Lala Kent Claims AA Asked Her to Stop Talking About Them

The 'Vanderpump Rules' alum has been open about her sobriety journey, but says the 'old-timers' in Alcoholics Anonymous want her to stop discussing the program publicly.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Lala Kent, a former star of the reality TV show 'Vanderpump Rules', has been vocal about her sobriety journey and involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) since getting sober in 2018. However, Kent claims that some 'old-timers' in the AA community have asked her to stop talking about the program so publicly, as 'anonymous' is in the name of the organization. Despite this request, Kent says she plans to continue discussing AA because it has been instrumental in keeping her sober and saving her life.

Why it matters

Kent's openness about her AA involvement has sparked debate within the recovery community. While some applaud her willingness to share her story publicly, others argue that it goes against the core principle of anonymity that is central to AA. This case highlights the tension between individual recovery journeys and the organization's desire to maintain privacy.

The details

In a recent episode of her 'Untraditionally Lala' podcast, Kent claimed that her former sponsor told her some 'old-timers' in the AA community were 'having an issue' with her discussing the program so publicly. Kent acknowledged that 'anonymous' is in the name of the organization, but said she feels compelled to talk about AA because it has been 'single handedly keeping me sober and in return that means saving my life.' Kent's brother, who is also sober, agreed, saying that if people spoke more openly about AA, he might have sought help sooner.

  • In December 2018, Kent shared that she had been sober for 60 days and was attending AA meetings and working with a sponsor and sober coach.
  • In October 2023, Kent celebrated 5 years of sobriety.

The players

Lala Kent

A former star of the reality TV show 'Vanderpump Rules' who has been open about her sobriety journey and involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous since getting sober in 2018.

Easton Burningham

Lala Kent's brother, who is also sober and agrees that more open discussion about AA could help others seek help sooner.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's really hard with the old-timers in sobriety. When I first got sober, I got a call from my sponsor at the time, she was like, 'Some old-timers are kinda having an issue with you doing press.'”

— Lala Kent (Untraditionally Lala* podcast)

“Literally in the meeting they say, 'We stay free of press.' They don't want to be out there like that.”

— Lala Kent (Untraditionally Lala* podcast)

“I'm of the mindset of if I have found something that is single handedly keeping me sober and in return that means saving my life. Why would I not talk about it?”

— Lala Kent (Untraditionally Lala* podcast)

“People like it anonymous, I don't want to be anonymous. If people spoke about AA more openly I might've gotten help before my elevator hit bottom.”

— Easton Burningham, Lala Kent's brother (Untraditionally Lala* podcast)

The takeaway

Lala Kent's openness about her AA journey has sparked debate within the recovery community, highlighting the tension between individual recovery stories and the organization's principle of anonymity. While some praise her willingness to share, others argue it goes against AA's core values. This case underscores the complex dynamics at play as public figures navigate their sobriety in the spotlight.