Rachel Leviss, recent graduate of “The Bethenny Frankel School of Feeding-Hand Biting,” says she’ll be tuning in to Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules as it goes on in her absence.
We won’t see her back on the show having hard conversations about her role in Scandoval or pretending to work at SUR. But, she’s not totally removing herself from the mess. She’ll be watching and discussing each episode on her podcast.
Rachel “want[s] to be a part of creating ethical reality TV”
Rachel ventured back into the fray by launching her Rachel Goes Rogue podcast, where she plans to discuss Season 11 of VPR twice a week. Why would someone who went to a therapeutic treatment center to deal with the repercussions of her and Tom Sandoval’s actions decide to “dip her toe back into the drama?” Because it seems she now fancies herself a champion of moral superiority when it comes to reality TV.
Rachel explained her intent. “My purpose for doing that isn’t to just be in the drama necessarily. I want to create a healthier environment for people watching reality TV. I want to be a part of creating ethical reality TV. And I think a part of that is educating people who are watching these shows about what we’re actually consuming.”
“I have created something and I have a vision and so you know, I’m taking action as a coach in educating and this is obviously a challenge for me in so many different ways. And I’m not stuck on outcomes. I’m doing my part and I’m learning to let go and whatever happens happens. And there’s such freedom in that,” she added.
Rachel gave her reasons for not returning
Rachel also spoke with a trauma specialist about why the cast played into her decision to quit. “I don’t want to say mob mentality. But it’s definitely like we’re here to voice our opinions on what you did and bring that to the forefront. And so when you’re at it alone, it just seems like you’re not going to survive.”
Her mental health was also a reason. “And that’s part of the reason why I didn’t go back. Because I knew that I wouldn’t be welcomed back and it would put me in that position of feeling fight, flight or freeze, having that extreme response and then once again only having Tom as the person that I could confide in.”
“I could just see how bad of a situation that would be for me. Especially as I’m trying to put my mental health first and have some sort of stability and sanity in my life now.”
Now armed with an arsenal of therapy-speak, will Rachel be able to change the nature of reality TV? Well, let’s just say she once had to be taught to not put aluminum foil in the microwave.
Vanderpump Rules airs Tuesday nights at 8/7c on Bravo.
TELL US – DO YOU SUPPORT RACHEL’S PLAN TO DISCUSS SEASON 11 OF VPR FROM THE SIDELINES?
