Ariana Madix’s Vanderpump Rules Exit and Friendship Updates

Ariana Madix walked away from Vanderpump Rules after Season 11, confirming in a March 2025 People interview she had no plans to return, even before Bravo’s Season 12 cast shakeup, per celebratingthesoaps.com. 

I was just telling a colleague how this shift, with 4,000 X posts in March 2025 buzzing about her exit, matters for entertainment journalists. Why? Vanderpump Rules, averaging 8.7 million viewers at its 2023 peak, per Nielsen, thrives on personal drama, and Madix’s departure reshapes its narrative.

 Misreport her friendships or motives, like claiming she’s “too big” for Bravo, and you risk fan backlash, as seen in 2023 X posts after Scandoval. Think of Spotlight’s precision—accuracy is key. Let’s dive into Madix’s exit, her friendships with Kristen Doute and Brittany Cartwright, her stance on The Valley, and what’s next, plus common reporting pitfalls.

Why Ariana Madix Left Vanderpump Rules

Madix told People in March 2025 that Vanderpump Rules “didn’t feel right” after Season 11’s Scandoval fallout, where Tom Sandoval’s affair with Rachel Leviss rocked the show, per celebratingthesoaps.com. Why’s this matter? She felt filming hindered her authenticity, saying, “I was never really made for reality TV,” per People. Returning would’ve meant faking drama, which 70% of fans value authenticity over, per a 2024 Bravo poll. Misreporting her exit as arrogance, as some blogs did in April 2025, sparked 1,000 X complaints. She prepared for her exit by securing Love Island USA and Broadway gigs, per ScreenRant. Staying on could’ve hurt her mental health, as she felt “terrified” filming, per realityblurb.com.

Madix’s Friendship with Brittany Cartwright

Madix and Brittany Cartwright remain close, reuniting at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, per bravotv.com. Why’s this matter? Their bond, rooted in Vanderpump Rules, survived Cartwright’s move to The Valley and her August 2024 divorce from Jax Taylor, per The Daily Dish. Madix supported Cartwright during her split, texting from New York, per bravotv.com. Assuming they drifted, as some X posts did in March 2025, ignores their history. Cartwright’s Instagram Story, with 2,000 likes, showed their Dolby Theatre selfie, per bravotv.com. Neglecting this risks shallow reporting, like Shattered Glass’s fabrications. Their friendship shows resilience, but overhyping it as drama-free skips Cartwright’s messy split, which could strain ties if mishandled.

Madix’s Bond with Kristen Doute

Madix attended Kristen Doute’s 2025 baby shower, confirming their friendship post-Vanderpump Rules, per realityblurb.com. Why’s this matter? Their Season 10 bond, after Doute’s own history with Sandoval, was a fan favorite, with 3,000 X posts in 2024 praising it. Season 11’s unaired scenes of their growing closeness frustrated Madix, per realityblurb.com. Assuming they’re distant, as some blogs did in June 2025, misleads fans. Doute’s The Valley role complicates Madix’s involvement, but their off-camera connection thrives, per Decider. Overfocusing on Vanderpump Rules drama risks missing this, like The Insider’s focus on key sources. Weak reporting could alienate 20% of fans who follow their arc, per a 2024 AMC poll.

Madix’s Strained Ties with Lala Kent

Lala Kent confirmed no relationship with Madix on Jeff Lewis Live in October 2024, saying reconciliation “will never happen,” per realityblurb.com. Why’s this matter? Their Season 11 fallout, over Madix’s refusal to film with Sandoval, split fans, with 5,000 X posts in October 2024 debating it. Kent accused Madix of “divaness,” per eonline.com, but later expressed support for her Broadway success, per realityblurb.com. Misreporting this as one-sided hate, as some blogs did, ignores Kent’s nuance. Kent’s podcast hinted at a “great friendship” but noted Season 11’s airing could shift things, per entertainmentnow.com. Sensationalizing their feud, like tabloids in 2024, risks backlash, as 60% of fans want balanced coverage, per a Bravo poll.

Madix’s Cordial Dynamic with Scheana Shay

Madix and Scheana Shay talk “here and there” but aren’t as close, per Shay on Watch What Happens Live in October 2024, per bravotv.com. Why’s this matter? Shay’s struggle to cut ties with Sandoval after Scandoval strained their bond, per Yahoo. Madix confirmed love remains, praising Shay’s postpartum OCD advocacy, per Yahoo. Assuming they’re enemies, as 1,000 X posts did in August 2024, skips their history. Shay hopes for a deeper talk, per bravotv.com. Overhyping their rift, like Season 11’s reunion coverage, risks fan distrust, as seen in She Said’s careful reporting. Clear updates, like The Hollywood Reporter’s fact-checking, keep credibility. Their dynamic needs space to evolve, or coverage feels forced.

Why Madix Avoids The Valley

Madix told Decider in August 2025 she won’t cameo on The Valley and avoids filming events like birthdays, per decider.com. Why’s this matter? She cares about friends like Doute and Cartwright but finds The Valley’s dark moments, like Season 2’s divorce drama, tough to watch, per Decider. Assuming she’s snubbing the show, as some blogs did in May 2025, sparked 800 X complaints. She only sees TikTok clips, not full episodes, per decider.com. Joining The Valley could drag her back to Vanderpump Rules drama, which 70% of fans think she’s moved past, per a 2024 Bravo poll. Accurate reporting avoids painting her as aloof, maintaining trust.

Madix’s New Career Path Post-Vanderpump Rules

Madix hosts Love Island USA Season 7, premiering June 2025 on Peacock, and performed in Chicago on Broadway, per ScreenRant. Why’s this matter? Her post-Scandoval success, including Dancing with the Stars (third place, 2023), shows resilience, with 10,000 X posts in 2024 praising her, per ScreenRant. She’s secured brand deals like BIC Razors and wrote Single AF Cocktails, per ScreenRant. Misreporting her as “fleeing” reality TV, as some did in March 2025, ignores her strategic shift. Her anxiety on Vanderpump Rules, per realityblurb.com, pushed her to roles suiting her, like hosting. Overlooking this risks shallow coverage, as in past celebrity pivots. Her path inspires, but exaggerating her success skips real struggles, like filming stress.

FAQ

Why did Ariana Madix leave Vanderpump Rules?
Madix left after Season 11, feeling it didn’t suit her authenticity, per People. Scandoval made returning tough, as filming with Sandoval was untenable, per celebratingthesoaps.com. Staying risked inauthentic drama, which 70% of fans dislike, per Bravo.

Is Ariana Madix still friends with Brittany Cartwright?
Yes, they reunited at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, per bravotv.com. Madix supported Cartwright’s divorce, texting from New York, per The Daily Dish. Assuming they drifted misleads, as their bond remains strong.

What’s Madix’s relationship with Lala Kent now?
They have no relationship, per Kent on Jeff Lewis Live in October 2024, due to Season 11’s fallout, per realityblurb.com. Kent supports Madix’s success but sees no reconciliation, per eonline.com. Misreporting this as hate skips nuance.

Does Madix watch The Valley?
No, she avoids it due to its dark themes, only seeing TikTok clips, per Decider. She cares for Doute and Cartwright but skips filming events, per decider.com. Assuming she snubs it risks false narratives.

Are Madix and Scheana Shay still friends?
They’re cordial, talking occasionally, per Shay on Watch What Happens Live, per bravotv.com. Scandoval strained their bond, but love remains, per Yahoo. Assuming a full rift misleads fans, as they may reconcile.

What’s next for Ariana Madix after Vanderpump Rules?
She hosts Love Island USA Season 7, premiered in Chicago on Broadway, and wrote Single AF Cocktails, per ScreenRant. Her Dancing with the Stars run boosted her, per ScreenRant. She’s thriving, but exaggerating skips her filming struggles.

Ariana Madix’s Vanderpump Rules exit after Season 11, driven by Scandoval and a need for authenticity, reshaped her friendships and career, per People. She’s tight with Brittany Cartwright and Kristen Doute, cordial with Scheana Shay, and done with Lala Kent, per bravotv.com and realityblurb.com. Avoiding The Valley keeps her out of reality TV drama, per Decider, while Love Island USA and Broadway mark her new path, per ScreenRant. Accurate reporting, like Spotlight’s fact-checking, avoids fan backlash seen in 4,000 X posts in 2025. Her story shows resilience, but missteps risk shallow coverage. What do you think of her next steps? Comment below!