It’s official — and it’s already sending shockwaves through Bravo’s inner circle.
After weeks of speculation and whispers from insiders, Bravo has confirmed that Tom Sandoval will officially join Season 3 of The Valley as a full-time cast member, taking over the space vacated by Jax Taylor — and, more controversially, stepping directly into the show’s most infamous role: the villain.
In a move some are calling bold and others are calling outright reckless, Sandoval has been “handpicked” by Bravo executives to inherit the chaos mantle from Jax, who has been at the center of escalating legal scrutiny, on- and off-screen blowups, and fan fatigue. A high-level production insider exclusively tells DailyMail+:
“The show needed its villain. Jax was explosive, but unpredictable — legally, emotionally, and logistically. Sandoval brings drama without the same liability.”
But if Bravo thinks this casting change will be a smooth transition, they’ve underestimated the emotional landmines.
Kristen Doute reportedly broke down in tears when she learned Sandoval would be joining the show, especially without warning. The two share a messy, painful history from their Vanderpump Rules days, and insiders say Kristen felt “blindsided and betrayed” when production refused to give her a heads-up.
“She’s been working so hard to rebuild her life, and now they’re dragging her right back into the Sandoval trauma for ratings,” one source said. “She told producers, ‘I’m not doing Season 3 therapy with a man who humiliated me on national TV.’”
And she’s not alone. Scheana Shay was reportedly “devastated” to learn of Sandoval’s return to Bravo screens, citing unresolved trauma from the fallout of “Scandoval,” the cheating scandal that rocked Vanderpump Rules. Scheana allegedly warned producers she would limit filming if Sandoval crossed certain boundaries — especially when it comes to discussing Ariana Madix or their group friendships.
Meanwhile, Jax Taylor is said to be “furious” over the decision, having expected to return for Season 3 with a major storyline. Instead, he found out through third-party sources that his slot had quietly been filled by the very man he once mocked for being “manipulative, slimy, and unwatchable.”
“Jax sees this as a slap in the face,” the insider reveals. “He called production ‘traitors’ and says they’re rewarding a cheater while pushing out the father of the franchise.”
Even within the cast, reactions have been split and tense. While Tom Schwartz reportedly supports Sandoval’s addition, saying “it’ll be messy, but ratings gold,” Janet Caperna, Zack Wickham, and Jason Caperna were left ‘stunned’ and ‘off-balance’ by the last-minute casting bombshell.
Behind the scenes, sources say the decision was months in the making, as Bravo struggled to balance the growing backlash surrounding Jax’s public controversies with the need to keep The Valley spicy, sharp, and relevant.
A Bravo executive reportedly called Sandoval’s entry “a fresh start for a franchise built on chaos.”
“Say what you want about Tom,” the insider said, “but people watch. They scream, they tweet, they get angry — but they never look away.”
Production has already begun filming Season 3 with Sandoval integrated into the group — and according to one crew member, the tension is “palpable from the very first scene.”
Whether fans are ready for the shift or not, one thing is certain:
The villain has been recast — and The Valley will never be the same again.
