Lala Kent is reflecting on her journey with Vanderpump Rules after Bravo announced the show would feature an all-new cast in season 12.
“Where to begin. I was a young girl from Salt Lake City who made her way to L.A. I would introduce myself as Lauren, but because my childhood best friend referred to me as Lala, my nickname quickly stuck,” Kent, 34, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, November 26. “Sur was a place that became home. I found myself not only sipping on vodka sodas there, but behind a hostess stand … it still to this day is the most intimidating job I’ve ever had. A short time later the opportunity to be on a show called Vanderpump Rules landed in front of me.”
Kent admitted that she has “such mixed feelings right now.” She added, “It’s no secret I do not like change. This is the exception. I want to say thank you for rocking with us for so many years. This show changed my whole life. I’m unbelievably grateful for every moment. I’m unbelievably grateful for Bravo, for NBCU, for our crew, the entire cast, and most importantly all of you. We rocked this b— until the wheels fell off 💃.”
Alongside the message, Kent shared several photos of herself and her costars through the years. Kent joined the cast in season 4, which began airing in 2015, and has remained on the show since.
News broke on Tuesday that Bravo would shake-up Vanderpump Rules since 12 to include Lisa Vanderpump and a new group of “close-knit SUR-vers who are as complicatedly involved with one another as their iconic predecessors.” The season is set to begin production next year, with a premiere date and casting to be announced at a later date.
“The last 12 years of filming have been an extraordinary run full of laughter, tears and everything in between,” Vanderpump said in a statement on Tuesday. “I can’t thank enough those who have shared their lives. How I love you all. In the restaurant business, one shift always gives way to another. Cheers to the next generation of Vanderpump Rules.”
Lala Kent Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Evenflo
More than a decade after Vanderpump Rules premiered, the reality TV show reached new levels of popularity after news broke in March 2023 that Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix ended their relationship due to his affair with James Kennedy’s ex-fiancée, Rachel Leviss. The aftermath of the scandal, dubbed Scandoval, led to a cast divide and Bravo took a pause before filming season 12.
While the show’s future was uncertain, Kent shared on her podcast in May that she was content with the network’s decision to pause filming.
“As you guys know, we’re not filming,” she shared. “And contrary to what the internet says, I’m very happy about it, OK?”
More recently, she admitted on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen that she wasn’t in touch with most of her former cast members.
“We don’t speak,” Kent said of Madix, adding that the Love Island host is “killing it.” After Kent said she was “thrilled” about it, she added, “And I mean it.”
Kent noted that she hasn’t been in the same room with Katie Maloney since the Vanderpump Rules three-part season 11 reunion, which premiered in May.
Kent, who said she’s still in touch with Vanderpump, revealed that Sandoval will “reach out every so often.” She added, “I’m the worst texter in the world so I rarely respond.” Kent admitted that she doesn’t feel inclined to respond to Sandoval when he does text, saying, “We weren’t friends before … too little too late, buddy.”
However, Kent added that she’s back to “loving” Tom Schwartz, adding that she “just saw Schwartzy the other day.”
Vanderpump Rules is currently streaming on Peacock.
