The ‘sad’ truth behind the decision to scrap the entire Vanderpump Rules cast

Bravo bosses then made the “sad” decision to ax the entire Vanderpump Rules cast Deep divisions and irreparable friendships threatened the future of the long-running reality TV show.

Fans were shocked on Tuesday when the network announced plans to reboot the show after eleven seasons with an all-new cast, despite the long-running series that receives the highest ratings ever thanks to the ‘Scandoval’ saga.

“The decision to ax the cast had nothing to do with ratings,” a source told DailyMail.com exclusively. ‘There was simply nothing left to say. The story had been told.’

The insider emphasized that the dynamic between the cast members had broken down and that there was no longer any “truth” to their friendships and their work at Lisa Vanderpump’s SUR restaurant.

“In the beginning, Vanderpump Rules was about a group of people who were real friends,” the source said.

‘They were roommates and had a close bond with each other. They also worked at SUR.’

They continued, “Eventually, none of this was true anymore. They weren’t friends. They hardly talked to each other anymore and no longer worked in the restaurant. They all knew after last season’s finale that there was nothing left to tell.

‘The fans knew this too. It’s sad how divided they had become. They knew they wouldn’t return when it came time to shoot a new season and that was put on hiatus.”

The source further confirmed that the new cast has yet to be secured, but insisted that they will all work at Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants, mainly SUR, and have authentic relationships.

“Some have been picked, but the casting process is still ongoing and preliminary,” they said. “Lisa is excited about this new beginning with a brand new team.”

A second source said that both Bravo and Lisa ultimately decided that expanding Vanderpump Rules to include “new blood” was the best path forward.

“If it’s a hit, they won’t pay anyone but Lisa the big money,” they said. “It will be very cheap to produce, and if it fails, they will work to get Lisa another vehicle on the network.”

Bravo is also keen to collaborate with the fired Vanderpump Rules stars on various projects.

Lala Kent and Scheana Shay have already filmed season two of Vanderpump Rules spin-off The Valley, while Tom Sandoval will appear in the third season of The Traitors.

The dynamic between the cast members was broken and there was no longer any “truth” to their friendships and their work at Lisa Vanderpump’s SUR restaurant, sources said

In October, DailyMail.com reported that some of the new waiters at Lisa’s West Hollywood restaurant SUR were “desperate” to be cast in the rebooted series.

When season 11 of Vanderpump Rules aired in May, Ariana Madix still refused to contact ex-boyfriend Tom, who cheated on her with Rachel Leviss. She also wanted little to do with his best friend and business partner Tom Schwartz.

Ariana also fell out with former best friends Scheana and Lala, and grew closer to Katie Maloney.

To show her loyalty to Ariana – whose sandwich shop Something About Her she co-owns – Katie then got into a fight with Scheana and Lala.

An insider told DailyMail.com at the time that the cast was “no longer an organic group of friends who want to hang out with each other.”

The new cast consists of “tight-knit SUR verses who interact as intricately as their iconic predecessor,” the network said when they announced the show’s renewal on Tuesday.

Lisa will return and the upcoming season will begin filming next year. The new cast and premiere date will be announced in due course.

Although the cast has changed over the years, last season’s main stars were Ariana, Tom Sandoval, Tom Schwartz, Katie, Lala, Scheana and James Kennedy.

“It’s sad how divided they had become,” said an insider. ‘They knew they wouldn’t return when it came time to film a new season and that was put on hiatus’

Season 10 became a defining season for VPR, achieving some of its highest ratings ever after Tom Sandoval cheated on Ariana Madix with Rachel Leviss (pictured together in 2022)

“What a thrill it is to build on the legacy of this series by doing it all over again,” executive producer Alex Baskin said in the statement.

“With a deep appreciation for the original group and their iconic run, we can’t wait for audiences to see a dynamic new group of colleagues and friends navigate life together.”

“Under the watchful eye of Lisa Vanderpump, West Hollywood mainstay SUR – and now TomTom – welcomes the next class of servers, hosts and bartenders full of drama, situationships and enemies,” the release said.

Lisa stated in the announcement, “The past twelve years of filming have been an extraordinary series full of laughter, tears and everything in between. I can’t thank those who shared their lives enough.

‘How I love you all. In the catering industry, one team always makes way for the other. Cheers to the next generation of Vanderpump Rules.”

Additionally, the show will “celebrate the past decade of heartbreak, friendship breakdowns and scandals with a retrospective special highlighting the past eleven seasons.”

Vanderpump Rules, a spin-off of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, first aired in 2013 and followed the lives of the wait staff who worked at Lisa’s various restaurants in LA.

At the time, it also starred Kristen Doute, who also announced her pregnancy on Tuesday, Jax Taylor, Brittany Cartwright and Stassi Schroeder, all of whom are no longer on the show.

Fans were shocked on Tuesday when the broadcaster announced plans to reboot the show after eleven seasons with an all-new cast, with stars including Katie Maloney paying tribute

Lala Kent, who now stars on the Bravo show The Valley, also paid tribute to her time on the show

Vanderpump Rules veteran Brittany Cartwright commented on Lala’s post: “Oh, the memories we made! I love you LaLa’

Kristen Doute responded to Ariana’s post with this sweet message

Season 10, perhaps the show’s most controversial, earned the program its first-ever Emmy nomination.

During that season, it was revealed that Sandoval had cheated on his longtime girlfriend Ariana with costar Rachel, a controversy that was quickly dubbed “Scandoval.”

The fallout dominated season 11 and became a national obsession.

But in April, it was reported that production on season 12 had been suspended to allow the cast to “decompress.”

“Everyone needs a moment to relax after two very rough, intense seasons,” a source told Page Six at the time. “The cast is looking forward to a break from filming the show.”

Ariana’s career blossomed after Scandoval, with star roles in Chicago, Dancing With The Stars and even a guest role on Love Island USA.

Tom announced this week the closure of his bar Schwartz & Sandy’s, which he co-owns with his costar.