TV

‘Vanderpump Rules’ pausing production, won’t film this summer to give cast members a ‘break’

“Vanderpump Rules” fans will have to wait a little longer than usual for the next season of the hit Bravo show.

An insider told Page Six on Tuesday that production for Season 12 was put on pause despite typically filming in the summer months.

The network felt like the cast needed a break from the cameras in wake of Scandoval, which resulted in additional filming over the last two seasons.

“Everyone needs a moment to decompress after two very rough, intense seasons,” the source told us. “The cast is looking forward to a break from filming the show.”

Filming for Season 12 of “Vanderpump Rules” has been pushed back. Todd Williamson/Bravo
An insider told Page Six on Tuesday that filming won’t resume this summer like usual. Casey Durkin/Bravo

After Tom Sandoval’s affair with Raquel Leviss was unearthed in March 2023, cameras immediately picked back up to capture the drama — cutting off the crew’s time off.

The scandal consumed most of Season 11 — which is currently airing and was filmed just a few months after Season 10 wrapped — and showrunners hope the brief hiatus will bring about new storylines for its twelfth rendition.

“Producers are excited to catch up with everyone when cameras eventually go back up,” the insider added.

Although it’s unclear exactly when filming will resume, an insider told TMZ, who was the first to report the news, that it’ll be within the year.

Producers wanted to give the cast time to “decompress” following the stress of Scandoval. ©Bravo TV/Courtesy Everett Collection
They felt like everyone needed a “break” from filming. Casey Durkin/Bravo

The time off will also give several key cast members enough time to decide their future on the Emmy-nominated series.

Ariana Madix, who starts filming “Love Island USA” this summer, revealed earlier this month that she has been debating whether or not to return to the show.

“Our show has always thrived, it’s always at its best when it is at its most authentic and its most real, and I have to be able to show up and be real and be authentic in order for it to make sense for me,” she said at a book festival.

“So that’s the question I would be asking myself going into it,” she explained.

It’s unclear when filming will resume, but a source told TMZ it will be within the year.
Ariana Madix’s split from Tom Sandoval is dominating Season 11. Nicole Weingart/Bravo

While dealing with her breakup — and betrayal — from Sandoval this season, Madix has also been struggling to maintain her friendships with several of her castmates.

Scheana Shay recently told Page Six that her relationship with Madix has suffered over the last year due to her mixed emotions about letting Sandoval back into her life.

“Things definitely aren’t where they were a year ago,” Shay told us of her dynamic with Madix, noting that the heated “VPR” Season 11 reunion definitely didn’t help.


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Producers are hoping the hiatus will spur new storylines and developments in the casts’ lives. Casey Durkin/Bravo
“Producers are excited to catch up with everyone when cameras eventually go back up,” the insider told us. Bravo

However, the “Good As Gold” singer is confident the pair can mend things with a bit of “time and space.”

“Look, we are a very resilient group. We’ve come back from a lot. I feel like things that have happened over the past year hit differently than anything that’s ever hit this group,” she said.

“But never say never. I think right now we all just kind of need some time and space to just focus on our own careers and families. Hopefully, there’s a Season 12, we all come back together and you see the rest of it then.”

“Vanderpump Rules” Season 11 airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST on Bravo.