Looks like we’ll be seeing even less of Billie Lee next season on Vanderpump Rules!
The SUR hostess revealed her role on the Lisa Vanderpump-led spinoff will be smaller during the upcoming eighth season. She’s been featured in a recurring capacity the last two years as the show’s lone trans cast member.
Billie‘s revelation to Life & Style came in response to a recent tweet by co-star Jax Taylor. In the now-deleted tweet, the SUR bartender claimed that Billie was “no longer working at [SUR] and no longer on our show” while defending his decision not to invite her to his Kentucky wedding to Brittany Cartwright.
“Honestly, I feel like there’s a little truth to it only because I have amazing opportunities happening with me right now,” Billie said about Jax‘s tweet. “And then also, I’m just needed in the trans community as an activist. So I’m not filming as much.”
RELATED: Billie Lee Says Jax Taylor Is “Very Closed Minded”; Couldn’t Care Less About Not Being At Jax And Brittany Cartwright’s Wedding
However, Billie was quick to clarify that despite her reduced presence at SUR, she hasn’t stopped filming Pump Rules altogether.
“I am still part of the show — I just hosted ‘Brunch with Billie’ at SUR,” she explained. “But honestly, it’s not my priority. SUR is not my priority anymore, and that’s just because I am focused on my community and I have amazing opportunities coming my way. And a lot of those opportunities have just pulled me in a different direction. But yeah, as of right now I’m still there and as of right now, I’m still filming.”
RELATED: Billie Lee Says Lala Kent Helped Her Deal With Suicidal Thoughts
Last season, Billie drew the ire of many of her cast mates for defending James Kennedy when the DJ was fired for reacting to Kristen Doute‘s deviously-planned Pride ambush. Later, Katie Maloney-Schwartz felt Billie’s wrath after excluding the trans hostess from planning a ‘Girls Night In’ event along with the rest of the female SURvers.
Billie also clashed with Lala Kent in the aftermath of the ‘Girls Night’ drama. At Scheana Shay‘s housewarming, Lala accused the trans activist of insinuating the rest of the women were transphobic for leaving her out.
RELATED: James Kennedy, Raquel Leviss, And Billie Lee Are Reconnecting With Lala Kent
However, many fans saw Billie’s aggressive attempts at feuding with the women — including yet another screaming match with Lala during ‘Brunch with Billie’ — as a play for more camera time. By season’s end, she found herself ostracized by the majority of the cast and was only featured briefly during the Season 7 reunion.
With filming for Season 8 well underway, Pump Rules fans will just have to wait and see how often Billie will actually pop up onscreen once the new season premieres.
RELATED: Billie Lee Rants About Lack Of Diversity On Vanderpump Rules
TELL US- WILL YOU BE SAD TO SEE LESS OF BILLIE LEE ON NEXT SEASON OF VANDERPUMP RULES?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
