “No one’s saying no, I’ll say that — but I think it’s hard for anybody to say yes right now, because they feel like they haven’t gotten any reprieve,” Alex said. He also explained why Bravo didn’t rush into filming season 11. “The reunion is not just a recap of what you know, and it’s not just an intense version of the emotions. There is new information,” he shared before all three parts of the reunion aired. “I will put it this way: There are revelations, and they are revelations that not all of them know now. So we need a little space. I had thought that we needed cameras on them right away. And I now think we need a minute.”
When Did Vanderpump Rules Season 11 Film?
Alex confirmed to Variety that the show would start filming summer 2023. “It’s definitely a balancing act, because we don’t want too much time to elapse,” he said. “We can also, as we’ve proven, get cameras up if we need to. If Tom and Ariana happen to move, we’re up. But, I think that we need enough time to pass that we’re not just caught in this vortex.”
When asked by The Hollywood Reporter on June 6 about when filming would pick up again, Alex said, “Our hope and plan is in the not-too-distant future this summer. So, in the next few weeks.” And he was right. On June 26, while livestreaming via Amazon, Lala Kent revealed that production on season 11 would start on June 28, 2023.
“We start filming on Wednesday, and it’s giving me anxiety,” Lala said. “I’m just like, ‘Oh, we’re really in it again.’ We usually have so much time to process — things change a lot — but nope. This is the first time it was: ‘Film a season. Oh wait, something really crazy happened. Pick back up cameras. Here’s nine episodes to watch by tomorrow, before the reunion. Oh, and by the way, you only have X amount of weeks to chill before we start again.’”
“I’m not complaining, though,” she continued. “I sit here like, ‘I’m so tired. I don’t know what it’s gonna be like. I’m nervous. I need a break.’ But I like to work. I thrive off of a schedule because I’m a Virgo.”
Vanderpump Rules Season 11 Cast
Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval, Lala Kent, Lisa Vanderpump, Scheana Shay, James Kennedy, Katie Maloney, Tom Schwartz, Scheana’s husband Brock Davies, and James’ girlfriend Ally Lewber all star in season 11. Ariana’s new boyfriend Daniel Wai and former cast member Jax Taylor both appear in the trailer. Lisa’s husband Ken Todd is expected to make appearances. It’s believed that Kristina Kelly and Peter Madrigal filmed as well.
Fans were thinking former star Kristen Doute could come back. Kristen filmed again after the scandal broke and her scenes were featured in the season 10 finale. But Kristen said on Nick Viall‘s podcast that she isn’t interested in appearing on the show in a full-time capacity again. “I don’t want to be a part of anything that has ‘Vanderpump’ attached to it. I’m good on that,” she said. “I have outgrown them. I still have my friends, but that’s a toxic environment that I will gain nothing from.”
There was also speculation that Jax and his wife Brittany Cartwright would return for season 11 in a full-time capacity. The couple weighed in on ‘Scandoval’ and watched some of the episodes for a feature on Peacock. Brittany appeared on HollywoodLife‘s Pay Attention Puh-Lease! podcast and hinted that she and Jax may come back to the show, after they were fired in 2020. “We’re definitely a lot more open to it now than we would’ve been,” Brittany said. “Us having a break from reality TV was really good for our marriage, I think. We’re kind of getting back into the flow of things. So if it’s right for our family, we would definitely be open to it. We definitely are open to other things, too. So we’ll see.”
Brittany also said in the interview it “would be fun” to return to the show with Jax. “That was a huge part of my life and Jax’s life especially for so long,” Brittany explained. “There were some bad moments, but there were also some amazing moments. The wedding and our engagement and all that stuff was on the show as well, so I have to remember that and how much fun I had.”
Alex Baskin hinted to Variety that there’s a chance alums could return to the show for season 11. “This is not a show that you can plug an outsider into,” he said. “So we definitely have those conversations. And in real life, they are still all friends.”
Alex was asked by THR about alums possibly coming back, and he said, “It is a distinct possibility that some past castmembers might make appearances on this upcoming season.”
However, Kristen, Jax and Brittany aren’t apart of season 11. Instead, they’re on The Valley, the new spinoff show with a different group of friends, most of whom have children. The series will premiere in the spring of 2024.
Vanderpump Rules Season 11 Trailer
The Vanderpump Rules season 11 trailer was released by Bravo on December 11. The network also released descriptions for each cast member’s storyline for the upcoming season.
Lisa Vanderpump: As a mentor and confidant to the group, Lisa is working to restore some peace between two feuding exes as she attempts to provide perspective. Lisa is refocusing her expertise on opening a new restaurant in Lake Tahoe and continuing her success with additional ventures in Las Vegas.
Ariana Madix: Ariana’s life was turned upside down after a devastating breakup, but she’s determined to make the best of a difficult situation. Although she still shares a home with her ex, Ariana is moving on and dating a new long-distance boyfriend. While working to open the doors to her and Katie’s sandwich shop, Something About Her, Ariana is embracing the countless opportunities that have come her way.
James Kennedy: Recently proclaimed #1 guy in the group, James’ friendships within the circle are stronger than ever and his DJ career is booming. He bought a house in the Valley and is settling into suburban life with his girlfriend, Ally Lewber, along with their cat and a dog from James’ past.
Katie Maloney: With more distance from her divorce, Katie is exploring life as a single woman and dating, even if her pursuits strike too close to home for her ex-husband, Tom. A previous indiscretion comes to light and threatens to upend her and Scheana’s renewed friendship as well as her cordial post-divorce relationship with Tom.
Lala Kent: Lala is still in the midst of a challenging custody battle, but being the best mom to Ocean remains her priority. Lala explores fertility treatments and looks for a sperm donor as a single mother. She finds an unlikely connection with Tom Schwartz, forming a friendship that neither saw coming, but creating tension between her and the rest of the girls as her forgiveness for the Toms grows.
Scheana Shay: Celebrating their one-year wedding anniversary, Scheana and husband Brock are struggling to connect as they leave the honeymoon stage and settle into their life with a toddler. Scheana works on new music as a way to express herself. She finds herself straddling the lines in the sand within the group as she navigates her relationships with her longtime friends, and feuding exes, Ariana and Tom.
Tom Sandoval: In the aftermath of a scandal that changed his romantic relationships, dynamics within the group and the success of his businesses, Sandoval is working on bettering himself. In a fragile state, he focuses on repairing the foundations of his friendships. When he isn’t on the road touring with his band, Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras, he and Ariana live under the same roof … locked in a stalemate for the house.
Tom Schwartz: Tom is mending a challenged friendship after taking the heat for his part in his best friend’s shocking deception. Embracing a new identity, Tom bleaches his hair, evades exclusivity with a friend-potentially-turned-girlfriend, and winds up in a surprising love triangle with a new flame and his ex-wife.
Are Tom Sandoval & Raquel Leviss Returning for Vanderpump Rules Season 11?
The big question before season 11 started filming was whether or not Tom Sandoval and Raquel would be back. Tom filmed the new season with the other cast members, including Ariana, while Raquel did not. Tom was seen getting into a screaming match with Scheana outside SUR on July 11 while cameras were rolling.
Raquel totally vanished from the public eye for a few months after the scandal broke. In the middle of April, she checked into a mental health treatment center in Arizona, according to a statement from her rep. Raquel’s rep told People that the reality star planned to seek help before her secret relationship with Tom was exposed. “Raquel and her family decided before the relationship was discovered that she would enter a voluntary facility for mental health counseling,” the statement read. Raquel’s rep also specified that the treatment was not a “rehab” but instead a “mental health and trauma therapy” program.
Raquel addressed her future on the show in her one-on-one interview with Andy during Peacock’s extended version of Part 2 of the reunion. “I don’t know. It is in question right now. I want to,” Raquel said.
After checking out of the mental health facility following a two month stay, Raquel went on Bethenny Frankel‘s podcast on August 16 and confirmed she was done with Vanderpump Rules. “The network is running to the bank — like, laughing, running to the bank with this scandal — and I haven’t seen a single penny,” Raquel said on the podcast. She added, “It’s not fair. And I feel like a toddler saying, ‘It’s not fair.’ But it really isn’t. And I feel like I’ve been portrayed as the ultimate villain. My mistakes that I’ve made on camera live on forever. And you mentioned something about the addiction of doing reality TV and the way that they always dangle that carrot in front of you, like, ‘Well, you need to tell your side of the story otherwise it’s gonna be written for you.’ And that’s terrifying. So I almost went back, I know just because of that.” Raquel, who now goes by her birth name, Rachel Leviss, has her own podcast, Rachel Goes Rogue, where she discusses the Scandoval and her decision to leave the show.
Vanderpump Rules Season 11 Drama
Before filming began, most of the VPR cast weighed in on how they think working with Tom and Raquel would go. Ariana told The New York Times that she would not film with Tom and Raquel. “I have nothing to say to either of them. Our show is very real and follows a real group of friends, and neither of them are in the group of friends, so, good luck,” she said. When she appeared on Today With Hoda & Jenna, Ariana explained that she has no “control” over Raquel and Tom coming back. “That’s not up to me. I can’t control any of that. I have no interest in speaking to either of them. I don’t have anything to say,” she said.
Scheana admitted in an interview with E! News that “it’s going to be very hard to convince any of us [the cast] to be in the same room.” The “Good as Gold” singer told US Weekly that she “can picture” the whole group filming together again, but she “can’t envision what type of event that would be at.” Scheana added, “It would have to be something Lisa Vanderpump hosts. They’re not getting invited to any birthday parties, that’s for sure.”
Lala said on the Sofia With an F podcast in late April 2023 that producers contacted the cast about how they feel filming with Raquel and Tom again. “I was never close with these two, I’ve never liked these two, so it wasn’t some tremendous loss,” Lala explained. “It’s actually a gain for me ’cause I finally don’t have to pretend to get along with them for the sake of the group.”
Lisa Vanderpump expressed doubt at how the full cast could continue together when she was at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner on April 29. “Right now it’s a mess. I don’t know if we can sort it out,” Lisa told Entertainment Tonight.
