Credit: Bravo
Janet Caperna looked back on her time on The Valley during an interview on Wednesday, sharing her regrets about her time on the show and admitting that appearing on reality television has been an eye-opening experience.
As she also explained why Danny Booko, 42, didn’t seem “that bad” on past seasons, spoke of moving forward with Danny and Nia Booko, 36, and reacted to claims of being a “[Jax Taylor] apologist, Janet, 36, addressed her ongoing drama with Kristen Doute, 43, reacted to Lala Kent‘s addition to the show, and revealed why she chose to open up about her past sexual assult.
“There’s some clips from season one and two where I’m like, Ooh, I am condescending, or that came off like I was talking down to somebody. I was like, I gotta check that. I gotta watch how I’m speaking to people, because that isn’t coming off very likable or fun,” Janet admitted during a July 29 interview with Vulture. “This whole experience with reality TV, a lot of it is a mirror, and there were parts of myself that I saw that were absolutely who I am that I didn’t necessarily like, and there were certain things that people were pointing out that I’m like, You’re right.”
According to Janet, she’s a “control freak” and likes “being right.” However, as her producers explained, The Valley isn’t a court of law.
“‘This is a reality show [and] jamming down everybody’s throats that you’re right about something makes you unlikable,'” they told her.
While Janet was far from a fan favorite throughout seasons one and two, she acknowledged that there had “definitely” been a shift in fan sentiment amid season three, and added that because of the hate she previously received, she learned not to take any of it too seriously.
“To be honest, because I got so much negativity in season one and two, I really had to make it my priority not to put value in what people thought of me either way … and just really concentrate on, what are my actual friend group and family’s responses to me?” she explained.
As for Danny’s season three portrayal, Janet explained that Jax, 47, being “front and center” due to his poor treatment of his now-estranged wife Brittany Cartwright, 37, distracted from his behavior.
“Not to blame Jax for everything, but I do think season one and two, he was horrible to Brittany, and that was front and center,” she explained, noting that Danny was “not that bad” in comparison.
“[Jax] was a monster in a lot of ways, [but] it was easy to, by comparison, not really notice some of the others’ behaviors,” she continued.
Regarding a future reconciliation with the Bookos, Janet hinted it was possible.
“We’ve seen them a couple times: at [Jasmine Goode] and [Melissa Marie]’s wedding, and then obviously at the reunion. And I do think there were important conversations that we hadn’t had yet, especially at the reunion, where I felt like, Okay, we’re making some progress here, or we’re at least willing to have the tough conversations and see each other’s perspectives,” she shared.
Looking back on what appeared to some to be apologist behavior with Jax, Janet explained that she and her husband, Jason Caperna, 42, came from a “[soft] place” so Jax would listen.
“We were like, We’re not going to kick this guy. We’re going to encourage him to stay in there to get the help he needs,” she stated. “We knew that if we screamed at Jax and told him how horrible he was, we weren’t going to be able to be mediators.”
Of her strained relationship with former friend Kristen, Janet said she hoped to coexist.
“I just wanted to agree to disagree at some point. You don’t like me. I don’t like you. That’s fine, but can we just move forward in the sense that we can at least be around each other without you mocking and yelling and bringing up stuff from two years ago?” she asked.
Following Lala’s addition to the show’s third season, Janet applauded her role.
“Having a sober eye in this group was so important. It was almost like having a court reporter at times to be like, ‘This is exactly what happened.’ And you have to trust her,” she noted. “Lala was good in the moment of keeping everybody truthful and honest, and really having an accurate portrayal of what happened.”
Also during the interview, Janet reflected on her decision to go public with her sexual assault.
“I was honestly pretty terrified,” she admitted. “It sort of became one of those things where it was unavoidable for me not to tell this story. When we were in Mexico at lunch, and I was like, ‘I have to get up and walk away for a second,’ I called Jason crying. When I got off the phone with Jason, one of our producers came over, and she took her mic and headgear off, and she looked at me, and she said, ‘What’s really going on?’ … And I just said, ‘This is what happened to me. I’ve been working through this in therapy, but I don’t necessarily want to bring this to camera.’ And she cried with me. We hugged. I just felt really safe in that moment.”
While opening up wasn’t easy, Janet said the fan response had been “very overwhelming,” specifically giving a nod to those who spoke out because she did.
“That was very powerful for me. Even if it’s just five people that are going to share their experience, it’s going to be a weight lifted for them. That’s my ‘why,'” she explained.
The Valley season three airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.