The Shady Side Of Lisa Vanderpump
Lisa Vanderpump is no stranger to reality television. She made a name for herself on nine seasons of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills which then resulted in its uber-popular spinoff, Vanderpump Rules, that features the on-going drama of Vanderpump's staff at her West Hollywood restaurant, SUR. And even though her time on RHOBH has come to an end and producer Andy Cohen said on his SiriusXM show, Radio Andy, that "no one will ever replace [Lisa Vanderpump]," LVP has lots of other things happening, including her show Overserved with Lisa Vanderpump on E!.
Besides making a career in reality television over the past decade, Lisa Vanderpump has a combined net worth with her husband and business partner of almost 40 years, Ken Todd, of $90 million (per Celebrity Net Worth). The outlet also notes that the British star got her start in the business with small acting role when she was just nine-years-old and continued on throughout her young adult years. The bulk of her wealth, however, comes from reality television and her restaurant empire — as she and husband Ken Todd have owned over 30 bars and restaurants between the States and the U.K. They even have a 8,801 square-foot Beverly Hills mansion which cost nearly $12 million, which they have lovingly dubbed "Villa Rosa."
The big question though is whether or not all that wealth makes one immune to drama or simply adds to it? Let's dig into the shady side of Lisa Vanderpump to find out.
Lisa Vanderpump was accused of 'leaking stories' to the press
Speaking of drama, it was in the ninth season when the #Puppygate hit the fan and had everlasting effects on the friend group and show. In short, prior to filming started, the feud involved fellow housewife, Dorit Kemsley, adopting a dog from the Vanderpump Pet Foundation's rescue center, but when things didn't work out with her family and the dog, Kemsley gave the dog to a friend who she thought would provide her with a "beautiful home," per People's recap. Unbeknownst to Kemsley, however, the dog she adopted from Vanderpump's foundation actually ended up at a shelter.
So, how did the press even find out about the goings-on involving Kemsley and the dog from Lisa Vanderpump's foundation since it happened prior to filming season nine? That's exactly what the other women of RHOBH wanted to know. Kemsley, along with several others on the show, believe that LVP or someone close to her, leaked the #Puppygate story to Radar, where it originally took off in the press. This obviously caused a rift between Vanderpump and Kemsley and even affected other relationships, including the longtime friendship of Kyle Richards and Vanderpump, who ultimately had an "explosive" falling out on the show. In the end, Vanderpump found herself in the — wait for it — doghouse with most of the RHOBH ladies, and it proved to be the final straw for the series OG, who exited the show and even snubbed the season reunion to boot.
Did Lisa Vanderpump pull shady moves to secure restaurant locations?
What is it Notorious B.I.G. used to say? Mo' money, mo' problems, was it? Seems kind of fitting for Lisa Vanderpump, too.
According to a 2013 Radar report, Vanderpump and her husband, Ken Todd, were "named in a fraud, breach of contract and deceit lawsuit which [sought] to stop the reality television couple from opening a new venue in West Hollywood." To make a long story short, LVP and her husband leased and began work on a new restaurant in West Hollywood. The problem, as alleged by the plaintiffs in the suit, was that they had already "entered into an agreement" to develop the same property into "a gay sports bar," but when they encountered issues with financing the project, the property owner circumvented their deal and leased the spot to Vanderpump and Todd instead. Sounds complicated, right? Well, it also sounded kind of familiar years later.
In 2019, fellow housewife NeNe Leakes claimed that Vanderpump "did some real foul s**t to [her]" when she stole the location for her restaurant and lounge, Pump, out from under her after Leakes stumbled upon the bar location and told Vanderpump about it (per SiriusXM). Vanderpump denied Leakes' allegation, claiming (per People) that she learned of the spot via "the same landlord as the landlord at SUR." LVP added, "It's 200 yards down the road. I didn't really need anyone to point it out to me, but thanks anyway."
Lisa Vanderpump accused Kelly Dodd of doing a dine-and-dash
There have been many dishes coined over the years from Lisa Vanderpump's uber-famous restaurants, including the "Famous Goat Cheese Balls," which are served at SUR. But is the food at Vanderpump's restaurants actually worth stealing? Not likely.
According to a post from a manager at Pump, RHOC cast member Kelly Dodd dined at Vanderpump's establishment in 2016 only to become "irate" and claim she was not "responsible" to pay her party's bill after "they had all stepped out," leaving her with the tab. On an episode of LVP's reality show, Overserved With Lisa Vanderpump, Vanderpump confirmed that Dodd "kinda came into Pump and didn't pay a bill" (per Heavy).
These allegations did not make for a happy customer as Dodd then turned to her Twitter to post some since-deleted tweets stating that "THIS IS A LIE. A) It was 6 yrs ago. B) I was a guest of Vicki Gunvalson & her friends. C) I paid my share & have the receipt. It was others who didn't pay! No wonder Villa Blanca went under. #RevisionistHistory" (per Us Weekly). Vanderpump later apologized in a tweet to Dodd and said "I apologize if there was a fiasco and apologize on behalf of my staff. Would love to host you."
The LGBTQ advocate has been accused of being 'transphobic'
If you've ever tuned into a full season of Bravo's Vanderpump Rules, you'll likely remember how there's usually at least one episode — sometimes two, depending on the drama that goes down, dedicated to showcasing Lisa Vanderpump and her staff celebrating LA Pride (per Bravo). Vanderpump has even been dubbed the "Patron Saint Of Pride," as she rode through the 2019 Pride Parade in a Rolls Royce convertible (LA Guest List).
Keeping that in mind, it may seem a bit strange to learn that during a confessional scene in an episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vanderpump was actually taking a lie detector test in regards to the #Puppygate scandal, and during it, she made what some viewed as a "transphobic" joke about her co-star, Erika Jayne, which we won't repeat here.
After the episode aired and Vanderpump faced backlash over the comment, she reached out to Us Weekly to release a statement, which said: "It was not my intention to belittle the trans community with my poor choice of words directed toward Erika. I have nothing but respect and love for trans people around the world, as I have been a staunch supporter, provided employment, offered emotional support and championed LGBTQ issues."
Some A-list celebs haven't seen the best side of Lisa Vanderpump
Apparently, when you have a television show on Bravo where the dramatic lives and loves of the staff are captured within the walls of your lavish restaurant, even A-list celebs want to see what the fuss is all about.
When American Horror Story actor, Sarah Paulson, sat down to do Vanity Fair's Lie Detector Test, as a self-professed huge Real Housewives fan, naturally she was asked if she would "miss Lisa Vanderpump" on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, in which Paulson said, "You know, I don't want her coming after me on Twitter. But, I won't miss her." Paulson then clarified her previous claim by saying she'd "miss the dynamic she brings to the group" on the show, but she actually "met her once at a party and she wasn't that nice to [her]." Ouch.
Vanderpump turned to her Twitter in response to Paulson's claims with a photo showing herself and Paulson at a Hollywood event and in it Paulson is holding LVP's famous dog, Giggy, who passed away in late 2020. Vanderpump's tweet stated: "Apparently @MsSarahPaulson you are in a picture with me holding my precious lil giggy, I rarely let anybody hold him as he is so delicate, you must be friendly with one of those mean girls. I have no reason to be anything but kind to you."
Hmm... hard to decipher what exactly happened there.
The many class action lawsuits Lisa Vanderpump faces
One might think that the staff at Lisa Vanderpump's famous Hollywood restaurant and lounges would get the best treatment as there's cameras around a lot of the time to capture things for Vanderpump Rules, but it turns out that may not be the case.
In December 2019, a former employee of SUR, Pump, and Tom Tom filed a class action lawsuit against LVP and her husband, Ken Todd, "for allegedly breaking California labor laws at their restaurants (per E!). The suit alleges that Vanderpump and her husband "failed to pay workers minimum and overtime wages, provide proper meal and rest breaks, provide accurate wage statements or provide workers with pay stubs at the end of their employment." In July 2020, E! reported that Vanderpump was facing another class action lawsuit from a different employee with claims of the same nature.
In March 2021, The Sun reported yet another class action lawsuit that was filed against Vanderpump in the fall of 2020 by an ex-employee who claimed that LVP's restaurant, Pump, has "failed to pay overtime wages," as well as "manipulated or edited" to employees time sheets in order to "show lesser hours than actually worked during the pay period." The outlet also reported that in November 2020, LVP and Todd "filed a formal response and denied all accusations against them."
Brandi Glanville claims that Lisa Vanderpump tried to 'ruin [her] life'
Even though former RHOBH housewife Brandi Glanville left the series after Season 5, she popped back in during Season 9 after all of the #Puppygate drama, which ultimately caused Lisa Vanderpump to exit the show. According to People, in Glanville's mini-return to the series, she didn't waste any time in taking sides as claimed that LVP "[has] a direct hotline" to the press. Glanville didn't stop there when she tweeted about the restaurateur and former "best friend," writing, "My truth about LVP is that she tried to ruin my life! She had employees trash my wine, she gave ultimatums on the show it was either her or me, she conveniently lost her memory during my lawsuit which cost me all my savings. So yes she is my personal devil." The lawsuit Glanville referenced is a defamation lawsuit reality star Joanna Krupa filed against her, in which LVP was deposed.
And after the news was confirmed that Lisa Vanderpump was officially leaving RHOBH, Glanville fired off this celebratory tweet: "Just because one clown quits doesn't mean the circus is over! Hire a new clown." Yikes. After the Season 9 reunion aired, which LVP was not a part of, but Glanville did make an appearance on, LVP tweeted that "[she] doesn't give a damn if @BrandiGlanville joins #RHOBH ... she SHOULD join THIS cast, as she would fit in perfectly."
Lisa Vanderpump, dog advocate, was sued by a dog rescuer
You don't need to watch more than an episode of Vanderpump Rules to get a sense for Lisa Vanderpump's affinity for dogs. LVP told USA Today that the animals adopted through her rescue center, The Vanderpump Dog Foundation, are "grateful" and "embrace their new [lives]" which she's able to help offer them. At the time of the May 2020 interview, Vanderpump also had six dogs herself.
According to Page Six, in 2017, Lizzie Scherer, the owner of Saving Spot dog rescue centre, alleged that LVP and husband Ken Todd "actively [came] after [her] rescue shelter and ruined her" when "the relationship fizzled after the couple stiffed her out of $32,000 ... forcing her out of business." The original plan was to turn Scherer's dog shelter into a Vanderpump Dog Foundation, but things escalated even more between Scherer, her husband, Bill DeWitt, and LVP and Ken Todd, when Scherer and DeWitt filed a lawsuit seeking $500,000 for breach of contract, fraud and physical assault (per Page Six). Vanderpump called the claims "bullsh*t" and planned to "fight this all the way."
That wasn't the only dog-related drama for LVP. In January 2020, a former employee of Vanderpump Dogs adoption services sued the foundation for sexual harassment at the hands of a manager, who was named as the defendant in the case (per People).
Jeez. Maybe LVP needs to show some love to cats for a while?
Has Lisa Vanderpump always been faithful to Ken?
Lisa Vanderpump is no stranger to posting cute selfies with her husband and business partner, Ken Todd, on her Instagram page and they seem very sweet together. But has it always been diamonds and rosè for their marriage of nearly 40 years? It's hard to say.
LVP's ex-friend, Cedric Martinez, who fans know from appearances on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, spoke out on his podcast, "Behind the Velvet Rope," and said that Vanderpump "had a thing two with a captain [of] a yacht." Martinez went on to say that LVP even described it to her friend by saying, "He kissed me. I didn't want to, but he kissed me with such passion and things ... I haven't felt in years." But wait, there's more!
In 2013, Lisa Vanderpump was a contestant on ABC's Dancing With the Stars, and she allegedly came out of the experience with more than a love of dancing. While a guest on "The Bellas Podcast," LVP revealed that she thought her partner, Gleb Savchenko, was "beyond gorgeous" and the two got "very close" during training and filming. She even went on to say that "we had a little bit of an emotional affair in terms of having to connect and hold on to each other because it's so scary ... I adored him."
Hopefully LVP won't do a complete tango over Ken's heart!
The Vanderpump Rules cast is not immune to ill treatment
Even though Lisa Vanderpump claims to have a special bond with her staff and fellow castmates on Bravo's hit reality television show and that she "loves them," things aren't always going to go super smoothly (per People).
During the Season 7 finale of Vanderpump Rules, longtime bartender Ariana Madix, who's boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, works with LVP in partnership with fellow VR co-star, Tom Schwartz at the bar Tom Tom, voiced her opinion to her boss about her treatment of the men throughout their professional relationship. But on the Vanderpump Rules Season 7 After Show, Madix then spoke about regretting her decision to speak up to Vanderpump as she realized that "she'll never take what I'm saying seriously; I'll always be her minion. What is the point? All I'm going to do is make her mad. She'll get vindictive." Those are some strong words. Vanderpump later defended her relationship when she stated that she "[has] a jovial relationship with the Tom's" (per Us Weekly).
Also, on the Season 8 finale of VR, Vanderpump let longtime employee Jax Taylor have it after he didn't want to wear a matching t-shirt with his co-workers for a staff photo shoot. LVP sounded off with, "You have a habit of self-destruction, you know that? I don't know if it's a need to be the center of attention, but, come on..." (per E!).
Seriously, guys — where's the love?