It’s official. Billie Lee is leaving Vanderpump Rules. Though she was never a main cast member, over the past few years, Lee had become a staple on the show. She may have struggled to get along with quite a few members of the cast, but she was never one to back down and always stood for what she believed in.
The reality star claims that she never signed a contract with Bravo so she was able to leave the show when she wanted to.
Lisa Vanderpump has been an ally for Lee since the very beginning.
“My name is Billie Lee, and I am transgender,” Lee said at Pride on her first season of Vanderpump Rules in 2018. “I went through so much of my life ashamed of who I was, and I went through a transition where I wasn’t accepted by society — and [Lisa] hired me and accepted me.”
And when Vanderpump got into some hot water for making what could be seen as transphobic comments about Erika Girardi on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Lee had her back.
“I have to say @LisaVanderpump has always supported me and my trans experience,” she tweeted in defense of her former boss. “She has one of the biggest hearts ever. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my fairy god mother. Our allies don’t come perfect and it’s our responsibility to educate them.”
So how does Vanderpump feel about Lee quitting the show?
How does Vanderpump feel?
You might think that Vanderpump would have a problem with Lee leaving Vanderpump Rules, as it is her show. But really, Vanderpump can see where Lee is coming from.
“Lisa supports whatever Billie wants to do as far as being on the show or not,” a source close to Vanderpump told HollywoodLife. “She truly understands what it’s like to be in Billie’s shoes as she just went through it herself on Housewives.”
Vanderpump made the decision to leave RHOBH at the end of last season.
Why did Lee leave the show?
It’s no secret that Lee was at odds with quite a few members of the cast.
“Billie Lee was struggling handling the drama that comes with being a cast member on Vanderpump Rules. It was truly messing with her mental well being,” a source told HollywoodLife. “She also was having trouble vibing with the other cast members except Tom Sandoval, James [Kennedy] and Scheana [Shay], so she wanted to go.”
There was also a storyline that was going to emerge this season that Lee did not want to take part in.
“Production asked Billie to partake in a storyline that she is adamant isn’t true — that she and Sandoval hooked up, which will be spoken about and [is] a big story line on this season of Vanderpump Rules,” the source continued.
But Lee hasn’t burned all of her Vanderpump bridges.
“Billie has found support in [Tom] Sandoval whom she’s grown very close with, as well as James [Kennedy],” the source said. “James will miss her since she’s such an ally for him, but he gets it. They all just want Billie to be happy and agree it is probably what’s best for her.”
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