There’s no denying the incredible cultural impact of the Real Housewives franchise, with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills undoubtedly being one of the most popular branches and series available. Following some of the most affluent women in America as they enjoy their lavish lifestyles, viewers are often taken on a dramatic ride as they clash with each other but form unbreakable bonds whilst living in the centre of the high life.
Lisa Vanderpump returns for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
We got the chance to chat to veteran Beverly Hills Housewife, Lisa Vanderpump all about the latest season of the show, which returns to Lifetime tonight (June 6). Find out what she had to say below…
What should viewers who haven’t yet seen any of the new season of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills expect?
Oh wow! The show really has many different stories going on. You can see some positivity but then there are other storylines about adoption and things like that. It’s a lot of glamour, a lot of glitz as well as some serious issues. There are always altercations between characters because that’s what happens when you put six women together for months and months!
We’ve got new Housewife Dorit added into the mix; what should we expect from her?
She’s very outspoken; she’s a good friend of mine. It’s been a positive thing having her coming in. She does get herself into a spot of bother but I think the British viewers will really understand her. She’s a good laugh.
The season’s aired fully in the US, so what sort of response have you had from fans there?
For the last eight seasons, fans have always been by my side. I’ve not been in any trouble this season. But I think we’ve had a lot of heart-warming moments which the fans can really relate to. I’ve not been in the firing line that much this time. In previous series, it was ridiculous!
We’ll also see you campaigning to end the trade of dog meat at Yulin – something which has now been passed – how does it feel to see that hard work come full circle?
I’ve been very focused on all our causes really over the years, both my husband and I. It’s something that was brought to my attention two years ago. Now we’ve opened the Vanderpump Dog Rescue Centre. I’m a great believer in really shouting about it from the rooftops and having the vehicle of a reality show certainly gives me the advantage. We’ve adopted now, over 80 dogs. We’ve had dogs from sanctuaries in China. We’re now making a film The Road to Yulin and Beyond, which is entered into the festivals. There’s a lot to be done. We’ve heard they’re going to ban dog meat for a week which will ultimately slow down this barbaric festival. Hopefully we’ve got enough worldwide attention to let people know what’s happening.
I think the world should know what’s going on. The Yulin Dog Festival is not just about the consumption of dog meat, which I will say. It’s about the torture of dogs; they believe the torture of dogs stimulates the adrenaline, which makes the meat more tender or increases their sexual powers, which is absolute bulls**t.
We don’t know how much it has stopped but what we are doing is celebrating the success and managing to be acknowledged. We’ve gone above and beyond; we’ve had marches, we’ll have World Dog Day to show what the festival should be about and showing how wonderful they are. That’ll be in Los Angeles.
What was the experience of being Marshall of Long Beach Gay Pride Parade like earlier this year?
It’s been an incredible experience just to even be acknowledged over the years. We need to draw attention to it. I’ve done a lot of them now. When you have an acknowledgement, it’s really wonderful; you have a moment and sometimes the year can be full of negative stories.
Some of the things we’ve seen, like the fights in Yulin have changed me for life; it’s sometimes barbaric. Sometimes you’ll have these moments like sitting in the back of a car and someone will come up to you and say ‘thank you so much for what you do’, and it’s wonderful.
It’s a few hours out of the year and it’s wonderful. I thank everyone for the acknowledgements.
You’ve been a part of the RHOBH franchise since the beginning; does it ever get any easier as the seasons roll on?
Not really. I think maybe you’re more relaxed. I think one thing is you pull a blind eye to certain things. Now I just think, ‘whatever!’. The truth comes from my mouth; you just have to ignore some of the nonsense.
Accusations were held [this season], irresponsibly I think. Not at me, but other cast members and I’d never do that.
Finally, what’s next for you in the coming months leading into the summer?
I’ve just started season 6 of Vanderpump Rules which is in production. We have three restaurants and the Vanderpump Rescue Centre, and we’ll be entering the documentary we’re making to the film festivals. I encourage people to see it and not look away. I have a lot going on!
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs on Tuesday, June 6 at 9pm on Lifetime.
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