Janet Caperna is clearing the air about her appearance on The Valley, denying that she and husband Jason Caperna were cast because she was a Scheana superfan.
“I went up to her and was like, ‘You’re Scheana [Shay] from Vanderpump, let’s take a picture.’ We ended up spending the entire day talking,” Janet, 35, said on the Thursday, May 29, episode of “The Viall Files” podcast of meeting Scheana, 40, nearly a decade ago. “We talked about what it’s like getting divorced in your 20s, which both of us had done [and] starting over.”
Janet further shot down fan speculation that she allegedly “stalked” Scheana to “try and maliciously work her way into fame.”
“That’s something that I can’t own … because it’s not true,” Janet said. “Sure, it’s odd to start a friendship as a fan and somebody who’s on reality TV, but I never felt embarrassed to be a Bravo fan. That’s the truth of how we met. … I hate that people make it a malicious thing.”
According to Janet, she’s “never applied” for any reality TV casting producers before or after The Valley came along.
“Brittany [Cartwright] came to us a few years ago and was, like, ‘We’re pitching this. Can we give producers your name?’” she recalled. “At first, Jason was like, ‘I can’t be a lawyer and be on reality TV.’ After we talked to partners at his law firm and producers, we were like, ‘This could be a good opportunity for us.’”
Keep scrolling for more of Janet’s biggest “Viall Files” revelations about casting, post-show friendships and marriage:
The Biggest ‘Misconception’ of Being a Bravo Fan
“The biggest misconception [about me] I feel, like, is the fan thing,” she said. “I’ve always admitted that I was a Bravo fan before I met Scheana. I liked Andy [Cohen and] I watched Watch What Happens Live and a lot of the Housewives [shows]. I had absolutely seen Vanderpump Rules. I’m a millennial from Ohio — I’m, like, their target demographic, of course I’ve seen it.”
Her Pre-Fame Career
Janet explained that she worked as a personal assistant before The Valley casting producers came knocking.
“I was a personal assistant, working 60 hours a week, constantly managing someone else’s schedule,” Janet recalled. “Right when [The Valley] came together, I had just quit a job with a celebrity. I was, like, ‘This is not the right fit for me.’ I had quit, found out I was pregnant two weeks later … and then producers and Brittany were like, ‘We’re greenlit.’”
Instead of trying to interview for a new assistant job, Janet opted to “take this weird leap of faith” and accept a role on The Valley.
Janet Explains ‘Racist Republican’ Comments About Michelle Saniei
During the first season, Kristen Doute and Zack Wickham claimed that, off-camera, Janet called Michelle a “racist Republican.”
“We ended up talking about a bunch of political stuff. She had one comment that rubbed me the wrong way,” Janet said. “I mentioned it to Jasmine [Goode] and Jasmine ran with it to Zack, who ran with it to Kristen. By the time the telephone [game ended], it changed from ‘I’m worried she might support this bill that’s not great for the gay community’ to a ‘racist Republican.’ I didn’t use any of those words. … I wish I would have explained that more [on the show].”
Just like Us, Janet Caperna learned the rumors about Michelle Lally allegedly having a secret boyfriend while watching the newest episode of The Valley. “When we saw the episode, that was the first time I had heard anything about a boyfriend,” Janet exclusively told Us Weekly about costar Kristen Doute making the allegations to producers […]
Janet Gives Her Take on Michelle’s Relationship With Ex Jesse Lally
Janet mentioned that Michelle is “one of [her] closet friends,” so naturally, she was upset to rewatch Jesse call Michelle a whore and accuse her of infidelity. (She denied the claims.)
“I don’t want to gloss over any of that,” Janet said on Thursday’s episode. “My goal is for all of them to be able to be healthy coparents, eventually. The things Jesse and [Jax Taylor] have done are disgusting, horrible [and] I have no problem saying that. I hope, at the end of the day, I want to see all of them improve.”
On the show, Jesse alleged that Michelle hooked up with a man before they formally separated. She, however, maintained it was just a kiss.
“We had lunch right before we filmed the reunion and I said, ‘Alright, tell me the whole story’ ‘cause I’ve always heard bits and pieces of things,” Janet said. “Michelle opened up to me [and] really laid it out, like, the entire story of everything she did wrong in full detail. I was listening to it, and I was, like, ‘That’s not that bad.’ Not that I condone cheating at all … but I think that the narrative that has been put out there that she had a boyfriend for a year or a year ago or had a boyfriend at all. That’s not the truth.”
According to Janet, Michelle kissing a man after admitting she wanted a divorce was “a one-time mistake.”
“[It’s] a forgivable offense, and it’s not, like, she’s been having these boyfriends for so long and this whole thing that everybody’s been saying about her,” she added. “I’m, like, the truth is very mild compared to what everybody’s saying.”
Janet Isn’t ‘Bothered’ If Husband Jason Takes Off Wedding Ring
During season 2, Jason was accused by several costars of not wearing his wedding band on nights out. While speaking with podcast host Nick Viall, Janet addressed the claims.
“Jason and I both, when we’re at home, don’t have our rings on,” she said. “We have ring holders next to the bed, at his office [and] I have one next to the couch. We just, truly, don’t wear our rings at home. When we go out, we put our rings on.”
According to Janet, her spouse also forgoes his band when at the gym or “out and about.”
“That’s never bothered me,” she added. “Jason’s the most trustworthy, good guy. [I] really believe that he’s extremely trustworthy and has great character. A ring is not some sort of force-field that protects you from ever doing anything wrong. What protects my husband from not cheating on me is that he’s not a cheater.”
Janet Addresses Whether She and Jason Fight
On Thursday’s episode, Janet was asked whether she and Jason ever get into arguments.
“Of course, we fight,” Janet said. “Jason and I don’t get into huge blow-up fights, but anytime we’re filming and something comes up, we take it as it [is] because it’s our truth. … We have our normal disagreements as they come.”
Where Janet Stands With Kristen After ‘The Valley’ Season 2
According to Janet, the two women are “not in the best place still” after Kristen perpetuated the rumors about Jason’s ring.
“She is nine months pregnant, due very soon. I remember when I was that pregnant, the littlest thing can ruin your day,” she said. “When I think of her, I’m trying to send her all of the positive thoughts and energy.”
Janet added, “Kristen and I had a very real friendship for a very real time, and while we may not be great right now, I am so happy for her. She is going to be the best mom. I’m so happy she has Luke [Broderick, her fiancé] and she’s in this place in her life. … I’m happy for her and I want her to have the most happy end of her pregnancy and birth. I don’t want to throw any stress her way right now.”
Janet also “doesn’t know” whether her friendship with Kristen — whom she used to spend hours talking to on the phone — will ever look the same again.
“We were very, very close, but my goal this summer and in recent times, I really want to get to a place where we can have fun together,” Janet said. “[I want] to be able to be in the same room … and have a good time at Dave & Busters.”
