‘Vanderpump Rules’: Lisa Vanderpump Explains Lack of Diversity on Bravo Show
Lisa Vanderpump always finds herself in the middle of controversy despite not being part of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The reality TV personality is still attached as a producer on spinoff Vanderpump Rules, which has gone through a turbulent summer. Following the firings of several cast members for racism, many are calling the show out for their lack of diversity.
What does Lisa Vanderpump say about lack of diversity on her show?
Vanderpump is a very hands-on manager and gives the impression that she calls the shots in everything she does. She is known to be a massive supporter of LGBTQ+ rights as well as an animal activist. However, when it comes to having a diverse cast on the show she produces, she seems to take a back seat.
A fan recently asked the restauranteur why Vanderpump Rules lacked diversity. Another fan interjected and tried to explain the situation saying, “They have hundreds of staff and are diverse, this particular cast was a group of friends and they were what they were.”
After that answer, Vanderpump then added: “That is so true… also, not everybody wants to be in the eye of the storm.”
Vanderpump’s answer is particularly bothersome as Los Angeles has a population that is extremely diverse. The L.A. area is also full of people that want to make it in Hollywood or looking for an opportunity to be on TV. It’s not that difficult to find people that are fame hungry and there are many people of color looking for a shot in showcasing their lives.
Lisa Vanderpump has been echoing the same sentiment
After Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute were fired from Vanderpump Rules for racism, Vanderpump said she works with a group of diverse backgrounds.
“As many of you know, after watching me for 10 years, I have always been an equal rights activist and ally – my family, my businesses and I condemn all forms of cruelty, racism, homophobia, bigotry and unequal treatment,” she wrote in her reaction letter posted on Instagram.
“We’ve never tolerated it in the workplace or our lives. While you only see a fraction of our employees on the show, a specific friend group, across all of our companies, we have always been a very diverse group of people – every color, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.”
In Vanderpump’s statement, she includes that her company as a whole employs and embraces diversity.
“Most of our employees have worked for us for over a decade, and we have become a family; one that embraces and celebrates each other’s differences,” she continued.
“I am proud of the inclusive company that we’ve created. We will continue to embrace diversity as one of our greatest strengths, and I’m excited to give you deeper look into the multi-faceted fabric of our company in the future.”
Although she might be talking about her restaurant business, her diversity has not extended to her TV show completely.
Following the massive cast changes to Vanderpump Rules, Bravo has not announced if a new season has been commissioned or when it would start filming.
