Lala Kent is opening up about the drama surrounding her former assistant Jessica Walter‘s exit from her podcast and her company.
While also addressing her ongoing feud with Katie Maloney, 37, and sharing her thoughts on the end of her run on Vanderpump Rules, Lala, 34, explained why Jessica left her show, confirming that it was Jessica’s choice to walk away from their partnership.
“At the end of the day, she was my employee,’” Lala began on the December 31 episode of Not Skinny But Not Fat. “She wanted to go and move on with her life, and I would be a crazy person to not say, ‘Go and achieve everything you want to achieve.’ People are like, wanting an explanation. I’m like, ‘I don’t know how to break this down.’”
“Let’s just say my mom was like, ‘I no longer want to be helping you, like, I really need to go and experience life as a 64-year-old and see what’s out there.’ By all means, go. Be free. Fly,” she continued.
According to Lala, it was Jessica’s choice to leave the show, but she doesn’t expect her former employee to set the record straight publicly.
“At the end of the day, she was employed by Lala Kent. You’re no longer employed. I wish you the best. Have a great life,” she stated.
Although Lala harbors no ill will toward Jessica, she admitted she’s “learned a lot.”
“Every single thing that I’ve experienced in the past two to three years, I have learned something from. I don’t regret anything, but I know how to make things different … I live and I learn and sometimes it may be my fault. Sometimes it could be both of us. I really don’t give a sh*t. Let’s just move on,” she advised.
When Lala was asked about her estrangement from Katie, she described her former friend as “my everything.” She then noted that Pump Rules season 11 was “the strangest season” she’d been a part of and said that she and Katie hadn’t spoken since the reunion.
“It was very sad. And Katie and I have two very different viewpoints on what happened and the demise of our friendship,” Lala revealed. “She sees it one way, and I don’t like that I was painted to be someone who pockets information and brings it out at a convenient time because that’s not what happened and we can go over this all the live long day. Doesn’t matter. What’s done is done.”
As for their future, Lala wasn’t sure about a rekindling of their relationship.
“We may be able to rebuild at some point, or we may never see each other again. Who the f*ck knows? But I do want her to be happy in her life. She deserves that,” Lala said.
As for the recasting of Pump Rules, Lala said, “It’s sad because it’s so iconic. It’s a pop culture phenomenon. Who can say that they were a part of something like that? Not many people.”
According to Lala, she’s not concerned about her finances because her mom taught her to save, and she has a great business manager.
“For me, it’s just like, reality is like my heartbeat. I get off on it. I’m obsessed. I enjoy being a part of it. I enjoy watching it. It’s such a huge part of my life, reality television. So that part is sad,” she explained.
Looking ahead, Lala said she’d love to return to reality TV in a “Kyle Richards-type moment.”
“She’s been on reality TV for so long and has other things happened, she’s produced her own shows, she’s got her hands in so many other things that it’s not that she needs The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but she goes, she does it, she makes fabulous TV, and I just feel like that would be something that I want,” Lala revealed. “I look up to her, and I’m not ready to be done with reality TV. However, at this stage of my life, I am enjoying the break, kind of falling into the background and just enjoying my kids.”
Also on the podcast, after admitting she’s “freaking out” about her upcoming role on The Valley because she’s worried she’ll be “overly exposed,” Lala confirmed she’ll tune in to season 12.
“I think I will watch the new one. I’m excited for this new group,” she shared.
Vanderpump Rules will return to Bravo in 2025 with an all-new cast.