Lisa Vanderpump on Where She Stands With VPR Cast, If She Heard From Ariana and Katie, Plus Clarifies Comments on James’ Arrest After Backlash, & Suggests Cast’s “Attitude” Was to Blame for Reboot

Lisa Vanderpump offered an update on her relationships with the former cast members of Vanderpump Rules during an interview on Tuesday, months after it was confirmed that they would not be brought back for season 12.

Speaking to executive producer Alex Baskin, with whom she created the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills spinoff in 2013, Lisa, 64, revealed who she’s still in touch with as she reflected on her controversial reaction to James Kennedy‘s domestic violence arrest. Plus, she also looked back on the start of the series.

First, Lisa explained why Bravo decided to move forward with a new group of SURvers as she suggested a change in the attitudes of the cast was to blame.

“I still have a great relationship with some of them. But the others, their attitude changed, and it wasn’t what we set out to be. So, I think it was time to move on,” Lisa explained on the April 1 episode of Bravo’s Hot Mic podcast.

After 11 seasons, and with none of the cast still working at SUR, Lisa and Alex knew it “didn’t make sense to continue” with the same group.

“I felt that we told the story, and we always said together that we didn’t want to go down on a sinking ship,” Lisa explained. “We wanted to actually acknowledge the fact that it was almost unproduceable … or they were.”

“I think we lost that, and even though Vanderpump Rules was a wonderful show … I mean it was, and I think that was largely due to where it came from, our vision for that. But being a very authentic show, we showed as much as we could, if not everything,” she continued. “But I think it changed. I don’t want to talk to people’s assistants. I still don’t have an assistant.”

One person Lisa said she has a “great relationship” with was Tom Schwartz, 43, with whom she co-owns TomTom Restaurant and Bar.

“I think he’s truly a lovely, kind person, and it actually hurt me to kind of see him get a beating around the whole ‘Scandoval’ time,” she noted. “I think he made a few silly moves. I think he should’ve stood up to Sandoval more, but I think that’s him in his life: He tries to make everybody happy.”

Then speaking of Lala Kent, 34, Lisa said she “[loves]” Lala and recalled talking both her and Stassi Schroeder, 36, out of quitting the show.

“They got very emotional, [and I said], ‘You can do this,’ when they wanted to walk away,” she revealed. “To actually say, ‘I really believe in you, and I think you’ve got a great future, you’ve just got to go with it,’ and I think [Lala has] really grown, really grown, from it. And I’m proud of her, and I think she’s a lovely mommy, and I think she’s gonna be very successful.”

When it comes to Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney, owners of Something About Her, Lisa says Ariana “texted me or tweeted me or something” following news of the reboot, but “Katie, I didn’t hear from, but you know, as I say, that doesn’t really surprise me.”

Moving on to James, who was ultimately able to evade charges following an alleged altercation with his now-ex-girlfriend, Ally Lewber, 29, Lisa suggested her previous comments about the matter, which many felt downplayed the incident, were taken out of context.

“I don’t want to be that person that’s blaming the reporter [or] the editing, but when you say something in context, what did I say? I was very disappointed, very disappointed with James because I’ve had these conversations with him that drinking, working, or being a decent person, for him, are mutually exclusive,” she clarified. “They do not go together. And he should be held accountable for that because he knows that very well.”

“He’s a little a**hole when he drinks. He’s aggressive. He’s just volatile,” she continued. 

Reflecting on her interaction with James, 33, post-arrest, Lisa insisted she was stern and “disappointed.”

“I’ve been an advocate for him and his success. And for him to go down that path, and he had so much to lose. Ally loved him. She’s a great girl. And I think with their relationship now, they’ve gotta take time apart, [and] I don’t blame her. You’ve gotta prove to me you’re gonna be the man that I want, and I  think he let them both down,” she noted. 

As for whether James now understands the seriousness of his actions, Lisa signaled his sobriety but questioned his strength.

“He’s done something like 60 days sober … But I don’t know, does he have the strength to stay on that path?” she wondered. “Then the world would be his oyster, but he’s that close to losing it all. You can’t keep making mistakes. You can’t, especially when you know the outcome.”

No word yet on a premiere date for Vanderpump Rules season 12.