Jesse Lally’s latest rumor about his estranged wife has pushed Michelle Saniei over the edge.
During the Tuesday, April 29, episode of The Valley, Brittany Cartwright gave her close friend a heads up that “Jesse said that you’re hooking up with a billionaire for $1,500 a night.”
Moments after hearing the accusation, Michelle, 38, broke down in tears — during a birthday party at Dave & Buster’s.
“How dare him! He is a horrible person,” Michelle said while crying. “I’m shaking because no matter what, I left the divorce to get away from this and he’s just making my life harder.”
While Brittany, 36, and Nia Sanchez tried to calm their friend and costar down, Michelle remained visibly upset.
“I just want to f***ing get divorced and never talk to him again,” she said. “I hate him. I try. I can’t do it anymore.”
Before The Valley kicked off season 1 in March 2024, Luxury Handbag Shopping exclusively confirmed that Michelle and Jesse, 43, had separated after nearly six years of marriage. Since then, cameras have been able to capture the couple struggling to get along as they coparent their 4-year-old daughter, Isabella.
While trying to celebrate Janet Caperna’s birthday at Dave & Buster’s, Michelle couldn’t help but question why Jesse would say such a wild allegation – in a group text filled with men.
“I have a boyfriend. Maybe he wants Aaron [Nosler] and I to break up,” she said. “I always think that I can’t be surprised by what he does.”
So how did this rumor even begin? Earlier in the episode, Danny Booko revealed to Luke Broderick that the infamous men’s group chat recently included a text from Jesse claiming Michelle was “sleeping with a billionaire for $1,500 a night.”
Luke went on to tell Kristen Doute, Zack Wickham and Brittany. As one of Michelle’s closest friends, Brittany couldn’t stay quiet and decided to share the news with her gal pal.
“You know Jesse saying this is obviously s***,” Luke said in a confessional. “Did it make me smile and laugh? A little bit but it’s going to get out.”
While Kristen, 42, hasn’t seen eye-to-eye with Michelle, even she wasn’t impressed with Jesse’s text claim.
“I don’t like Michelle,” she shared. “But I don’t like Jesse acting like she’s a hooker.”
Perhaps Brittany had the greatest assessment of the situation when she slammed the group chat as men who are “just dumbasses.”
“If you want your divorce to go more smoothly,” she said, “maybe start by not accusing your not ex-wife yet of being a freakin’ hooker.”
The Valley airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET. Stream old episodes anytime on Peacock.
