With Vanderpump Rules undergoing an overhaul, some Bravo fans might be confused by Scheana Shay and Lisa Vanderpump‘s ongoing tension — but their rift was a long time coming.
The Vanderpump Rules franchise began as a spinoff of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which Lisa starred on from 2010 to 2019. Scheana, meanwhile, helped launch Vanderpump Rules when she sat down with Brandi Glanville on an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2013 to discuss her affair with Eddie Cibrian.
After more than a decade, viewers were left divided on the future of the franchise courtesy of Tom Sandoval‘s secret romance with Rachel “Raquel” Leviss while in a relationship with Ariana Madix. The network eventually confirmed in November 2024 that Vanderpump Rules will be returning — but with an entirely new cast.
Initially it seemed like issues existed between the cast — but with Lisa as an onlooker. That changed when Scheana was asked about her current relationship with her former employer in April 2025 on the “Two T’s With a Pod” podcast, to which replied, “I don’t talk to her too often. She usually calls when she needs something.”
Scheana recalled her last interaction with Vanderpump being business-related. “That was recent when I talked to her,” she added. “She had a question about a friend of mine on another show of hers, and that was pretty much it.”
As for Lisa, she clarified that she didn’t remain in consistent contact with every Vanderpump Rules cast member.
“I haven’t spoken to Scheana but she almost grew up with me. She was at Villa Blanca for quite a few years. They’re all doing OK and I think Scheana is doing OK. Thankfully she’s got somebody loyal by her side [husband Brock Davies] because she had a hell of a roller coaster with different relationships,” she exclusively told Us Weekly that same month. “I heard that she was on The Masked Singer, which is something that I know she would love because she talked about being on Dancing With the Stars.”
While the rift appeared to be related to the Vanderpump Rules shakeup, Scheana’s upcoming memoir could actually be the case of the drama. Keep scrolling for an explainer on the timeline of the fallout — and what comes next:
The Key Players
Before cameras started rolling on Vanderpump Rules, Scheana started working for Lisa at Villa Blanca. She made the switch to SUR, which was captured on the show as Lisa found herself caught between her employee Scheana and then-friend Brandi.
Scheana and Lisa remained close over the years with the restaurant owner supporting Scheana amid many personal issues. After season 11 wrapped in 2024, Scheana and Lisa initially appeared to remain on good terms.
“The last 12 years of filming have been an extraordinary run full of laughter, tears and everything in between,” Lisa said in a November 2024 statement about the future of VPR. “I can’t thank enough those who have shared their lives. How I love you all. In the restaurant business, one shift always gives way to another. Cheers to the next generation of Vanderpump Rules.”
The Gist
Scheana Shay and Lisa Vanderpump. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association; Michael Simon/Startraks
In January 2025, Scheana announced that she was releasing a memoir titled My Good Side.
“After appearing on shows like 90210, Jonas, and Victorious, Vanderpump Rules would be a piece of cake. But from the very first season, Scheana clashed with her fellow cast members,” read the official synopsis. “Barbs were thrown, friendships dissolved, and Scheana was left in the rubble trying to navigate the complexities of having her life and relationships filmed for a television audience. On camera, she got used to being called every name in the book, from homewrecking whore to a pick-me and bad friend. But off camera, there’s always been a different side of Scheana, pieces of her that didn’t make it into the final edit of tidy, 40-minute television episodes.”
My Good Side is expected to pull back “the layers of who” Scheana “really is.”
“[She] shares all sides of her — the good, bad, and messy — bringing readers on a wild nostalgia trip through the early days of Vanderpump Rules, while recounting jaw-dropping stories from her Hollywood black book, including setting the record straight on her relationship with Eddie Cibrian,” the description continued. “She reveals how her outlook on love has evolved and led her to a daughter she was told she may never have. From being bullied as a kid to being bullied by the Witches of WeHo, Scheana has seen it all, and together she and her fans can laugh, cry, and reminisce on all the drama, heartbreak, and celebrations over the years.”
Lisa was later asked on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen about whether Scheana’s book spills “tea” on her.
“About me? Oh, good lord,” Lisa said. “Well, that is probably just to sell the book, because she doesn’t have anything else to say.”
Lisa went on to call out specific digs Scheana has made about her.
“I have heard she said something nasty that I only call her when I need something. True that,” she quipped. “I have 600 people that work for me. I think the last time I needed her is when I invited her to my house for [my grandson] Teddy’s birthday. So that is the last time I called her.”
While some things never change, the cast of Vanderpump Rules is used to a shake-up … and a touch-up. Vanderpump Rules was introduced to Bravo viewers during a special episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in January 2013. Season 1 starred Lisa Vanderpump, who was a Beverly Hills Housewife at the time, Stassi […]
Why It’s a Big Deal
Scheana isn’t the only one from Vanderpump Rules to release a memoir but she’s the first to have that lead to a falling out before the book even hit bookshelves. Stassi Schroeder released her first book, Next Level Basic, in 2019. After her exit from Vanderpump Rules in 2020, Schroeder authored a second book titled Off With My Head and more recently You Can’t Have It All: The Basic B*tch Guide to Taking the Pressure Off.
There’s also Lala Kent and her book, Give Them Lala, while Kristen Doute authored He’s Making You Crazy: How to Get the Guy, Get Even, and Get Over It.
It is also important to remember that Scheana appeared to be the closest — and most loyal — to Lisa and her entire family before the surprising divide.
What People Are Saying
After Scheana announced My Good Side, Kristen got involved by bringing up Lisa’s possible reaction behind the scenes.
“Look at all the girls coming out now that have been waiting to not be on any show with [Vanderpump]. Scheana, Katie [Maloney],” Kristen shared on an April 2025 episode of “The Bitch Bible” podcast. “When Scheana’s book comes out, she told me that there’s a lot of tea about Lisa in there that the world would like to know about. So I think she’s now on the bottom — she’s like the s*** on the bottom of Lisa’s shoe now.”
What’s Next
My Good Side will be released on July 22, 2025, and Us plans to cover the highlights. Scheana addressed Lisa’s reaction on her “Scheananigans” podcast in May 2025, saying, “It was a little hurtful. I used to be your go-to girl.”
Scheana confirmed that Lisa is brought up in her book.
“What I said to Kristen is there are things that I’ve never felt comfortable talking about that I open up about in the book. Because I’ve always been very loyal to Lisa — very much. I was her right hand for a long time,” she noted. “There were a lot of situations that I’ve been put in — phone calls that were made — and things that just kind of shaped a big part of my life that I do discuss in the book.”
According to Scheana, Lisa might not be happy with everything written in My Good Side.
“It’s something that I never felt comfortable sharing. It’s honestly a huge reason why I wanted to wait until Vanderpump Rules was done to write a book,” she added. “I feel that that relationship has been strained for years. A big thing was in 2020 when I suffered a miscarriage and everyone else was reaching out, I didn’t hear from her at all.”
Scheana continued: “I’m sure there’s going to be things in there she’s not too happy about. But it is my truth. It’s my story.”