The Queen of Diamonds has left the building (better described as a palatial mansion). The news of Lisa Vanderpump’s exit from the Housewives serves as the conclusion of escalating tensions between the restaurateur and her castmates over the last year in the gossip cycle. The saga included: Puppygate, Lisa Rinna threatening her co-star with a lawsuit, Rinna’s full frontal assault in the press, and Vanderpump’s absence at Andy Cohen’s baby shower. According to an exclusive report in Us Weekly this morning:
The reality star simply answered “yes,” when Us asked if it’s the end for her on the series at the 7th Annual Real to Reel: Portrayals and Perceptions of LGBT’s in Hollywood. She continued, “I made the decision to leave. It was a very difficult year for me, personally and professionally. I had wonderful things happen this year, opening up TomTom and the cocktail garden in Vegas. The Housewives, it’s just, it’s emotionally too difficult to deal with.”
What’s fascinating about this story, and perhaps a perfect conclusion to her time on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Radar Online was the first to definitively report on her pending exit. Last November, she denied her departure to Us Weekly, but seemed to allude to her decision at the May 9th opening of the Vanderpump Cocktail Garden in Las Vegas. Speaking to Daily Mail:
Unfortunately when I was filming last year I was not in a good place myself mentally. So I was not as ready to take on maybe what Housewives entailed. I just floundered. I opened TomTom, I brought that to fruition, I was working hard on this. We were working hard with our philanthropy with our dogs. We are opening a sanctuary in China. We had a lot of things going on. […] I lost my only sibling, I was doing Vanderpump Rules – I am an EP on that. There was a lot going on. And all this stuff, I think it was unfair. And it kept coming at me. It just became too much really. After 380 episodes sometimes you have got to say okay enough. […] Being a restaurateur, businesswoman and philanthropist is paramount to me. So I will continue to do that after Housewives because that is what I do.
Despite my complicated feelings about her place in Bravo’s flagship franchise, I do think it’s clear that this is the best decision for her grieving process. I hope that she can reflect on what made her a magnetic presence that helmed two of the most instantly recognizable shows in American reality television. While you should never quit a hit show thinking you’ll find love and success elsewhere- I’m sure this particular rich person will be absolutely fine.
In other “exiting from buildings” news: Irina Shayk has allegedly split from her husband of four years, Bradley Jackson Cooper Maine. People first reported the news late Thursday night, revealing that the pair are “amicably working out” their custody agreement for their daughter, Lea De Seine Shayk Cooper. Neither has responded to requests for comment, and the current news seems to end there. Having long heard rumblings of their relationship turmoil myself, I’m reminded of a Page Six “exclusive” revealing their marital troubles from October 17th. A source claimed:
“They are miserable together. They have been for months. He doesn’t drink and is into spirituality. She wants to go out.” The source added, “She went to Ibiza by her herself for a party that [celebrity photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott] threw.” The source said that the bad-romance buzz has been swirling around the couple “in that big Russian model community.” (Shayk’s from Yemanzhelinsk.) A different source who saw the couple at Masa this week told us, “They were not looking happy … They barely spoke to each other at the start of the meal. Halfway through, she started looking off to the side and he was moody.”
Even an hour listening to the gossip in “that big Russian model community” sounds like staring directly into the abyss. The untold secrets! The forbidden truths! The Daily Mail also released photos Thursday of Irina Shayk leaving her and Cooper’s Pacific Palisades estate with nothing but an Away suitcase, a fur-trimmed puffer jacket, and “her trademark brunette tresses.” Fun fact: it’s the second Away suitcase she’s been photographed with in the last three months. Should we take bets on a sponsorship contract or should I find a new hobby?
(Oh! Reliving this gossip has reminded me of a late night segment that has certainly aged well!)
[People]Below are some photos of Rihanna and her elusive, billionaire boyfriend Hassan Jameel. Looks like we’ve lost another one to the allure of the ruling class!
- Much like watching the show, Michelle Williams revealed acting in Dawson’s Creek “felt like a factory job.” [ET Online]
- Tracy Morgan opened up about the car crash that almost claimed his life five years ago. [People]
- Jessie J flashed the peace sign at the red carpet premiere of The Voice Kids U.K., a show she is apparently hosting. [People]
- Miranda Lambert opened up about her new husband and stepson at the annual Nashville Mutt March: “He lives with a crazy dog lady. … I was like, ‘Hey, I got the dogs, you got the kid, we can mix and mingle.’” [Us Weekly]
- Here’s some photos of various blonde actresses in leather jackets at Saint Laurent’s Malibu fashion show. [Just Jared]