Lala Kent and Kristen Doute Friendship Update: Rekindling After a Public Feud

 

What Went Down Between Lala and Kristen?

Lala Kent, 34, and Kristen Doute, 42, have been friends since Kent joined Vanderpump Rules as a guest star in 2015. Their bond, forged through shared screen time and off-camera moments, survived Doute’s 2020 firing from the show and Kent’s rise to main-cast status. But things went south in November 2023 during a live taping of the No Filter with Zack Peter podcast. Doute was a panelist alongside Shahs of Sunset’s Golnesa “GG” Gharachedaghi, who threw shade at Kent’s parenting and her contentious co-parenting relationship with ex Randall Emmett. Kent, pregnant with her second daughter Sosa at the time, expected Doute to defend her. Instead, Doute stayed silent, fidgeting uncomfortably, and Kent felt betrayed. “Kristen knows the ins and outs of what I deal with,” Kent said on Josh Peck’s Good Guys podcast in February 2024, furious that Doute didn’t call out GG’s comments.

The fallout was brutal. Kent told mutual friend Brittany Cartwright that Doute was “dead to her,” and Cartwright relayed this to Doute. By January 2024, Kent was shading Doute publicly, pretending not to know her during an Amazon Live stream and saying on Watch What Happens Live that she hadn’t reached out because she didn’t care about the friendship. Doute fired back on her Sex, Love, and What Else Matters podcast, calling Kent’s reaction “petty” and saying she should’ve texted her directly. “I didn’t feel like it was my fight to fight,” Doute explained, noting she was exhausted from a recent miscarriage and unaware GG was close with Emmett. For over a year, they didn’t speak, trading barbs through podcasts and interviews. X posts captured the drama, with one from @nosmokenomore in June 2024 saying, “Kristen Doute reveals her last texts with Lala Kent. Plus, she says Lala’s friendship comes with conditions.”

Why This Friendship Matters

Reality TV thrives on friendships that feel real, and Kent and Doute’s was a fan favorite. Their bond, built on late-night chats and supporting each other through breakups and scandals, gave Vanderpump Rules heart. Kent praised Doute’s authenticity in a 2018 Daily Dish podcast, saying, “She just wears her crazy on her sleeve and I love that about her.” When Doute was fired in 2020 for past racist actions, Kent stayed in touch, and they seemed solid until the 2023 blowup. Fans on X were invested, with posts like “Kristen Doute and Lala Kent are friends again” in May 2025 showing excitement over their reconciliation.

This matters because friendships shape reality TV narratives and the stars’ personal lives. Kent, a single mom to Ocean, 4, and Sosa, born September 2024, has leaned on friends like Cartwright and Scheana Shay. Doute, now starring on The Valley and expecting her first child with Luke Broderick, needs mom allies as she preps for motherhood. Their feud strained their social circle—Cartwright told Heavy in February 2024 she hated choosing sides, saying, “Nothing tears me up inside more than whenever people that I love can’t get along.” Repairing this friendship could stabilize their group and boost their shows’ drama without real-life bad blood. Plus, Kent’s recent health scare—a pre-cancerous eye growth diagnosed in May 2025—makes close friends crucial.

When and How They’re Fixing It

The turning point came in early 2025 at a baby shower Kent hosted for their mutual friend Meredith. Doute, hesitant after 18 months of silence, almost skipped it but texted Kent the day before to check if it was okay to attend. Kent welcomed her, and they had a small talk, mostly about parenting, since Doute’s due soon and Kent’s got experience. “It was nice to just kind of say, ‘For right now, let’s push all of that old stuff aside,’” Doute told E! News on May 12, 2025. Kent took it further on her May 7 podcast, sending Doute a long text admitting she was wrong. “I do feel like our fallout really was only my fault,” she said, blaming her “hormonal goggles” from her IUI pregnancy.

They’re taking it slow. Kent’s been offering Doute mom tips, like “the perfect PJs for your hospital bag,” and they’re texting more. Kent said on May 17, 2025, via BravoTV, “I’m sure it’s gonna be a slow roll,” but she’s happy they’re reconnecting before Doute gives birth. Doute, speaking on the Housewives Nightcap podcast, said she’s “at peace” and doesn’t want bad blood, especially as a mom-to-be. X posts reflect fan optimism, with @RealityTea on May 12, 2025, noting, “Where Kristen Doute Stands With Lala Kent: ‘Lot To Work Out.’” Their approach—direct texts, face-to-face talks, and focusing on shared experiences like motherhood—is practical but cautious, given their history.

How to Repair a Friendship Like This

Fixing a friendship after a public feud isn’t easy, especially with cameras and fans watching. Kent and Doute are doing it by:

• Reaching out directly: Kent’s lengthy text and Doute’s pre-shower message cut through the noise of podcasts and third parties. Doute tried texting in January 2024 but got no reply; this time, Kent responded.
• Meeting in person: The baby shower forced them to face each other, not just snipe online. Doute’s decision to attend, despite nerves, was key.
• Owning mistakes: Kent admitted her overreaction on her podcast, saying, “I can’t help but think I’m the common denominator” in her feuds. Doute, on E! News, said she’s letting go of old grudges.
• Focusing on common ground: Talking about mom life—Kent’s got two kids, Doute’s expecting—gave them a neutral topic to rebuild trust.
• Going slow: Both say it’s a “slow roll,” avoiding rushed apologies or forced BFF vibes.

This isn’t their first rodeo. They’ve had tiffs before, like in 2017 when Kent clashed with Doute’s then-ally Stassi Schroeder, but always bounced back. Their current strategy mirrors how Kent reconciled with Katie Maloney in 2023 after a birthday snub, with honest talks and time.

Common Mistakes They Made

Their feud shows classic friendship pitfalls, especially in the high-stakes world of reality TV:

• Not communicating directly: Kent told Cartwright she was done with Doute instead of texting her. Doute heard through friends and responded on her podcast, not privately. Doute later said, “She should have just called me,” which could’ve avoided escalation.
• Public shading: Kent’s Amazon Live jab—“I don’t know who that is”—and Doute’s podcast clapback about Kent’s “ego complex” fueled fan drama on X, like @nosmokenomore’s May 2024 post about Kent’s “high horse.”
• Assuming intentions: Kent thought Doute’s silence was disloyalty, not exhaustion from a miscarriage. Doute assumed Kent’s anger was overblown without asking her side.
• Involving others: Kent vented to Cartwright, who told Doute, creating a game of telephone. GG’s comments, irrelevant to Doute, became the feud’s spark.
• Holding grudges: Kent ignored Doute’s texts during her pregnancy, and Doute didn’t push harder to talk. Both admitted on podcasts that they let it fester.

These mistakes turned a misunderstanding into a year-and-a-half saga, alienating friends like Cartwright and hyping fans on X unnecessarily.

What Happens If They Don’t Get It Right?

If Kent and Doute can’t sustain this truce, the fallout could sting. Their social circle—already strained by Vanderpump Rules’ season 11 drama and The Valley’s second season—might fracture further. Cartwright’s stuck in the middle, and other friends like Shay could feel pressure to pick sides, as seen when Shay dodged commenting on Doute’s pregnancy in December 2024 while Kent stayed silent. A broken friendship could make group events, like BravoCon 2025, awkward and fuel tabloid stories, hurting their public image.

For Kent, who’s facing a pre-cancerous eye growth and raising two kids alone, losing Doute’s support could hit him hard emotionally. Her May 14, 2025, health update showed she’s leaning on friends, and Doute’s mom's experience could be a lifeline. Doute, nearing her due date, needs allies too—her feud with The Valley’s Janet Caperna shows not all bridges are mended. Professionally, a relapse into drama could overshadow their projects. The Valley airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Bravo, and Kent’s slated for The Valley appearances and her podcast. Bad blood could tank viewer interest if fans sense inauthenticity.

Worst case, they’d repeat past cycles. Kent ended friendships with Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix, saying on August 21, 2024, “I don’t think now we have anything in common,” and Doute burned bridges with Maloney too. Another public spat could cement reputations as drama magnets, not mature moms, especially as Vanderpump Rules’ season 12 recast looms.

Why This Reconciliation Could Stick

Kent and Doute have a shot at making this work because they’re older, wiser, and motivated. Kent’s health scare and Doute’s pregnancy are grounding them—petty feuds feel less important. Kent’s self-awareness, admitting she’s the “common denominator” in her fights, is new. Doute’s focus on motherhood over “bad blood” shows growth, as she told Housewives Nightcap. Their history helps too—they’ve survived worse, like Doute’s 2013 clash with Kent’s then-friend Stassi.

Fans are rooting for them. X posts like @nosmokenomore’s May 7, 2025, tweet—“Kristen Doute and Lala Kent are friends again. Lala admits that their fallout was her fault.”—show support. Bravo’s ecosystem, with The Valley and Vanderpump Rules overlapping, gives them chances to bond on-screen, like at group events or reunions. If they keep talking directly and avoid airing grudges, they could rebuild something solid, not just for TV but for real life.

How to Avoid Another Blowup

To keep this friendship alive, they need to:

• Talk privately first: No more podcast rants or telling Cartwright to play messenger. Direct texts or calls, like Kent’s pre-shower message, work better.
• Assume good faith: Kent misread Doute’s silence; Doute misjudged Kent’s anger. Asking “What’s going on?” before flipping out could save them.
• Stay off public platforms: X and podcasts amplify their fights. Keeping drama off-air, as they did at the shower, prevents fan-fueled escalation.
• Lean on shared goals: Motherhood’s a bond—Kent’s tips and Doute’s questions are a start. Joint projects, like charity events, could strengthen ties.
• Check egos: Doute called out Kent’s “ego complex”; Kent said Doute’s friendships are “conditional.” Both need to chill and forgive.

Wrapping It Up

Lala Kent and Kristen Doute’s friendship is back from the dead, and it’s a big deal for Vanderpump Rules fans and their messy, lovable circle. After a 2023 podcast taping sparked a feud that had them icing each other out, a baby shower and Kent’s apology text got them talking again. Kent owned her overreaction on May 7, 2025, and Doute’s ready to move on, per E! News. They’re bonding over mom life, but it’s a “slow roll” to rebuild trust. Mistakes like public shading and third-party gossip fueled their fight, and another could split their friends and hurt their shows. With Kent’s health scare and Doute’s baby on the way, they’ve got reasons to keep the peace. Fans on X are hyped, and if they stay direct and drama-free, this could be the comeback Bravo fans crave. Keep an eye on The Valley Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Bravo for more.