Scheana Shay has revealed some tense moments from the set of Vanderpump Rules season 11, exposing discussions that could have jeopardized the Bravo hit.
During a recent episode of her podcast, Scheananigans, Scheana spoke about a critical meeting with producer Alex Baskin, where he flagged concerns over the show’s trajectory. According to Scheana, Baskin warned that the show was in danger of being canceled unless certain dynamics were addressed.
The Warning by Alex Baskin
Scheana, 39, explained that Baskin said midseason that the show was heading to a problematic place: X, Y and Z needs to happen. Or we’re going to have a short season and the show’s going to be canceled and that’s it. Go live your lives.
The pressure from this conversation influenced Scheana and her co-star Lala Kent significantly. I think Lala and I felt a lot of pressure after that day when it was like, ‘Well, we don’t want the show to get canceled,’
she added.
Tensions After Sandoval’s Scandal
Season 11 started shooting just three months after Tom Sandoval’s affair with Raquel Leviss came to light. Initially, most of the cast supported Ariana Madix following her split from Sandoval. However, as filming continued, alliances began to shift.
Baskin’s Perspective on Cast Dynamics
Baskin discussed the evolving dynamic during an interview with The New York Times. As filming progressed, it became clear that many cast members did not want to interact with Sandoval—Ariana Madix notably refused any on-screen interactions with him.
Baskin described a pivotal July meeting at Evolution’s offices as a ‘Come to Jesus’ moment.
Scheana’s Commitment to the Show
Scheana elaborated further: There’s a crew of 80 to 100 people who work on this show… it’s not just about us.
Acknowledging the broader stakes involved helped her understand why maintaining the show’s continuation was crucial.
Reactions from Other Cast Members
Scheana noted that following this tense period under scrutiny after season 11 wrapped up filming on May 28, both she and Kent were criticized for pressuring Ariana to work with Sandoval. While Lala Kent issued an apology for her comments concerning fans’ concerns, Scheana defended her stance on preserving the future of Vanderpump Rules.
Loyalty Shifts and Looking Ahead
Scheana admitted feeling differently about Ariana stepping away post-reunion but maintains that she can see both sides of the situation. She respects Ariana for standing her ground despite the intense environment they faced.
Vanderpump Rules season 11 continues to unfold with these tumultuous dynamics at its core. Streaming now on Peacock.
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