Scheana Shay: Is Lisa Vanderpump Pressuring Bravo Stars to Stay in Toxic Relationships?

Fresh off Stagecoach with a slightly raspy voice, Scheana Shay is answering questions and delivering the inside scoop on the Bravo metaverse and her current life happenings. Shay literally sips tea (for her throat) while metaphorically spilling it. She gushes over the Backstreet Boys’ iconic performance with Lance Bass, Jelly Roll and Shaboozey. As far as fellow reality TV star sightings at the festival, Shay ran into Kristin Cavallari, who she says was busy and on a mission, and recalls awkwardly running into Raquel Leviss the previous year. 

Still riding high on Stagecoach vibes, Shay admits she might be a converted country music fan (heavy on might). Shay dives into all things Vanderpump Rules and The Valley. Keep reading to learn the differences in filming the two shows, the drama surrounding Ally Lewber and James Kennedy’s breakup, and the latest headlines about her circle of friends. 

Scheana Shay on Lisa Vanderpump’s Advice to Ally Lewber

Why wasn’t Shay at Kristen Doute’s baby shower? 

Shay has been booked and busy lately!  From Coachella to Stagecoach there’s been a lot of music, a lot of dancing, many late nights, and a lot of dust (IYKYK). But the people want to know: Was Stagecoach more important to Shay than Doute’s baby shower? 

Festival season is not all fun and games, says Shay. It’s actually work. “I go to the festivals for fun, of course. It’s also work for me. I am usually working with brands and have posts I need to do,” she says. 

BTW, Shay had already told Doute she couldn’t make it months in advance, as the weekend of Stagecoach was also her daughter’s, Summer’s, birthday weekend. “We celebrated out there with her. Summer was with us the entire weekend. We also had friends at the house. That’s just what we did for my daughter’s birthday. I was not going to miss that to drive back,” she says. 

But Doute understood, and in lieu of her attendance, Shay sent a cute present with warm wishes. “I hate when I miss important things for my friends, but I also spread myself thin all the time. I can’t be at every event, baby shower, and all the things,” she says.

How did she react to Lisa Vanderpump’s phone call with Ally Lewber? 

So, what did Shay think about Vanderpump’s phone call to Lewber after her public and tumultuous relationship with James Kennedy? Vanderpump’s (perhaps unsolicited) advice had the internet in an uproar. 

Two months after her breakup with Kennedy, Vanderpump called to check on her. She also tried to play matchmaker. In a recent interview on The Viall Files, Lebwer admitted that her interaction with Vanderpump made her uncomfortable: “She was basically, like, ‘Ally, he needs you. You’re really good together. You should travel with him to his shows this weekend.’ I [had] just moved into an apartment, we’re not together. It was really weird … [and] I was weak in the moment. I was like, ‘Did I make the wrong decision?’”

Sadly, Shay admits that she was not surprised by Vanderpump’s call to Lewber. “I have received similar calls. Ally called me right after that, and she was pretty upset. Ally and I are very similar. When someone like Lisa, someone in power or a woman we look up to, we take what they say highly into consideration. It’s to a point where we can be easily manipulated.”

If anything, Shay says Weber should have left Kennedy sooner: “Anyone trying to convince her to stay in an abusive relationship, shame on you.”

What’s different about filming The Valley versus Vanderpump Rules? 

While Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor’s separation threatens to cast a shadow on the newest season of The Valley, Shay says the show isn’t completely devoid of lighter moments—though her wording suggests viewers shouldn’t expect much levity. “It’s not all sunshine and rainbows and lighthearted. It’s a lot of tough subjects that we are facing. Hopefully, there’s a season three, and it’s lighter and more fun,” she says.

For Shay, the primary difference between filming The Valley and Vanderpump Rules comes down to energetic output. “The difference is, I’m not a main cast member on The Valley. I got to show at my leisure. I didn’t have as many call times. I didn’t have to carry any storyline. That made it much more peaceful,” she says.

Are Tom Sandoval and Scheana Shay still friends? 

Sandoval and Shay’s friendship has never been quite the same since Scandoval. But now Sandoval is taking to the internet (like he always does) to blast Shay for not admitting they are friends. 

Despite a cordial run-in at Stagecoach, Shay shuts down the rumors. “Here’s the thing about Sandoval. Am I going to say I never talk to him? No. We do text, here and there. But do we hang out, grab lunch, go to the gym together, or is he coming to Summer’s birthday party? No. He’s never even been to my house. We are not at that level anymore, but I care about his well-being. ”

And that’s it for this week’s Shay-dar!