Lala Kent Compares Amanda and West’s Drama to Scandoval
Lala Kent is feeling “nostalgic” about the ongoing drama surrounding Summer House costars Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s new relationship.
“I love it,” Lala, 35, beamed during her appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Wednesday, May 13. “Who would have thought we’d get to relive [‘Scandoval’]? We get to experience it all over again.”
She compared the social media uproar over Amanda and West’s budding romance to the “Scandoval” controversy that unfolded on Vanderpump Rules in 2023, when Tom Sandoval‘s shocking affair with Rachel ‘Raquel’ Leviss was revealed. (At the time, Tom was in a relationship with Ariana Madix, but they later split. Recently, Tom and Ariana sold their L.A. home three years after their breakup.)
“We’re so fortunate,” Lala joked. “I had Lindsay [Hubbard] on my podcast today, and she couldn’t share everything about the upcoming reunion. But she said, ‘Just wait!’”
Amanda and West, aged 34 and 31 respectively, surprised fans on March 31 by revealing they were pursuing a “connection” after previously denying they were dating. (This news came just months after Amanda and her estranged husband Kyle Cooke announced their separation in January.)
“We’ve noticed the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to clarify things,” Amanda and West stated in a joint announcement in March. “It was never our intention to hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics and the scrutiny of being on a reality show, we needed some space to process things privately before addressing it.”
They continued, “We’ve supported each other as friends throughout the highs and lows, and what has developed recently was the last thing either of us anticipated. Our connection blossomed from a genuine, long-standing friendship, making it vital for us to approach this with care.”
“As our feelings evolved, we took the time to comprehend what we were experiencing. We also understand that this affects more than just us and never wanted our actions to cause any hurt or be perceived as thoughtless.” Their statement closed with, “We genuinely appreciate the understanding and respect as we navigate this.”
Since the shocking announcement, questions have arisen about the timeline of Amanda and West’s relationship, along with serious allegations from West’s ex-girlfriend Ciara Miller claiming he may have also been involved with married Real Housewives of New Jersey star Jenn Fessler. (Jenn has consistently denied any involvement with West and has seemingly threatened legal action against Ciara. The RHONJ alum has been married to her husband, Jeffrey Fessler, since 1999, and they have two children, son Zachary and daughter Rachel.)
Meanwhile, Lala also discussed her current relationships with former Vanderpump Rules costars three years after the “Scandoval” controversy. She revealed to host Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live that she hasn’t spoken to former close friends James Kennedy and Ariana in years.
“I haven’t talked to anyone since that reunion,” she admitted. “Yeah, that’s true.”
However, Lala remains in contact with former Vanderpump Rules cast members Brittany Cartwright, Tom Schwartz, and Kristen Doute, as they all feature on Bravo’s VPR spinoff The Valley.
Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen airs on Bravo Sundays through Thursdays.
