Ariana Madix Has Forever Changed the Course Of Vanderpump Rules

I have a lot to say about season 11 of Vanderpump Rules — a lot. But, this would be too long of a piece if I wrote everything that was on my mind, so I’ll focus on the main theme of this season, which was degrading a woman who went through hell and back. Reality TV has and always will be a medium in which we can view microcosms that paint a bigger, telling picture about our society. 

Accordingly, Vanderpump Rules displays the blatant sexism that is rampant in our culture today, through the lens of Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval’s tumultuous break up. Said break up was due to Sandoval having a full blown secret relationship for months. To make matters worse, the relationship was with Madix’s best friend, without Madix’s knowledge, and occurred all while they lived together in the house they own. Ya know, because they were life partners for nine years! This most recent season followed the eclectic Pump Rules group just months after the shocking affair, coined “Scandoval” by fans. Madix subsequently became a fan favorite for her tenacity and poised composure throughout the news of the affair. The most appalling of it all was that the remainder of the cast, who seemingly had her back during the season 10 reunion, is now shockingly (and disgustingly)… jealous of her?

This season was a hard watch and it all came crashing down in the season finale when it became especially clear that no one, including production, had Madix’s back. Instead of production being concerned with her mental state and the mere fact that filming with an ex-partner of nine years is detrimental to one’s mental health, they considered Sandoval’s feelings and the state of the show first — and it absolutely backfired.

An executive producer broke the fourth wall minutes before the finale concluded to tell Madix she was in the wrong for not wanting to film with her ex-partner. Madix fired back, explaining that Sandoval’s actions throughout the course of his affair resulted in “uninformed consent” — a reality TV first. This is the act of someone altering or infecting another person's life without their knowledge. Since she didn’t know about his affair, it meant that all of their intimate moments weren’t consensual anymore because she didn’t agree to him being with her and others. This put her at risk. Due to this betrayal and disregard for her own agency, she didn’t want to film with him anymore.

Madix was courageous to bring this up on live TV. She wasn’t the issue throughout the course of filming this season and she was gently reminding production of that — and I’m so happy she did. It was an act of defiance that not only allowed her to abide by her beliefs but altered the course of reality TV. The narrative shifted in that instant, Madix wasn’t at fault here, her ex-partner was. My jaw dropped when she brought this up to the producer who stood there speechless. Oh, and did I mention the producer was a man? Nonetheless, she also educated audiences of how dangerous Sandoval’s actions were to her and that he is a harmful individual. She is not the one to look at when it comes to difficulties within production.

Fans of the series have taken to social media platforms to voice their opinions on the finale and rally behind Madix. While various female reality TV show cast members have been abused by men on camera, with production eerily standing by watching it unfold, this has been the first time I’ve seen a cast member speak up. Even more so, the women on the show somehow ended up sticking by Sandoval, out of pure envy that Madix was doing something they hadn’t done before: stick up for themselves.

Madix’s fellow cast member Katie Maloney, who has also seen the brunt of endless scrutiny during her course of filming the show, has been the only one to stay by Madix’s side. Vanderpump Rules has continuously shown us that no matter what men do to women, they will never face consequences. But, this season Madix defied all odds and changed the course of that narrative and rhetoric. It has been confirmed that Vanderpump Rules is taking a pause in filming it’s next season. Coincidence? I think not!

The future of the show remains unknown, but I would be happy, along with the majority of fans, knowing that the show ended with a woman finally taking control of the narrative. 

The entirety of Vanderpump Rules season 11 is now streaming on Peacock.