Lala Kent would like to thank her āVanderpump Rulesā co-stars Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss. Since their secret monthslong affair ā dubbed āScandovalā ā went public in early March, heat meter has skyrocketed.
First, a primer: āVanderpump Rulesā follows former and current staff of LA restaurants owned by former āReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsā star Lisa Vanderpump. Sandoval cheated on fellow āVPRā castmate Ariana Madix ā the pair had been together for nine years, co-own a home and, this season, Sandoval was filmed making plans to fertilize Madixās eggs. Madix and Leviss were close friends. By this 10th season, seemingly everyone in the tight-knit, drama-ridden cast had dated, dumped, cheated on, befriended or feuded with each other (and sometimes all of the above).
Since Scandoval broke, itās been breathless fodder for social media and mainstream media alike, with viewers combing through episodes to find hints of the affair (theyāre there). But the cast members have also capitalized on the drama, with dozens of TV interviews, their own podcasts, endorsement deals and merch sales. Madix, Vanderpump and Kent even ("A lot of them said, āWe have a separate group chat only for (the show),ā" Kent says of the politicians who approached the trio).
In an April interview with Howie Mandel, Sandoval complained about his co-stars profiting off his breakup. Kent, though, has some appreciation for him.
āSince Scandoval, (Tomās) given me so much to work with and I will be forever grateful. I feel like when life hands you something, youāve got to find the silver lining. Weāre having a moment. We have to monetize every second,ā Kent, clad in her own merch, said recently over Zoom from her office in Los Angeles.
Sandoval didn't cheat on Kent, but she's not a stranger to betrayal of this kind. She left her former fiance, controversial Hollywood producer in late 2021 after allegations surfaced that he had cheated on her throughout their relationship. Kent and Emmett are now embroiled in a custody dispute over their daughter Ocean, now 2.
Emmettās own problems have snowballed. Known for his āgeezer teasersā ā low-budget action films starring iconic actors of yesteryear ā he's been He's also the subject of a new Hulu documentary, āThe Randall Scandal: Love, Loathing, and Vanderpump,ā produced with the LA Times and ABC News. Kent did not sit for an interview for the documentary (her mother and brother did), but it heavily features clips of her recounting her story elsewhere.
āI had my own situation that was as dark as it gets,ā Kent told the AP. āWhen I start fixating on all the time that I feel I wasted because Iām obviously still upset about everything, I just think of Ocean.ā
Emmett has denied all allegations against him.
Ahead of the final episode of the three-part āVPRā reunion, which airs Wednesday, Kent spoke with the AP about building her brand, friendship, sobriety and the time she worked Answers have been condensed for brevity and clarity.
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AP: What have your conversations with Ariana Madix been like since her breakup?
KENT: At the very beginning I felt like maybe I was a little too abrupt for her. She needed to take time to process. ... But we do have conversations about how once youāre with someone and you donāt even realize theyāre holding you back until you get rid of them and see what your life turns into. So we have weāve had moments where we like to reminisce and laugh about that, and itās great that I can make fun of him now in front of her and she thinks Iām funny instead of wanting to, you know, slit my throat (laughs).
AP: Youāve said Tom and Raquelās affair is triggering for you because you were engaged to be married to Randall Emmett and had a newborn with him when you learned he had allegedly cheated. How did your reaction differ from Arianaās?
KENT: My guard was immediately up and I was ready for war. You know, it was like āThereās no conversation to be had. This is where I burn your house down to the ground.ā Thereās a part of me that wishes I did have a little bit of Arianaās mentality, where she could sit down and have a productive conversation with Sandoval and still slice him every which way, which we all saw in the finale episode.
AP: The āVanderpumpā show really had a resurgence this season, thanks in large part to Scandoval, but Seasons Eight and Nine were kind of lacking. Were you all worried the show was winding down?
KENT: I think every season, especially after Season Eight, when we tried to introduce a new cast is like, āHave we maybe lost it?ā Season Nine, we got by the skin of our teeth and people didnāt really take to it. Season 10 we really got by the skin of our teeth and it was absolutely incredible. So every season I go into it like, "Iām going to enjoy this moment because it will not last forever."
AP: Do you worry how next season will be since at this point hardly anyone wants anything to do with Tom and Raquel? How will scenes happen?
KENT: I think about that all the time. Before, even though certain people didnāt like each other, there was always one bridge or another connecting the group. Right now, we are very, very separated so I donāt know how it will look like. Iāll show up and give them Lala, no matter what situation you put me in. Iām just going to be me.
AP: Youāve been upfront about your sobriety. Do any of these stressors with your ex or even the drama on the show make you worry about maintaining that?
KENT: I was already strong in my sobriety. Thank God I became stronger when all of this happened. I know that those days are looming. Iām not saying that I will never have the urge to pick up a drink, Iām only human. I can only be grateful for today when I complete another day of not picking up a drink. But Iām telling you, I wouldnāt be doing anything that Iām doing right now if I were drinking.
AP: You recently signed with talent agency CAA, host a popular podcast, have a beauty, skincare and baby clothes line. What else do you want to accomplish?
KENT: The biggest thing is, I want to turn my brand into a freaking empire. I know that I can do that. I am very inspired I watched her since the first season of āThe Real Housewives of New York,ā sitting in a supermarket, hawking (baked goods) and everyone rejecting it to where she is now. Then to see how she is as a mother and with her charity B Strong, I just feel like sheās got it really figured out.
AP: Youāve also acted. You were in the 2021 movie āAmerican Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sallyā (co-produced by Emmett) and had scenes with Al Pacino. What was that like?
KENT: That was a surreal experience and we had the best time. He (Pacino) said to me, āIām having a lot of fun with you. Letās do this scene a few different ways.ā And I was like, āIām dreaming right now. How is this my life?ā But Iām funny about it because I thought I was really being put in movies because I was a good actress, and then I learned many women who I was on set with were actually hooking up with my fiance. I was like, āWow, I did not get in this movie because Iām a good actress.ā That is a moment that I look back on and I talk to my mom who reassures me a lot. Iām like, āDo you think that (Pacino) said that to me because he meant it?ā and my mom talks me off the ledge.
Alicia Rancilio, The Associated Press
