“Drama Follows Me”: Zack Wickham Is the Heart of The Valley — Whether You Noticed Yet or Not

Zack Wickham spills on drama magnet moments, his boyfriend reveal, Jax Taylor confrontation, and why he’s Bravo’s realest star in The Valley…

There’s a particular energy Zack Wickham brings to a Bravo scene. It’s sharp, fast, often hilarious — and crucially, it feels honest. Not “reality TV honest,” where everything’s a setup for the next plot twist. But real honest. Vulnerable, even when it’s wrapped in a joke. Open, even when the cast isn’t.

That energy is exactly what’s been missing from The Valley, Bravo’s Vanderpump-adjacent spin-off about grown-up drama, parenthood chaos, and suburban reinvention. And now that Zack has stepped into a full-time role, fans are finally catching on: he’s not just comic relief. He’s the glue holding this thing together.

Wickham isn’t trying to steal scenes — but he’s often the one you remember. Not because he’s louder, but because he’s clearer. Clear about his emotions. Clear about other people’s chaos. Clear about when to stir the pot, and when to set it down.

And after speaking with him, it’s even clearer: this isn’t an act. It’s who he is.

From VPR plus-one to emotional core of The Valley

Zack Wickham didn’t appear out of nowhere. For longtime Vanderpump Rules fans, his face is a familiar one — always nearby, usually with Brittany Cartwright, and often in the background of birthday blowouts or vacation chaos. He wasn’t a main cast member, but he was there. Not just as a friend, but as a steady presence, a sounding board, and occasionally, a scene-stealer with just one line.

His friendship with Brittany goes way back — long before Bravo cameras were rolling — and it’s one of the rare relationships in the VPR universe that has survived fame, filming, and real-life growing pains. That history gave Zack a kind of insider-outsider status: part of the world, but not beholden to it.

But Zack’s story doesn’t start or stop with Bravo. Before The Valley, he was already carving out a creative niche, working alongside industry heavyweights like Kelly Cutrone and Nicole Scherzinger. He’s styled, consulted, and helped shape projects that mix high fashion with authentic personality. It’s this blend of real-world hustle and creative savvy that gives Zack his unmistakable edge on screen.

This background isn’t just a footnote; it’s part of why Zack brings such texture to The Valley. He’s not just a cast member — he’s a cultural force, connecting entertainment, identity, and genuine human moments in a way few reality stars can.

Still, when The Valley launched, no one was quite sure what his role would be. He wasn’t a parent. He wasn’t a legacy cast member with a redemption arc to manage. So, what was he?

As it turns out: essential.

He didn’t come into The Valley with a rebrand in mind. No narrative arc to push. No polished persona engineered for confessionals. He was just Zack — and ironically, that’s exactly what the show needed.

When asked who the biggest drama magnet in the group is, he didn’t hesitate.

“I mean I can’t say I’m not… Like drama is around me or involves me whether I wanted it to or not, or should I say started it or not hahaha.”

That kind of self-awareness — messy, funny, honest — sums him up. He’s not trying to play innocent, but he’s also not pretending to be the villain. He’s the one in the mix, calling things like he sees them, and more often than not, saying the thing everyone else is thinking.

That energy — part instigator, part mediator, always in on the joke — is what’s made him the emotional ballast of The Valley. While others tiptoe around conflict or spiral into mess for the cameras, Zack has a way of cutting through it. He’ll call out the BS, offer real advice, and still find a way to make it funny.

In a cast full of people managing optics, Zack’s managing to stay real.

The unexpected therapist of The Valley

Reality TV isn’t known for emotional maturity. It’s known for tequila-fueled rants, circular arguments, and the kind of group dynamics that should probably come with a therapist on retainer. So, when someone in the cast actually gives solid advice — and wants people to take it — it stands out.

In The Valley, that someone is Zack.

When asked who dishes out the best advice on the cast, he doesn’t flinch.

“ME! And when people take it, their lives are better, however, we have a stubborn group so it is ignored sometimes.”

It sounds like a punchline — and it is funny — but there’s truth under the humor. Zack isn’t just talking to fill airspace. He’s actively invested in the people around him, even when they’re being messy (especially when they’re being messy). And that kind of clarity is rare.

“Kristen literally has a mini sign at her place that says WWZS, what would Zack say (granted I did give it to her she didn’t make it hahahaha)”

That little joke sign? It says a lot. Zack has become the person people turn to when they need a gut check — or, more often, when they don’t realize they do. He’s direct, yes, but not cruel. His honesty lands because it’s coming from a place of real friendship.

And this isn’t new. His role as emotional translator has been years in the making. He’s been in these friendships long before Bravo cameras were rolling. He’s seen these people through rehab, breakups, marriage struggles, and identity shifts. So when he gives advice — even if it’s delivered with a side of sarcasm — it hits differently.

The Bravo scene you can’t miss: Boyfriend reveal and the Jax showdown

While much of The Valley’s second season has revolved around parenting, exes in limbo, and friendship fallouts or fallins, Zack says the real emotional core is just ahead.

“The most dramatic is still to come if you can believe it.”

But there’s one episode he says viewers absolutely should not miss.

“I would say the episode in two weeks where you get to meet my boyfriend for the first time because it’s a really sweet episode for us. You also get to see me confront Jax Taylor for the first time since being out of rehab and you won’t want to miss that!”

The episode promises both emotional vulnerability and classic Bravo confrontation — a mix that not many cast members can pull off without feeling forced. But Zack’s not new to this world. He knows how to have a moment without making it a performance.

And the boyfriend reveal? It matters. Not because it’s dramatic — but because it’s normal. For a network that struggled with giving LGBTQ+ cast members full, rich, relationship arcs, seeing Zack bring his partner into the story without pretense or spectacle feels… refreshing.

If he had a spin-off? He’s already got the title

No, there’s no spin-off in development (to be clear!). But when asked what he’d call it if Bravo came knocking, Zack already had a name picked out.

“Just Zack (and friends) …. it would be an homage to Will & Grace where Jack had his one man show called Just Jack.”

It’s a cheeky answer, but also a sharp one. Zack understands the balance between pop culture parody and personal branding — and honestly, the idea of him leading a smart, offbeat, emotionally honest show about queer life in LA doesn’t sound that far-fetched.

Still, he’s not pushing for it. He’s just playing along with the question. The reality is, Zack isn’t trying to be Bravo’s next solo act — he’s too embedded in the group, too loyal to the friendships, to position himself as the main character. But should the network ever want something deeper, sharper, and less filtered? They know where to look.

Zack’s confessional glam secret (you’re welcome)

Let’s be honest: the man serves in those confessionals. Every time the camera cuts to him, the lighting hits just right and the skin is matte perfection. So, what’s the secret?

“The Fenty Invisimatte Instant Setting + Blotting Powder brightens under the eyes and makes your skin look so good and takes away any shine! It’s my favourite.”

Call it glam realism. No 18-step influencer routine, no TikTok filter tricks — just a solid product, and someone who knows what works. Bravo beauty segment when?

Why Zack Wickham matters on Bravo right now

In a cast full of people trying to rebrand or reclaim their relevance, Zack isn’t trying to be anything other than who he is. That’s what makes him stand out. There’s no Bravo formula here. He’s not playing a caricature or trying to recreate Pump Rules drama in the suburbs.

He’s just Zack.

Smart, flawed, hilarious, and sometimes too real for comfort. He’ll push you, joke with you, and call you out when you need it. And right now, in a Bravo ecosystem crowded with overproduced storylines and half-scripted feuds, Zack Wickham might be the rarest thing of all: someone who’s actually living it.

Canada, don’t sleep on The Valley

For readers here in Canada, The Valley Season 1 and Season 2 are both available to stream on Hayu. Whether you’re catching up or diving in for Zack’s upcoming episode (boyfriend + Jax = TV gold), this is the time to start.