On The Valley, tension is practically a cast member, and this season, a lot of that tension is swirling around one man: Danny Booko. Once the chill, faith-forward dad of the group, Danny’s now got a new nickname floating around: Dark Side Danny. Yeah, it’s not great.
What started as subtle shade from a few castmates has snowballed into full-on Bravo buzz. From secret pantry sips to eyebrow-raising confessions, Danny’s relationship with alcohol has become one of the most talked-about storylines of the season. But is this just another overblown Bravo moment, or is there actually something deeper going on?
Let’s break down everything that’s been said about The Valley’s second most controversial dad.
Why are some of The Valley Cast calling Danny Booko “Dark Side Danny?”
Danny’s nice, quiet weekend away in Santa Barbara didn’t go as planned, especially when Janet Caperna accused him of secret drinking. The voice-over actor had just worked a full day, driven up from Los Angeles, and dealt with sleep deprivation. The man was bound to be a lightweight at the winery.
Sadly, the nickname Dark Side Danny didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s the result of a few too many awkward moments. The nickname first gained traction after Jasmine Goode shared a Halloween encounter where he told her “to go get daddy a drink” and put his hand on her thigh.
The bad behavior continued after Danny missed dinner in Santa Barbara because he was passed out in bed, asleep. During the meal, Jasmine noted, “Before dinner, me and Janet were talking and she told me that she caught Danny in the cupboard taking shots and it kind of made her feel uncomfortable. Because we all know he has an issue with drinking and he gets kind of inappropriate. I’ve dealt with this ‘dark side Danny’ before.” And thus a star – albeit an infamous one – was born.
To be clear, Danny’s not throwing furniture or slurring through scenes, but according to some castmates, there’s a noticeable shift in his vibe when he’s been drinking.
Everything that’s been said about Danny Booko’s drinking this season
Think less Bravo blackout and more subtle shady energy. A few of the guys mentioned in hushed tones that Danny gets moody after a few drinks. That’s when the whispers really kicked off; and they haven’t stopped.
On The Valley After Show, Jason Caperna continued to throw shade at his so-called friend. The lawyer stated, “That’s fine. That can happen. It’s when the next day you gaslight everybody and say, ‘I had one seltzer and one shot.’ It’s calling that crouched down swig with the closet door closed a shot, which is not how I consider a shot, and when it was boldfaced lies in response, that’s when it kind of set my plan off track.”
He explained, “He’s saying he’s confused because at that point his story is that he had two drinks but in actuality he had 25 drinks.”
Janet has also had a lot to say when Danny blasted her behavior. While on WWHL, she told Andy Cohen, “I thought that that was harsh, and I think somebody who’s toxic is somebody who puts their hands on women without consent. I think he’s reacting to me reacting to him.”
Teddi Mellecamp is weighing in on Danny Dark Side
It feels like the cast of The Valley is painting Danny in a bad light. Others, especially Jax Taylor, Jason, and Janet, who never miss a chance to stir the pot, are leaning into the double life narrative. Normal Danny, and “Dark Side Danny” – a polished family man and low-key party animal trying to fly under the radar.
Recently, the BFF of Janet, Jared Lipscomb, shared some tea. Personally, I’m not buying what he’s selling. While on a podcast, he told the host, “I have witnessed Dark Side Danny. We used to all hang out at Jax’s a lot before everything went down. It was the same kind of [behavior] and I [once] asked some of the [guys] there to have him leave for his own benefit, and they quickly did after I saw him being inappropriate with people.”
Teddi Mellencamp, who has been fighting her cancer battle, also weighed in on Two Ts In A Pod. She had her own story to share, noting, “I’m trying to put this in the nicest way possible – I have seen Danny be Dark Side Danny.” Teddi added, “To me, it’s just obnoxious. It’s not a fun drunk to be around.”
However, this writer is still very much in Danny’s corner. I think the cast is making a mountain out of a molehill and needs to leave him alone.
The Valley is available to stream on Peacock. The show streams on Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
TELL US – DOES DARK SIDE DANNY NEED TO BE PUT TO REST?
