‘Vanderpump Rules’ Cast Pours One Out for Their 11-Season Run: “End of an Era”

"We gave it our all until the very end," wrote Lala Kent, capturing the mixed emotions of the original cast from the Bravo series, which is now being relaunched.

If you haven't heard, Vanderpump Rules is being revamped after running for 11 seasons on Bravo, and there's quite a buzz surrounding it.

If you've been following the lively and unfiltered group of individuals who started out as staff at Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants in Los Angeles and have since become celebrities in their own right over the last 11 years, you probably noticed that your social media is buzzing with mixed emotions. Fans are sharing heartfelt messages celebrating, teasing, and grieving the announcement that the reality series produced by Evolution Media will be coming back for season 12 with an entirely new cast.

Included in those messages are farewell posts from the departing cast members: Scheana Shay, Lala Kent, Ariana Madix, Katie Maloney, Tom Schwartz, James Kennedy, and Tom Sandoval.

Shay kicked off her farewell message from Vanderpump Rules with, “This marks the conclusion of one chapter and the beginning of another. We had an amazing journey! When we were filming the pilot for VPR, I never expected it to turn into what it has or to last this long.”

Shay, Maloney, and Sandoval, along with Schwartz and Madix as regulars, were part of the original lineup when Vanderpump Rules, a spin-off of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, debuted in 2013. Kennedy joined in the second season, followed closely by Kent. Despite the constant changes in staff at SUR, this group stayed the main cast until the drama of "Scandoval" emerged in season 10. This cheating scandal not only propelled the show to become one of Bravo's highest-rated series but also marked the departure of several current cast members.

After a contentious reunion for Season 11 that left the cast divided due to the fallout from “Scandoval” — where Sandoval's affair with former cast member Rachel Leviss was revealed, betraying his longtime partner Madix — Bravo decided to hit pause on the series and then put it on hiatus. There were several potential directions for the show if it came back. Executive producer and showrunner Alex Baskin mentioned to The Hollywood Reporter that they were considering various possibilities as fans called for changes in the cast. He noted, “There’s still a solid core of the group. I can definitely see most of the cast coming back along with some significant new additions. I believe there’s still plenty of potential for the show. What that ultimately looks like, I’m not quite sure,” he stated following the reunion.

On Tuesday, it was announced that the series will come back with a completely new cast. Some familiar faces from the previous lineup, including Kent, Schwartz, Shay, and Brock Davies, will be making guest appearances on the upcoming season of the Vanderpump Rules spinoff, The Valley. However, Vanderpump Rules as fans are familiar with it will undergo a complete overhaul; the new cast members will be revealed later, with filming set to begin next year.

In announcing the reboot, Vanderpump reflected on the incredible journey of the past 12 years filled with joy, sorrow, and everything in between. “I am deeply grateful to everyone who has opened their lives to us. I cherish you all. In the restaurant industry, one shift leads to another. Here’s to the new chapter of Vanderpump Rules.” Baskin expressed enthusiasm as well: “It's exciting to expand on the legacy of this show by starting fresh. We have immense respect for the original cast and their remarkable journey, and we can’t wait for viewers to meet this vibrant new group of colleagues and friends as they navigate life together.”

Not long after, the cast members turned to their social media accounts to say their farewells, expressing gratitude to their fans for their support over the years. Sandoval and Schwartz, who had just revealed the closure of their Los Angeles bar Schwartz & Sandy’s — citing negative experiences following the Scandoval as one of the factors for the decision — shared heartfelt posts on Instagram Stories about both the bar and their journey on the show. Schwartz also posted a fan-made video set to the Friends theme song, captioning it, “How the last 12 years replay in my mind.” Maloney added to her Stories, saying, “It’s a mixed bag, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you for the memories and love over the past 11 years.”

Shay, Kent, Madix, and Kennedy were quite expressive in their farewell messages, which you can check out below. In the comments, their past co-stars, celebrity supporters, and Bravo's head honcho, Andy Cohen, added their thoughts. “These were the greatest days of our lives…,” Cohen shared on his profile, alluding to the catchy theme song "Raise Your Glass" by Memoir. Madix concluded her message with, “I can’t say these were the best days of our lives, but they surely held a special significance.”

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