In an explosive new interview, actress Laura-Leigh, who briefly appeared on the first season of Bravo’s hit reality series Vanderpump Rules, is shedding light on the bullying she claims to have endured at the hands of Stassi Schroeder more than a decade ago. Laura-Leigh’s revelations paint a disturbing picture of the toxic environment that allegedly plagued the early days of Vanderpump Rules, a show famous for its behind-the-scenes drama, explosive confrontations, and deeply flawed relationships.
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A Feud Fueled by Jax Taylor and Personal Grudges
Laura-Leigh’s time on Vanderpump Rules was relatively brief but memorable. She made an appearance on the show’s first season, where she quickly became entangled in a love triangle with Jax Taylor and Stassi Schroeder. At the time, Jax had recently split from Stassi, and shortly afterward, he began dating Laura-Leigh. This caused a major rift between the two women, fueling what would become a bitter feud throughout the series. But according to Laura-Leigh, the animosity didn’t stop at passive-aggressive comments or petty arguments—it extended into acts of bullying that she claims were orchestrated by Stassi and her inner circle.
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On the Vanderpump Rules Party Podcast, Laura-Leigh opened up about the shocking details of her alleged mistreatment. “I would have shifts where Stassi and her little crew would come in and spill drinks on me or send me hate letters through like the cooks,” she recalled. “They would even say, ‘Come sit in my section’ just to berate me during my shifts. These things were so wrong.”
A Pattern of Harassment
The incidents Laura-Leigh described on the podcast are deeply troubling and illustrate a pattern of harassment that allegedly took place while both women worked together at SUR, the upscale Los Angeles restaurant where the series was filmed. Laura-Leigh’s testimony paints a picture of a group of women who, instead of confronting her directly, resorted to cruel tactics to make her life miserable. The spilled drinks, hate letters, and subtle taunts were just the tip of the iceberg.
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For Laura-Leigh, the experience of being bullied went beyond just professional humiliation; it left emotional scars that would take years to heal. “I remember at the time thinking, ‘Is this really happening? Am I in the middle of something for the show or is this real?’” she admitted during the podcast interview. “Everything felt very real to me at the time. Looking back, I wonder if they were just doing it for drama, but I can’t deny how hurtful it was.”\
Laura-Leigh went on to describe an even more serious confrontation, in which Stassi allegedly accused her of “stealing her medication.” This accusation was particularly damaging, as it falsely painted Laura-Leigh as someone who could not be trusted. However, Laura-Leigh claimed the true culprit was Jax Taylor, who had been accused of taking the medication, adding another layer of deception to the entire situation.
The Toll on Laura-Leigh’s Career and Well-Being
Although Laura-Leigh eventually left Vanderpump Rules after its first season, the negative impact of the alleged bullying stayed with her long after the cameras stopped rolling. She chose to leave the show to pursue her acting career, which ultimately took precedence over reality television. Despite leaving the series, the emotional wounds caused by the harassment lingered, and Laura-Leigh found herself questioning how far some of her co-stars would go to create drama for the show’s sake.
However, her exit from Vanderpump Rules was not just a career decision—it was a necessary step to preserve her mental health and well-being. The toxic environment created by the bullying, coupled with the personal attacks from Stassi and others, made it clear that the show was not a place where she could thrive. In retrospect, she believes her co-stars may have used the conflict to stir up drama for the cameras, but the pain she endured felt all too real at the time.
As a recovering addict, Laura-Leigh was already navigating a challenging period in her life when the bullying occurred. The emotional toll of her co-stars’ actions added a layer of stress and anxiety that she didn’t need. “It was a time in my life when I was really trying to make things better for myself,” she said. “And being bullied like that just made everything more difficult.”
The Fallout for Stassi Schroeder and the Changing Landscape of Vanderpump Rules
Stassi Schroeder, for her part, has been at the center of her own share of controversy. After a years-long run on Vanderpump Rules, she was fired in 2020 following an incident in which she and fellow cast member Kristen Doute were accused of calling the police on Faith Stowers, the show’s only Black cast member, for a crime she did not commit. The fallout from this incident led to widespread criticism of Stassi and Kristen, who were both labeled as racist.
Though Stassi apologized for her actions, Bravo ultimately decided to part ways with her and Doute, and the two were not included in the show’s future seasons. Jax Taylor, who had also been a central figure on the show, left at the same time, alongside his then-wife, Brittany Cartwright. Despite their departure, Taylor and Cartwright found their way back to the reality TV spotlight with the Vanderpump Rules spinoff The Valley, which is set to return for its second season.
While Stassi was once a fan favorite on Vanderpump Rules, her reputation has been tarnished by the controversy that led to her firing. Her decision to leave the show after Season 8 was likely influenced by both the backlash she received and her personal life, which has since included her marriage to Beau Clark and the birth of their two children.
A Reflection on the Culture of Reality TV
Laura-Leigh’s decision to speak out about her alleged bullying experience sheds light on the darker side of reality television. While Vanderpump Rules is known for its over-the-top drama and larger-than-life personalities, Laura-Leigh’s story highlights how the intense pressure to create conflict for the cameras can sometimes lead to real emotional damage. What may appear as scripted or exaggerated moments on screen may be much more harmful in real life.
Looking back on her time on Vanderpump Rules, Laura-Leigh acknowledges that the show helped launch her career, but it also left her with lasting scars. “I don’t regret being a part of the show, but I also want people to understand that what happens behind the scenes is not always what you see on TV,” she said.
As for Stassi Schroeder, she has yet to publicly respond to Laura-Leigh’s claims, and her representatives did not immediately return requests for comment. In the ever-evolving world of reality TV, only time will tell how these revelations will affect the legacy of Vanderpump Rules and its cast members.
The Unseen Struggles of Reality TV Stars
Laura-Leigh’s interview is a stark reminder that reality TV, while entertaining, can have real consequences for those involved. The alleged bullying she endured at the hands of Stassi Schroeder is a sobering example of how the pursuit of drama and ratings can sometimes take a toll on the well-being of the cast members. As fans continue to follow the drama of Vanderpump Rules, it’s important to remember that there’s often more happening behind the scenes than meets the eye.
In the end, Laura-Leigh’s decision to speak out is an act of courage, and it serves as a call for more empathy and understanding in the often brutal world of reality television.
