NBC reality star breaks down as mom's Stage 4 cancer was first dismissed as 'food poisoning'
The reality star, 36, opened up about her mother's diagnosis during the June 10 show, revealing her mom was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer after going to the doctor with symptoms she initially believed were caused by food poisoning.
The episode was filmed in the summer of 2024, and her mother passed away that November.
'I actually don't talk about it a lot,' Saniei told co-star LaLa Kent, 34, before opening up further in a confessional.
She explained that her mom had received the diagnosis the year before her death, around the same time Saniei was dealing with her bitter split from Jesse Lally.
The reality star, 36, opened up about her mother's diagnosis during the June 10 show, revealing her mom was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer after going to the doctor with symptoms she initially believed were caused by food poisoning
'My mom got sick about a year ago when I was going through everything with Jesse," Saniei said. 'She thought she had food poisoning and had to go to the doctor, and she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.'
Saniei continued to Kent, 'She did her first treatment of chemo and it did not work.
'So then now she's in her second treatment but the problem is it's kind of everywhere now. I don't think I have much longer with her.'
As she began to break down in tears, Saniei added, 'It's been very hard for me because my mom is my best friend and the one who supports me the most.'
On Tuesday night, Michelle took to Instagram to honor her mother, sharing a heartfelt carousel of photos alongside a moving caption.
'Sharing my heart with you tonight. This was the first time I spoke on camera about my mom's battle with cancer,' she wrote.
'She's no longer with us, but her love and strength are with me every day. I miss her deeply, and I'm grateful to share a little piece of her with you.
Tonight is for you, Mom. I miss you every day.'
The emotional episode comes as viewers continue to watch the real estate agent navigate her ongoing divorce from ex-husband Jesse Lally in the show's second season.
However, their split has taken a nasty turn amid accusations of cheating, questions surrounding Jesse's finances, and his claim that Michelle was sleeping with a billionaire for $1,500 a night.
One of the more unexpected moments from the season occurred during episode three, when Jesse shared his theory to co-stars Kristen Doute and Luke Broderick that his former wife was secretly dating her current boyfriend during their marriage.
'I don't actually know what's going on with Michelle,' Jesse said in the episode, which aired April 29. 'She's most likely with her boyfriend [Aaron] for the last two years.'
The 43-year-old real estate agent continued in his confessional: 'Nothing about Michelle and Aaron adds up. I think there was a situation that happened with the two of them while I was married.'
While chatting with Kristen and Luke, Jesse pointed out that Michelle would go on morning hikes without wearing her wedding ring. He also explained how he found Aaron's honey brand, The Kilo Company, in their kitchen years before she began dating the founder and financial advisor.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Michelle revealed that she couldn't help but burst out in laughter after watching the episode back and witnessing Jesse's theories about the origin of her relationship with Aaron.
'That actually really made me laugh,' she told DailyMail.com.
'It really made me laugh because I knew Aaron, just like we know a lot of people,' Michelle said, pointing out that Jesse had also known his current girlfriend, Lacy Nicole, prior to them dating.
'[It] does not mean anything,' she continued. 'Yeah, I had that honey, I was very clear. I never wore makeup to a hiking trail, that's not true. And I would take off my ring just as he would going to the gym.'
Michelle added it was 'comical to watch' her ex searching for proof that she was unfaithful with Aaron during her marriage to Jesse.
In March 2024, just days before The Valley season one premiered, the former couple announced their divorce after nearly six years of marriage. Michelle and Jesse are also parents to five-year-old daughter Isabella Bunny.
The first season of the reality TV show – which is a spin-off of Bravo's Vanderpump Rules – saw Michelle and Jesse struggling to find common ground in their marriage amid rumors of infidelity.
Vanderpump Rules alum and The Valley star Kristen previously claimed Michelle 'had a boyfriend for a year' while she was still married to Jesse.
There was also swirling speculation that Michelle had been spending time with an A-list director at celeb hotspot the Chateau Marmont; she recently revealed the director to be none other than Quentin Tarentino.
The season one finale picked up with Michelle and Jesse six months after filming had wrapped, with Michelle begging her now-estranged husband to sign their divorce papers.
These days, it seems that Michelle and Jesse are nowhere closer to being divorced than when she first filed in March 2024.
However, the podcast host revealed to DailyMail.com that her ex has 'now had a change of heart' and 'wants to move forward' in their divorce proceedings.
'We're kind of in the same place where we were six months ago,' she told DailyMail.com. 'I've been going back and forth, or my lawyers have really been going back and forth with Jesse.
'It seems that he's now had a change of heart and he wants to move forward, so I hope that is the case. I'm hoping for the best, because I feel like we're both sick and tired of it and we just want to move on.'
As for how the former couple has handled co-parenting Isabella, Michelle explained that agreeing on what's best for their daughter has been smooth sailing compared to their actual divorce.
'Honestly, that part is amazing. I've said time and time again he's a great father, which is why I never wanted to have full custody,' Michelle said.
She explained that she even moved 'five minutes away' from her former home in Los Angeles – where Jesse still lives – because she 'didn't want to change the dynamic' for their daughter.
'We both see her every two days, so she gets to see both parents pretty often, and we're both really good at the schedule. I know I have to drop her off and he has to pick her up from school. That part is actually not a problem at all.'
While the second season of The Valley is well underway with loads of drama that fans have yet to see, the entire cast recently gathered together to film the reunion episode.
When asked what fans can expect to see from the reunion special, Michelle played coy about details but revealed that 'everybody had a chance to speak.'
'It's really hard because there's so much to go over and talk about, but I feel like everybody gets their word in and what they want to say,' she said.
New episodes of The Valley air every Tuesday at 9pm ET on Bravo.
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