Chris Hahn speaks out on the backlash he’s received since appearing on Vanderpump Rules
'No one's trying to be someone they're not'
The Vanderpump Rules reboot era is officially here, and whew, people have opinions.
Enter Chris Hahn. He’s a new SUR bartender, aspiring singer, and reality-TV veteran who just stepped into one of Bravo’s most protective fandoms.
Since season 12 premiered on December 2, 2025, the conversation hasn’t just been about who’s dating who, it’s also been about whether the show should even exist without the OG cast.
And Chris, as one of the fresh faces, is feeling that heat in real time. Here’s what he’s said about the backlash, and why he’s asking people to give the newbies a real chance.
Chris is a Pump Rules newbie
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If you haven’t clocked him yet, Chris Hahn is part of Bravo’s all-new season 12 SURver lineup, with Lisa Vanderpump as the lone familiar face guiding the reboot.
The premise is classic Pump… messy friend groups, workplace flirtations, big Hollywood dreams, just with a different batch of staff behind the bar.
Chris is specifically working as a bartender at SUR, and he’s not shy about wanting to parlay the show into a bigger entertainment career. Which, in all honest, we get it…
What’s funny, though, is that he isn’t even new to the reality circus. He’s previously appeared on Netflix’s Dated and Related, with his cousin Jason Cohen, and Perfect Match. So yes, he’s ‘been on TV,’ but Bravo fandom is its own sport.
After the Pump Rules premiere, rumours swirled about the show’s future, with chatter tied to early viewership anxiety, even though reporting around the premiere also emphasised strong cross-platform performance.
In other words, the reactions were messy immediately.
He speaks out on wild backlash
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Chris addressed the negativity in a recent interview with Distractify in California, and his vibe was pretty straightforward.
His response reads: “I get it… But give us a minute.” He acknowledged the elephant in the SUR alleyway, the new cast has “big shoes to fill,” and said fans have “preconceived notions” based on years of attachment to the original crew.
What’s he actually hearing? According to Chris, it’s less about people personally hating him and more about viewers loudly wanting the old era back.
He described the response as discouraging at times, because so much of the feedback is essentially, we didn’t ask for new people.
Still, he’s pushing a specific message. The Vanderpump Rules season 12 cast isn’t trying to cosplay as Tom, Ariana, Katie, Lala, James, Scheana, or Tom Schwartz.
Chris stressed that he and the rest of the newbies are “totally unique” and not trying to be anyone from the original lineup, which, honestly, is the only move that makes sense.
His advice to people watching the show was basically a patient, slightly pleading, very Bravo-coded: “Give us a chance.”
He pointed out that only a couple of episodes had aired when the loudest backlash and cancellation chatter kicked up, and that one season, or especially a handful of episodes, won’t fully show who people are.
And when it comes to surviving the internet yelling? Chris says Lisa Vanderpump has been encouraging the cast to be themselves, be outspoken, and have fun!
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