The Viall Files

E1036 - Caroline Stanbury, Sergio Carrallo and Chanel Ayan Talk Bravocon, RHOSLC, Mormon Wives & DWTS

November 20, 2025

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  • The elimination of Whitney from *Dancing With The Stars* is speculated to be influenced by negative fan reaction to her comments about using the show as an audition for the competition, despite her strong performance. 
  • The hosts and Chanel Ayan discussed the recent Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively controversy, concluding that Baldoni's alleged online smear campaign against Lively following her workplace discomfort is more damning than his on-set comments. 
  • Chanel Ayan is planning to move from Dubai to the US soon to be closer to her son and is focusing on expanding her IANBD makeup line internationally, while also advocating against FGM. 
  • Chanel Ayan pitched a concept to Bravo involving her touring America and meeting Housewives from different states, and she remains friends with a select few of her *The Real Housewives of Dubai* castmates. 
  • The hosts and guests extensively analyzed the relationship dynamics on *The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives*, particularly Jesse and Jordan's situation, drawing parallels to real-life parental relationship struggles regarding late behavioral changes. 
  • Caroline Stanbury and Sergio Carrallo discussed Caroline's experience on *The Traitors*, where she strategically sought out a strong male ally (Colton), and they revealed they are actively pursuing having a baby via surrogacy. 
  • Caroline Stanbury expressed genuine happiness and support for Vicki Gunvalson's return to the *Real Housewives* franchise, stating she was moved to tears for her. 
  • Caroline Stanbury and the host strongly criticized housewives who flaunt illegal financial activities or questionable business practices (like paying large sums in cash) on television, viewing it as incredibly foolish and embarrassing for the franchise. 

Segments

DWTS Whitney Elimination Analysis
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(00:02:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Whitney’s elimination from Dancing With The Stars is attributed to public backlash over her admission that she returned to the show primarily to secure a DWTS audition.
  • Summary: The hosts and guests agreed that Whitney’s performance was strong, but her prior statement about using The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives solely for a DWTS audition likely cost her votes. Elaine Hendrix, conversely, is inspiring support by aiming to be the oldest winner of Dancing With The Stars.
Justin Baldoni/Blake Lively Video
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(00:07:03)
  • Key Takeaway: A newly released video shows Justin Baldoni making suggestive comments to Blake Lively on set, followed by an eye-roll when mentioning sexual harassment training, contradicting his public persona.
  • Summary: The video clip shows Baldoni telling Lively that a scene looked ‘hot’ and ‘sexy’ before joking about missing sexual harassment training. The timeline of the conflict involved Lively expressing discomfort, Baldoni allegedly stopping, and then his team launching an online smear campaign against her. The hosts noted that public opinion is confused, often focusing on the specific video rather than the alleged retaliation campaign.
DWTS Interviews with Leah and Susie
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(00:15:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Leah and Susie reported that the atmosphere at Dancing With The Stars was wholesome, with many contestants, including Alex Earl and Elaine Hendricks, becoming emotional after their performances.
  • Summary: The interview segment covered Zach Efron’s supportive presence in the audience and the surprising revelation that Prince William sent a video message to Robert Irwin. Dylan Efron discussed how supportive his family was, emphasizing that his attendance was not solely about his famous brother, Zach.
Chanel Ayan on BravoCon Fallout
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(00:32:16)
  • Key Takeaway: Chanel Ayan revealed she planned 15 outfits for BravoCon but only wore six due to the fast pace of the event, and she is considering moving from Dubai to the US.
  • Summary: Ayan shared that she plans her outfits meticulously but BravoCon’s schedule prevented multiple changes daily. She discussed the Mauricio Umansky photo shoot, suggesting men in their 50s often try to ‘find themselves’ post-divorce. Ayan also confirmed she is still actively working against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and plans to attend a major event on the topic in London.
Chanel Ayan’s Future & Bravo Pitches
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(00:51:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Chanel Ayan pitched a viral-worthy American tour concept to Bravo featuring visits to Housewives’ homes.
  • Summary: Chanel Ayan revealed she pitched a show idea to Bravo involving her touring America, similar to a viral TikTok series she created called ‘Villages.’ She expressed a desire to host a show where she visits different cities and connects with Housewives across various states. She confirmed she is only friends with a few of her former The Real Housewives of Dubai castmates, specifically naming Caroline Stanbury, Taleen, Saral Madani, and Nina Ali.
Mormon Wives: Jesse and Jordan
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(00:53:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Jesse allegedly endured emotional abuse from Jordan, making her subsequent actions understandable in context.
  • Summary: The hosts sided with Jesse in her relationship conflict with Jordan, especially after hearing details of alleged emotional abuse and belittling behavior from Jordan. Jesse’s attraction to Jesse Draper is framed as seeking validation after being constantly put down by Jordan, who seemed more concerned with public perception than reconciliation. Jordan’s behavior during arguments, including yelling and focusing on what to tell the children, reinforced the perception that he treated Jesse poorly.
Mormon Wives: Husband Dynamics
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(00:59:13)
  • Key Takeaway: The male cast members failed to adequately challenge Jordan’s behavior despite being privy to Jesse’s accounts of emotional abuse.
  • Summary: The ‘Dad Talk’ segment was criticized for not challenging Jordan more regarding his alleged emotional abuse toward Jesse, contrasting with how harshly Zach was judged in earlier seasons. Zach’s comment about moms learning from dad talk was defended by noting his personal growth and supportive role as a husband, especially concerning postpartum depression. The segment highlighted that while Jordan has a right to be hurt by Jesse’s actions, his alleged pattern of emotional destruction contrasts sharply with Zach’s positive changes.
Mormon Wives: Intimacy and Education
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(01:04:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Macy and Michaela’s open discussion about low libido provided relatable insight for viewers, while the hosts learned about pre-partem depression.
  • Summary: The friendship between Macy and Michaela was praised for openly discussing intimacy struggles, which many women experience without feeling something is wrong with them. The conversation introduced the concept of pre-partem depression, which one host noted they were previously unaware of and intended to research for future preparedness. The willingness of the Mormon Wives cast to air raw, serious relationship issues is seen as educational for the audience.
RHOSLC Episode Recap Highlights
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(01:05:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The recent RHOSLC episode featured Mary’s church reopening and Lisa’s candid revelation about donating to the Church of Satan.
  • Summary: Andy Cohen reportedly called the recent RHOSLC episode one of his top ten Housewives episodes ever, featuring Whitney’s potluck and Angie’s ‘high body count hair.’ Lisa Barlow charmed listeners by stating she donates tequila to the Church of Satan because she does not discriminate by doctrine, contrasting with Mary’s difficulty opening her own church doors. Lisa and John had a rare adult conversation about their marital issues over lemon loaves, revealing John feels disconnected from her outside of business.
RHOSLC: Bronwyn and Jared Drama
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(01:09:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Bronwyn’s actions, including removing her wedding ring on camera while discussing opening her marriage, suggest she might be seeking public justification for a potential divorce.
  • Summary: The segment analyzed Jared’s gaslighting of Brittany, calling her ‘crazy’ for setting boundaries after they acted like a committed couple, despite their past engagement. The furniture in Bronwyn and Todd’s home was noted as distracting during their serious conversation about opening their marriage, which Todd immediately rejected. A theory suggested Todd might have encouraged Bronwyn’s reality TV participation to secure assets in case of a future divorce, similar to Camille Grammer’s situation.
RHOSLC: Mary’s Church and Lisa’s Charm
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(01:14:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Mary ministering at her church reopening was well-received, and Lisa’s openness about her marriage struggles was seen as genuine.
  • Summary: Mary’s encouragement to Whitney (‘you have everything you need’) during the church service was appreciated, despite Whitney previously questioning the church’s cultish behavior. The heat in the church was attributed to the Pentecostal style of worship involving movement to connect with the spirit. Lisa’s discussion with John about feeling unsupported in their marriage, alongside John’s new spiky hairstyle, marked a rare, deep look into their relationship.
Caroline & Sergio: BravoCon and Travel
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(01:18:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Caroline and Sergio enjoyed BravoCon significantly more this year because they attended without friends, allowing them to move freely.
  • Summary: Caroline and Sergio experienced delayed jet lag after flying from the Maldives to Las Vegas for BravoCon, resulting in early bedtimes in LA. Caroline noted that everyone at BravoCon was warm to her, including Lisa Vanderpump and Rachel Zoe, attributing some of the attention to her British accent and legs. Caroline expressed interest in doing an Ultimate Road Trip with Larsa Pippen and Denise Richards.
Caroline on The Traitors Experience
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(01:21:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Caroline viewed The Traitors environment as familiar, like boarding school, and her game plan was to find a strong man like Colton to perform tasks for her.
  • Summary: Caroline felt the Traitors environment was perfectly suited to her, comparing it to boarding school where she could easily interact with everyone. Her initial target was Johnny Weir, but she quickly realized she needed a physically capable man, settling on Colton Underwood to execute tasks. Caroline admitted to lying frequently, especially to Sergio about cosmetic procedures, and Sergio confirmed he felt like he was constantly holding a boom light for her early in their relationship.
Caroline & Sergio Relationship Dynamics
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(01:31:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Sergio fell for Caroline despite her ‘heart of rocks’ and tendency to lie because he is highly emotional and she eventually ‘melded’ into a softer version of herself.
  • Summary: Caroline’s love language is described as non-existent, with Sergio noting she was initially like a rock, contrasting with his emotional Latino nature. Sergio recounted a time Caroline lied about having a minor procedure, emerging fully wrapped in a wheelchair, which caused him distress and nightmares about their time in LA. They are currently trying for a baby via a surrogate company, and Sergio insists his mother must move in with them when the baby arrives, a condition Caroline strongly resists.
Walking Styles and Sergio’s Role
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(01:39:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Sergio Carrallo humorously anticipates needing to clear the way for Caroline Stanbury’s ‘stomping’ walk when they have a baby.
  • Summary: The conversation opened with a lighthearted debate about how Caroline Stanbury walks, with Sergio suggesting she ‘stomps’ and needs space cleared. Sergio joked that he would take on the primary caregiving role, including carrying a sleeping baby, because of Caroline’s perceived forceful gait. Caroline confirmed she has already delegated the role of ‘mom, dad’ to Sergio regarding baby care.
Vicki Gunvalson’s Return Support
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(01:40:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Caroline Stanbury was genuinely thrilled and emotional about Vicki Gunvalson’s return to the Real Housewives franchise.
  • Summary: Caroline revealed she was the first to congratulate Vicki Gunvalson on her return, sharing a table with Vicki and Denise Richards that night. She admitted to shedding a tear, empathizing with how difficult it must be to watch the show continue without being a part of it after starting it. Caroline affirmed she is Vicki’s number one fan and they get along well.
Housewives’ Legal Issues Critique
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(01:40:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Caroline Stanbury expressed embarrassment over housewives engaging in illegal activities like fraud, noting it brings negative attention to the entire franchise.
  • Summary: The discussion turned to Wendy Osefo’s alleged insurance fraud, prompting Caroline to question why housewives repeatedly engage in illegal behavior knowing they are under public scrutiny. She criticized the stupidity of bragging about large cash purchases, explaining that such actions are either shady or demonstrate a lack of basic financial understanding. Caroline believes that if one has skeletons, they should avoid reality television entirely.
Etiquette and Wealth Flaunting
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(01:43:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Caroline Stanbury finds the American reality TV obsession with flaunting wealth, such as demanding to see title deeds, to be vulgar and low class.
  • Summary: Caroline contrasted the American reality TV culture of proving wealth with her British upbringing, where discussing bank balances or property deeds at dinner parties is not done. She felt embarrassed when asked to bring title deeds on camera, viewing such displays as unnecessary vulgarity. This led to a suggestion for a new Bravo show: ‘Charm School for Housewives,’ hosted by Caroline.
Pet Talk and Driving Habits
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(01:45:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Sergio Carrallo bought Caroline a new, ‘ugly’ Brussels Griffon puppy named Walter after their previous Pomeranian passed away, and they compared their extreme driving styles.
  • Summary: Sergio revealed he is planning a gift for Caroline’s upcoming 50th birthday, while sharing details about their new puppy, Walter, a Brussels Griffon described as ‘fugly’ but perfect. Caroline’s previous Pomeranian, who was sickly and bit people, is compared to Caroline’s ‘grumpy’ personality. The couple then contrasted their driving: Caroline drives like a ’lunatic’ in Dubai, racking up tickets, while Sergio drives too slowly, like a grandpa.