Lauren Conrad Requested Edits on 'Laguna Beach' Reunion Special

The reality star wanted more control over her portrayal in the two-hour special.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:37pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of shattered glass reflecting a faint red light, conceptually representing the complex emotions and fragile nature of revisiting a reality TV past.As Lauren Conrad and the Laguna Beach cast reunite on camera, the special's production process reveals the lasting impact of reality TV stardom.Laguna Beach Today

Lauren Conrad, one of the stars of the early 2000s MTV reality series Laguna Beach, requested multiple edits to the first cut of the show's reunion special, The Reunion: Laguna Beach. Conrad, who served as an executive producer on the special, felt she was portrayed in an unflattering light in the initial edit and asked the producers to remove several shots where she appeared uncomfortable. Her co-star Kristin Cavallari also provided feedback, requesting the producers show more of the authentic conversations that took place during filming.

Why it matters

The Laguna Beach reunion special marks the first time the original cast has reunited since the show ended in 2006. As one of the breakout stars, Conrad's involvement and creative control over her portrayal was important to her, highlighting the challenges reality TV stars can face when revisiting their pasts on camera.

The details

Conrad, who was an executive producer on the special, said she felt 'really nervous' during the initial group reunion scene that was filmed. She told Cavallari that between takes, she would 'just stare at the ground and try to get myself together,' but the producers kept using those clips in the first cut, making it seem like she didn't want to be there. When Conrad watched the initial edit, she noticed Cavallari's face 'doesn't drop once' during the onstage segment, while 'every time you cut to me, I literally look like I want to light myself on fire.' Conrad requested 'so many looks' be removed from the final cut, feeling bad for the editors having to make the changes.

  • The Laguna Beach reunion special, titled The Reunion: Laguna Beach, is set to premiere on April 10, 2026.
  • Filming for the special took place on March 26, 2026.

The players

Lauren Conrad

One of the original stars of the MTV reality series Laguna Beach, who served as an executive producer on the reunion special and requested multiple edits to her portrayal in the initial cut.

Kristin Cavallari

Another original Laguna Beach cast member, who also served as an executive producer on the reunion special and provided feedback to the producers about authentically representing the cast's conversations.

Stephen Colletti

An original Laguna Beach cast member who received executive producer credit on the reunion special.

Lo Bosworth

An original Laguna Beach cast member who participated in the reunion special.

Talan Torriero

An original Laguna Beach cast member who participated in the reunion special.

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What they’re saying

“'I spent so many years doing this without any control. To have the option to have control and say was really important to me, and it made it feel safer.'”

— Lauren Conrad, Reality TV Star

“'[But] every time you cut to me, I literally look like I want to light myself on fire.'”

— Lauren Conrad, Reality TV Star

“'Can you just do it in reality, like, what actually happened?'”

— Kristin Cavallari, Reality TV Star

What’s next

The Reunion: Laguna Beach will premiere on Roku on April 10, 2026, giving fans their first look at the edited special.

The takeaway

This story highlights the challenges reality TV stars can face when revisiting their pasts on camera, even years later. As an executive producer, Lauren Conrad wanted more control over her portrayal, requesting edits to an initial cut that she felt made her look uncomfortable. Her co-star Kristin Cavallari also provided feedback to ensure the special authentically represented their conversations. This speaks to the lasting impact these types of shows can have on the participants, even long after the cameras have stopped rolling.