Michelle Saniei has mixed feelings about possibly filming more seasons of The Valley alongside her ex Jesse Lally.
“I go back and forth because I’m like, the worst happened,” Michelle, 38, exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Tuesday, May 6. “We’re seeing the worst. It can’t get worse than that. But I also said that after watching season one that it couldn’t get worse and I feel like it did.”
Before The Valley kicked off season 1 in March 2024, Us exclusively confirmed that Michelle and Jesse, 44, had separated after nearly six years of marriage. Since then, cameras have captured the couple struggling to get along as they attempt to amicably coparent their 4-year-old daughter, Isabella.
“Sometimes I am a little naive or I just hope for the best and it doesn’t happen,” Michelle shared about her experience filming with Jesse. “So I have mixed feelings.”
For the time being, Michelle is trying her best to get through a difficult second season.
As Jesse continues to drop allegations that his estranged wife was unfaithful during the marriage – claims she continues to strongly deny – Michelle said there were times when she simply wanted to quit the show.
“Many, many times,” she said. “I mean, there were many nights after Dave and Buster’s that I did not sleep, and I cried my eyes out the entire night, and there were times I [couldn’t] do this. But at the end of the day, I had my girlfriends that were very helpful and motivating and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
On the April 29 episode of The Valley, Michelle learned that Jesse was spreading a rumor in a guys’ group chat that she was hooking up with a billionaire for $1,500 a night.
In The Valley’s after show, Jesse said he regretted spreading the rumor before Janet Caperna’s birthday party at Dave & Buster’s and doesn’t even know if it is true.
From Michelle’s perspective, anything that she or Jesse says could eventually be discovered by their daughter.
“That is my number one worry, and I always think about her, and I feel like that’s why there are times when I am quiet or I won’t fully speak up even though I want to,” Michelle explained to Us. “But at the end of the day, I think about my daughter. I’m like, ‘I could say that,’ but I’m just not going to.”
With filming for season 2 complete, Michelle said she is trying her best to speed up divorce proceedings. At the same time, she remains hopeful that things can improve.
“We do have certain moments that are OK,” she explained, “but it’s just up and down.”
The Valley airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET. Stream old episodes anytime on Peacock.
