The Rollercoaster Relationship of Lala Kent and Raquel Leviss on Vanderpump Rules
Explore the tumultuous relationship between 'Vanderpump Rules' co-stars Lala Kent and Raquel Leviss over the years, both on and off screen
Lala Kent and Raquel Leviss didn't have the smoothest beginning while filming Vanderpump Rules, and unfortunately, their relationship never fully mended. Prior to Leviss joining the show, Kent had already made her debut in 2015 and formed a bond with James Kennedy. Despite unsuccessful attempts at romance during his breakup with Kristen Doute and before Kent's engagement to Randall Emmett, the two remained friends.
After beginning a relationship with Kennedy in 2016, Leviss made occasional appearances on the show. Despite expressing doubts about Kent and Kennedy's friendship, Kennedy maintained that there was nothing romantic between them. Eventually, Kent and Leviss were able to reconcile their differences before Kennedy proposed to Kent in season 9. However, the couple's decision to part ways was unexpected news to their fellow cast members during the show's reunion.
Leviss revealed during the January 2022 special that she had made the difficult decision to end her engagement with James. Despite his dedication to her and efforts to better himself, Leviss knew deep down that her heart wasn't fully committed to the relationship. She had been experiencing nightmares about their wedding day, a clear indication that something was wrong. Adding to the drama, viewers witnessed tension between Leviss and her costars after she admitted to being interested in Tom Schwartz, who had hooked up with her at a mutual friend's wedding during his divorce from Katie Maloney.
Kent made it clear to Leviss in a March 2023 episode that she did not want anything to do with the idea of being someone's backup option in a relationship. She expressed her respect for people's relationships and stated that if Leviss felt otherwise, she was not her audience. Additionally, Kent revealed that she still felt uneasy about hooking up with Leviss' ex-fiancé six years prior, which suggested that she held herself to a higher standard when it came to relationships. Despite this, news of Tom Sandoval's infidelity with Leviss did not come as a shock to Kent, prompting the continuation of production on the season.
Kent revealed on an episode of the “Give Them Lala” podcast that she and Katie had sensed a troubling aroma during the 10 weeks of filming. According to Kent, her friend agreed that something was amiss. The realization was unsettling for Kent, who expressed disappointment that a woman she considered her best friend would behave in such a manner. Kent emphasized the betrayal of confiding in one another and spending time together, all while her friend was engaging in deceitful behavior behind her back. Kent deemed this a serious character flaw.
Leviss publicly apologized to Madix during the incident, expressing her regret for her actions and choices. In a March 2023 Instagram post, Leviss took responsibility for her behavior, acknowledging that she was not a victim and apologizing to Madix, their friends, and fans invested in their relationships.
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‘Vanderpump Rules’ Costars Lala Kent and Raquel Leviss’ Ups and Downs Through the Years
Never on the same page? Lala Kent and Raquel Leviss got off to a rocky start while filming Vanderpump Rules — and the costars never truly recovered.
Kent made her first appearance on the show in 2015 and hit it off with James Kennedy right away. Despite several unsuccessful attempts at romance, they agreed to remain friends while Kennedy was going through a breakup with Kristen Doute and before Kent started dating her now-ex-fiancé, Randall Emmett.
In 2016, Leviss began making guest appearances on the show as she started dating Kennedy. However, Leviss had concerns about the friendship between Kennedy and Kent, which she expressed to Kennedy. Despite her doubts, Kennedy maintained that their relationship was purely platonic.
Kent and Leviss set aside their differences for the sake of their relationship before Kennedy proposed to the California native on season 9. The Bravo series' reunion was marked by surprise when the couple announced their split. Leviss shared during the January 2022 special that she had been contemplating the decision for a while and that her heart was not fully in it. She commended James for his dedication to their relationship and his willingness to improve himself, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss, as evidenced by the nightmares she had been having about their wedding day.
During filming for season 10, it was revealed that Tom Schwartz had cheated on his then-wife Katie Maloney with Leviss at Scheana Shay and Brock Davies' August 2022 wedding. Leviss' interest in Schwartz caused tension between her and her costars, with Kent confronting her about her intentions in a March 2023 episode. Kent expressed her disapproval of leviss' actions and reminded her of her own past mistake of drunkenly hooking up with Leviss' ex-fiancé six years prior.
In March 2023, news of Tom Sandoval's infidelity with Leviss broke, causing his nearly decade-long relationship with Ariana Madix to come to an end during the airing of the season. Although not surprised by the affair, Kent revealed on an episode of the "Give Them Lala" podcast that she and Katie had picked up on a certain "scent" during the 10 weeks of filming. This revelation prompted Bravo to resume production on the season.
"It's not right. You don't expect someone who's supposed to be your friend to betray you like that. To have shared personal moments and lunches while secretly doing something so hurtful is truly terrifying. It shows a flaw in her character." Leviss publicly apologized to Madix and their friends, acknowledging her actions and expressing regret for the pain she caused.
Scroll down to relive Leviss and Kent's ups and downs:
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2016
Kent began as a guest in season 4 before being upgraded to a main cast member two years later. Leviss, on the other hand, started as a guest in season 5 and then became a full-time cast member prior to season 9.
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2018
In the sixth season, Leviss openly confronted Kennedy and Kent about their continuous flirtation by exposing their connection on camera. Lala, the author of Give Them Lala, also expressed doubts about Leviss and Kennedy's relationship lasting due to their ongoing problems.
"She needs to be one strong woman to handle James, but I'm not sure if she's the strongest," commented Lala. Despite various allegations of infidelity against Kennedy, Leviss remained steadfast in her denial throughout the following two seasons.
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2019
Kent tried to make Leviss aware of Kennedy's alleged affairs, which led to a confrontation between the two on season 7 of SUR. Kent expressed her frustration towards Leviss, stating that she no longer sympathizes with her as she continues to seek more evidence despite being presented with a clear picture of the situation. Kent feels that Leviss is draining her energy and she cannot afford to lose any more brain cells.
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2020
Kent tried to make amends with Leviss during season 8, but they didn't fix their issues at the time.
Kent apologized to Raquel for his behavior and quoted Leviss from the show, stating, "If we can't all agree Lala's a bully, we can all agree she's a bitch."
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2022
During a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in January 2022, the former SUR hostess expressed her surprise at Kennedy and Leviss' breakup. She had believed that the couple was going to be together forever and even thought they would get married and have kids. While she acknowledged that Kennedy can be a challenging personality to keep up with, she still had faith that the couple would make it work.
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2022
Kennedy teased a potential romance with Kent in January 2022, after his engagement to Leviss ended. He expressed his desire to maintain their beautiful friendship and didn't rule out the possibility of something more. After going through his own personal growth, he stated that he never says never to anything nowadays. Kent had recently split from Emmett, with whom she shares a daughter named Ocean, in November 2021.
Leviss seemed taken aback by her former fiancé's remark. "Well, that's certainly interesting," she commented to the photographers in response to Kennedy and Kent's joint interview. "I wish them all the best," she added with a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
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2022
"I have to admit, it's become my absolute favorite. Although I adore all of them, this one takes the cake," Kent shared on her Instagram in March 2023, announcing her collaboration with Leviss on a new palette for Give Them Lala Beauty. Interestingly, the product's name is a nod to Kent's previous jab at Leviss during season 7.
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2023
The relationship dynamics among Vanderpump Rules cast members shifted during season 10 as Kent and Kennedy's past hookup was revealed. This caused tension and ultimately led to Kent distancing herself from Leviss, especially after she noticed his interest in Schwartz.
Leviss accused Lala of hypocrisy for criticizing her hypothetical make-out session with Tom Schwartz while she slept with Leviss' boyfriend when they were still together. Leviss shared her thoughts about the drama in a confessional. On a separate episode, Kent clarified that her fling with Kennedy happened five years ago, while Leviss was actively pursuing Schwartz. However, Leviss did not view their issues in the same way as Kent did.
"I understand that there may be some concern about me being around your significant other, given the past situation with James," Leviss expressed in a March 2023 episode. "However, I also recognize that I am not without fault in this matter, as I slept with your man. I want to make it clear that I do not condone or respect my actions of sleeping with James while we were together."
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2023
On screen, Leviss and Kent had difficulties finding common ground while Us confirmed that Sandoval had an affair with the beauty pageant contestant. Kent expressed uncertainty about Leviss's ability to recover from the scandal and shared her thoughts on her "Give Them Lala" podcast. She stated that Leviss's dating history seemed opportunistic and advised her to move on from the group. Kent believed that Leviss's affair with her best friend's partner was distasteful and would make it difficult for her to make a comeback as the group would never forget what happened.
"It's a satisfying feeling when you have animosity towards someone, and then others begin to share your sentiments. It creates an unbreakable bond. I can't help but think, 'At last, everyone's on board. Toot toot, all aboard!'"
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2023
Kent addressed her onscreen disagreements with Leviss in anticipation of the season 10 reunion. In a March 2023 Instagram Story, she acknowledged the intensity of her language during a particularly tumultuous episode, stating "My words are intense. I got that." However, Kent clarified that while she may use harsh words, she prioritizes actions over words. In regards to Leviss, Kent remarked that while Leviss may have been friendly in her words, her actions did not align with her words.
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2023
Kent's derogatory comments about Raquel on an episode of Vanderpump Rules in March 2023 have caused controversy. In the episode, Kent labeled Raquel as insane and warned viewers not to let her speak as they would want to run away. This behavior is unacceptable and shows a lack of respect towards women.
Leviss expressed her strong opinion about Kent, holding nothing back as she labeled her "pathetic." In a conversation with Scheana before their public altercation, Leviss asserted, "I am not a weak person." Leviss accused Kent of being a bully and declared that she did not want such negativity in her life. She went on to state that she had learned her lesson from past experiences with James and Kent, and that the two would never be friends nor see eye to eye. Leviss also criticized Kent's demeanor, likening it to that of a mistress or bimbo, which she found intolerable.
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2023
During a March 2023 episode, Kent spoke about her problematic relationship with Leviss. She recounted an incident where Leviss, dressed in a pink sarong and six-inch heels at a pool party in Valley Village, called her a mistress and a bimbo. Kent described Leviss as looking like a "baby prostitute." Kent also revealed that when Leviss was yelling at her while standing too close, she felt like she was having a conversation with Leviss' vagina and asked her to back up.
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2023
Kent's comment to Leviss in an episode of Vanderpump Rules from April 2023 suggested that she derives her self worth from the approval of a man, which he found sad. He expressed concern for her mental well-being, predicting that she may experience a breakdown and would require love and support. The episode was filmed almost a year prior to its air date.
The author of Give Them Lala also appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, where she shared her thoughts on Leviss' treatment of Madix. "When your significant other does something wrong, you lean on your best friend, who in this case was Raquel and was also Ariana's best friend," she commented before labeling the model a "snake."
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2023
"I sensed a lack of respect from Lala," Leviss expressed during the season 10 reunion's finale episode, which aired in June 2023. "Perhaps, she held a grudge against me as James' attention shifted towards me, and she no longer received the same level of attention she had grown accustomed to."
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2023
Kent stood by her decision to confront Leviss despite facing criticism from some Vanderpump Rules viewers for her statements during the season 10 reunion. On her "Give Them Lala" podcast in June 2023, Kent explained how she believed that every cast member on a reality show should be prepared for any comments or situations that may arise, and that bringing someone onto the show who is not mentally equipped to handle it can hinder the entire cast's ability to do their job.
"You must attend the reunion to take responsibility for your actions. I won't hold back in expressing my thoughts. If you cannot handle the truth, perhaps this event isn't suitable for you."
