Michelle Saniei and Jesse Lally’s contentious split continues on Season 2 of The Valley — and all of their friends have been pulled into the drama. Kristen Doute shared a rumor that Michelle had a boyfriend while married during Season 1, and on Season 2, Jesse accused Michelle of dating her current boyfriend, Aaron Nosler, while they were still a couple.
“Michelle and I had a conversation before the summer where she admitted to cheating on me,” he said on the show. “I’m 90 percent sure that this person was Aaron, and if it wasn’t, then she cheated on me twice.”
The tension between Jesse and Michelle is palpable on Season 2, with Michelle claiming Jesse spent all their joint money, and Michelle turning down Jesse’s offer of a “white flag” after he spread a rumor that she slept with a billionaire for money. Jesse even revealed that he lost 40 pounds after not eating and sleeping following their separation. So where do they stand now post-season? Both weighed in on their current situation in an exclusive interview with The Daily Dish.
Are Jesse Lally and Michelle Saniei divorced yet?
Jesse and Michelle are not yet divorced. According to Michelle, they’re still working to finalize a settlement — but Jesse shared there’s been progress.
“We’re so close to finalizing the settlement,” Jesse said in an interview with The Daily Dish.
That’s a big update from The Valley After Show, where Jesse shared earlier this season that he and Michelle “should’ve been able to” legally end their marriage in September 2024, until a mediator “messed up” by not filing certain paperwork.” Michelle claimed during the After Show that Jesse was purposely delaying the proceedings by representing himself in the divorce without a lawyer.
“A part of me thinks that he does it because he does not want me to remarry,” Michelle said. “He’s like, you know, ‘Let’s just do this forever so that she can’t move on and get married and have kids again.’”
Michelle said if the two can’t agree on the settlement they’ll have to go to court.
“I’m really trying to avoid that because that’s just so much more money and time, so I’m just doing my best to like, get it done,” Michelle told The Daily Dish. “My goal is to get divorced this year, because I truly believe, like, once we’re divorced, we can be in a much better place.”
Michelle Saniei shares a co-parenting update with Jesse Lally
But Michelle is happy with her co-parenting schedule with Jesse, and shared that the two hashed out a custody agreement for their daughter Isabella first, and it’s already signed. She revealed more details on what that life looks like today.
“It’s very strict and we both get to see her every two days, and switch holidays,” Michelle told The Daily Dish. “So, she’s basically with both parents very often, which I think is very healthy for her to have Mom and Dad. And that aspect is actually really great.”
After they first filed for divorce and separated, Michelle called co-parenting with Jesse “very difficult.” She described them as on good terms one day, and “hating each other” the next.
But she believes they’re in a much better place now.
“Like I have always said, he’s a great father,” Michelle said. “And like, we don’t have to worry about anything. When it’s pick-up time, drop-off time — like we’re very good with all of that.”
Jesse’s take on how co-parenting with Michelle is going
“In this moment, it’s going really well,” Jesse told The Daily Dish. “You know, ask me that a year ago — so much has changed,” he said. “So, it’s going pretty well right now. Ask me tomorrow.”
Jesse made it clear it’s a fluid situation, like when he claimed “our situation is not good” while filming the After Show. A big point of contention between the ex-couple was Michelle’s new relationship with Aaron.
“Like a month prior, she said, ‘I might, when my lease ends, be moving to Aaron’s house. And I spoke to my lawyer, and there’s nothing you can do about it,'” he admitted on the After Show. “That’s how the relationship is.”
But he echoed Michelle that the custody agreement of Isabella was most important in their divorce and was figured out first.
Don’t miss the ultimatum Aaron gave Michelle about Jesse and the future of their relationship.
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-Reporting by Stephanie Gomulka
