Jesse Lally Questions Kristen Doute's Departure from 'Vanderpump Rules' on 'The Valley'

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Kristen Doute. Charles Sykes/Bravo

Jesse Lally made headlines when Kristen Doute was fired from Vanderpump Rules for racially insensitive behavior during an intense episode of The Valley.

The Bravo spinoff series aired its latest episode on Tuesday, April 2, following Kristen's allegations that Janet Caperna had told Jasmine Goode that Michelle Lally was "racist and a Republican." This caused Kristen to feel isolated from the rest of the cast, even though she was only repeating rumors she had heard from others.

"Before we began filming, there was a lot of gossip going on in our group," Kristen shared in a confessional. "Everyone would talk about it in private, but once the cameras started rolling, they would act like nothing happened."

Later, Kristen filled her boyfriend Luke Broderick in on the offscreen comments she was talking about.

Janet was stirring up trouble by suggesting that Michelle might be homophobic or racist. However, Zach [Wickham] clarified last night that it was not true. He was upset that things he confided in me about were being brought up, but he understands the situation. Deep down, Zach may have wanted me to confront the issue, but I regret involving Michelle in the drama that Janet initiated.

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Luke told Kristen not to use gossip as a weapon, advising her to handle it carefully. The topic resurfaced during a lunch with Brittany, where Kristen defended herself. She made it clear that she would never label someone as racist based on her own experiences.

It's really tough to have a hurtful word associated with your name, especially when you're just repeating what someone else said. That's what Janet said," Kristen explained. "So why is everyone so mad at me?"

Before she joined The Valley, Kristen gained fame as an original cast member of Vanderpump Rules when the show first aired in 2013. However, she was fired in June 2020 along with Stassi Schroeder because of past racially insensitive actions towards former costar Faith Stowers. Kristen did apologize a month after she was let go from the show.

"I’ve realized that there is so much more for me to learn," she shared on the “Hollywood Raw” podcast in July 2020. "I used to think I understood racism, but now I’m discovering more about unconscious bias, anti-racism, and how we can take action at a local level to bring about real change. It’s crucial to put in the effort in our communities to make a difference."

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In Tuesday's episode, Kristen reiterated that she was simply repeating what Zach had told her. While hanging out with Brittany, she called Zach and he verified that Kristen was being truthful about their past private conversation.

He explained that he was not denying that something had happened, but felt that the situation was being exaggerated. He emphasized that discussing sensitive topics should be done in a more discreet manner, rather than publicly accusing someone of racism.

Janet also claimed that Kristen had misrepresented a statement she had made.

Janet shared with the cameras how Kristen took a small comment and blew it out of proportion. Instead of just running with it, she went above and beyond. Janet recalled a dinner with Michelle and Brittany where Michelle mentioned the "Don't Say Gay" laws protect children. Janet disagreed, stating, "No, you're mistaken."

Later on, Janet asked Jasmine to address the topic with Michelle if it came up again. She advised Jasmine to let Zach know that they had discussed a bill that Michelle might support. Janet emphasized that since it pertained to the LGBTQ community, it could be a valuable teaching moment if Michelle brought it up.

Janet believed that the information had been exaggerated by the time Kristen heard it.

"I never thought Michelle was racist, and I wouldn't be friends with her if I did. I thought maybe she was influenced by misinformation from algorithms," Janet explained. "But somehow, it turned into, 'If she supports Don't Say Gay laws, she must be a Republican and therefore racist.' That's how I think Kristen came to that conclusion."

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Casey Durkin/Bravo

In the later part of the episode, all the cast members came together to discuss the drama. Kristen wasted no time in offering Michelle an apology for the situation.

"I want to apologize to Michelle right away for feeling trapped and saying things I shouldn't have said out loud, especially in your home," Kristen expressed. Jesse quickly interjected, "Why don't you admit to what you did and call it a lie. Don't sugarcoat it with anything else."

Luke wasn’t happy with how Jesse was behaving towards Kristen. Their argument almost escalated when Jesse kept yelling at Kristen to "shut the f—k up."

Jesse expressed his frustration, saying, "You disrespected my family name. We have a business together, and if this gets out, it could ruin lives. You were kicked off a show for being a racist. Isn't that true?"

Kristen was shocked by how Jesse brought up her past, asking, “What the f—k did you just call me?”

In a confessional, Kristen reflected on what led to her departure from Vanderpump Rules.

"I made a mistake by involving Michelle in something that wasn't her business. But Jesse is trying to tarnish my reputation by bringing up a painful experience," Kristen explained. "I can see why Michelle is upset. Being called a racist is terrible, and I know this firsthand because it happened to me too, leading to me being canceled."

Kristen described her termination from the show as the most challenging period in her life.

I made mistakes in the past and I regret hurting people. My friends here know about my past, but I have learned from it. All I wanted was to move forward, be a better person, and leave the past behind. It’s tough to have it brought up again, but I hope it doesn’t ruin everything for me.

Catch The Valley on Bravo on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET, and you can stream it on Peacock the following day.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the complexities of racial insensitivity and the consequences it can have, as seen through the experiences of Kristen Doute. Kristen's