Ariana Madix is keeping reality television in her past.
The host of Love Island USA rose to prominence when she became a part of the cast of Vanderpump Rules during its second season over ten years ago. She continued to be a part of the show until Season 11, after which Bravo announced a complete overhaul of the cast for Season 12. Despite not intending to make a comeback to Vanderpump Rules regardless of the cast changes, she still maintains close relationships with former co-stars including Kristen Doute and Brittany Cartwright. Could there be a possibility of her reuniting with them on The Valley?
“No, I don’t think so,” Madix told DECIDER when she stopped by our studio earlier this month.
In fact, Madix purposefully avoids seeing her friends when she knows the cameras are rolling.
Madix shared, “There have been instances where filming takes place for events like birthdays. The message I receive usually goes something like, ‘You are invited, but just so you know, we will be filming…’ And my response is typically, ‘Happy birthday. Catch up with you later,’”
Her last appearance on Bravo was during the Season 11 reunion of Vanderpump Rules, during which Lala Kent called her out for refusing to film scenes with her ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval. The star of Season 3 of Traitors was involved in a lengthy affair with their former co-star and mutual friend Rachel “Raquel” Leviss several months prior to the start of filming for Season 10. Therefore, it is not surprising that Madix chose not to return to that particular atmosphere.
Madix’s friendship with Kent is nonexistent these days and she and Scheana Shay are cordial but nothing like they used to be. However, she’s still close with Doute and Cartwright, who left Vanderpump Rules after Season 8 and currently star in The Valley.
While Madix was present at Doute’s recent baby shower, she said she has not been watching The Valley outside of clips she’s seen on TikTok.
“I didn’t watch last season at all,” she said. “But then this season, I’ve seen some things on TikTok. And, you know, I do have a number of friends on that show, Kristen included. And there’s clips from like the first or the second episode and it was just so dark so it’s tough.”
“But then I feel like that’s probably how so many of my friends felt,” Madix continued. “They’d be like, ‘I’m so sorry, I don’t watch Vanderpump Rules.’ And I was like, ‘Please, it’s fine.’ I was like, ‘I get it. It’s a lot. It can be a lot.’”
You can watch Madix on Love Island USA Season 7 when it premieres on June 3 on Peacock.
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