“He screamed, ‘I’m coming after you’” – Danny and Nia Booko seriously considered quitting The Valley mid-season after Jax Taylor’s ‘malicious smear campaign’ pushed the couple to their breaking point

“This is no longer a reality show. This is real life – and he’s trying to destroy it.”

While the latest episodes of The Valley have become increasingly chaotic, another behind-the-scenes drama is quietly sending shockwaves through the cast: Danny and Nia Booko – the couple often seen as the show's rare symbol of stability – seriously considered walking away from the show mid-season after becoming the targets of what sources say was a malicious character attack orchestrated by Jax Taylor.

A source close to the couple tells DailyMail+ that Danny nearly quit the show after Jax deliberately resurfaced an off-camera incident involving Jasmine Goode, an issue Danny believed had been resolved privately and had nothing to do with the show. “Jax knew the situation was over and done with. But he went around telling people in production to bring it back on camera,” the insider said. “He wasn’t looking for closure. He just wanted a new target – because audiences were getting tired of watching his marriage collapse.”

Danny, a father of four children under four, reached out to Jax in hopes of settling things privately. Instead, Jax reportedly exploded over the phone, yelling: “You guys got off easy in season one. This season, I’m coming after you.” He then allegedly screamed, “You and Nia are fake as f*. Don’t think I don’t see it.”

Overwhelmed and furious, Danny met with producers privately to request time away from filming. According to sources, he did not appear on set for three consecutive days, causing production to scramble to adjust the shooting schedule. Meanwhile, Nia – who had just given birth two weeks earlier – was said to be “completely distraught” after learning that Jax had dragged her and their newborn into the drama. “She cried nonstop,” said one production assistant. “They’re a real family. This isn’t a storyline for them.”

“She felt totally betrayed by people she once called friends,” the insider continued. “And to make things worse, some cast members like Jason and Janet Caperna sided with Jax, even spreading rumors that Danny was still texting Jasmine. That’s when Nia said she couldn’t take it anymore.”

At one point, Danny and Nia reportedly drafted an email requesting to be released from their Bravo contracts. “They were just trying to protect their family. But instead, they became targets, edited unfairly, and betrayed by their so-called friends,” said a longtime friend of the couple. “Danny thought he had done the right thing by owning up to his past mistakes. But Jax used that apology as a weapon to tear him down.”

Ultimately, it was Kristen Doute and Luke Broderick – who had just welcomed their first child – who stepped in and convinced the Bookos to stay, if only to defend their own narrative. “Kristen told Nia: If you walk away, you let Jax control the story. Stay, and tell your side.”

Now, Danny and Nia are said to have set firm boundaries with production, including the right to refuse filming with Jax or the Capernas if they feel unsafe. They are also reportedly undecided about returning for season three.

“We came here to share our real lives, not to be sacrificed for someone else’s manufactured drama,” Danny reportedly said in a post-season meeting. “Jax will do anything for camera time. But we won’t. We have kids, a real marriage, and reputations to protect.”

With everything that’s unfolded, season two of The Valley may not just be remembered for its divorces and betrayals – but as the moment when those who stayed silent, finally decided to speak.