Jesse Solomon Tried to Warn West

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While many Summer House cast members appeared on Andy Cohen’s reunion show, Jesse Solomon wasn’t the first person viewers expected to focus on. Although he’s caused plenty of drama over the last three seasons – including a complicated relationship with Lexi Wood and a close connection with Ciara Miller – the main topic of the reunion was the scandal that shocked fans earlier this year. That scandal involved Amanda Batula (a long-time cast member and Kyle Cooke’s wife) and West Wilson (Ciara’s ex and Jesse’s friend) revealing they were dating.

Solomon didn’t dominate the conversations at the reunion, but viewers were touched by his emotional responses, particularly when he discussed the group falling apart and West’s actions. A longer version of the episode showed why he was so upset: He recently found out a close friend had been with one of his former partners – something that mirrored what was happening between his castmates. This personal experience, along with being caught up in the drama between Amanda and West, has changed what’s important to him as they start filming the next season, both when it comes to romance and friendships. Solomon explained he used to think of the show simply as “partying in the Hamptons with friends,” but now realizes the most meaningful moments have been things like volunteering at Sunrise Day Camp and Ciara’s discussion about race – issues that matter more than just partying.

People seem surprised to see how upset I was during the Summer House reunion, but honestly, I’m doing much better now. I just finished a really fun 15-city tour, and I’m about to release a song that means a lot to me – it’s a big difference from what you saw on TV! Growing up, guys are often told to bottle up their feelings, and that’s what happened in that moment. I wasn’t trying to cry, I was genuinely hurt and couldn’t help it. I’m relieved it’s over and hopeful we can all move forward.

You know, when they released the longer version of things, it brought up this really relatable situation – being caught between a friend and someone you used to date. People were asking about where I stand with that friend now. Honestly, it’s happened more than once in my life! I actually talked about something similar years ago on the show. But recently, it happened again, and things are…complicated. We’re not actively speaking right now, but I haven’t totally cut them out of my life either. I’m still trying to work through everything, honestly.

It sounds like you shared what happened with Carl and some other people at the reunion. It’s strange that this is playing out on the show, and also happened to you personally. Because I’m friends with people from the show and also friends I had before, it feels like everything is connected in a complicated way.

From your point of view, did we overlook anything important at the reunion? It was a really long day, and I didn’t talk much. But looking back at the footage, it seems like everything I did say made it in, so it probably seemed like I spoke up quite a bit. There was a little disagreement involving some newcomers that didn’t make the final cut, but I’ll just leave it at that.

You shared a timeline of events involving West and Amanda a couple of days ago. What were you hoping to show by posting it? I created that timeline to protect myself, just in case anyone tried to falsely claim I was involved. But at the reunion, no one was accusing me of knowing anything, and there were more pressing issues to deal with.

Everyone kept asking about the project schedule, and then Andy mentioned Jesse would share it tomorrow. So, I figured I should go ahead and post it! It ended up being quite detailed, so I shortened it to make it easier to understand.

Is there anything positive coming out of all this, at least in terms of strengthening relationships? Not really. While the show is currently successful, this situation is ultimately damaging for both the show and our friend group. I’m not happy about any of it. I even told West, when I had my suspicions, to deal with whatever was happening immediately and privately. But he didn’t listen.

It’s hard to say what it would take to rebuild a friendship with West. I tend to take my time with decisions, and I think needing some space is reasonable in this situation. He really needs to work on how he treats people, especially women, because he’s generally good to his friends and family. A sincere apology for the harm he’s caused is also important. I know he regrets how things unfolded, and I hope he can learn from this and become a better friend and person.

It sounds like everyone’s talking about who might return for future seasons! We definitely chat about it as a cast, though I try not to pry too much – I prefer people share news when they’re ready. Right now, my main focus is music. I’m heading to L.A. soon to work on some projects, and then I’ll be in the Hamptons, hoping to spend time with friends. Whatever happens will happen, and I’m okay with that.

It’s strange to watch a show explode in popularity and hit record ratings while simultaneously feeling uncertain about its future direction. I keep asking myself what will happen next season, and if it will still be good! But really, that’s not my concern. I just focus on doing my part and being authentic, hoping that makes the show enjoyable for viewers. While I’m happy to see more people watching – they clearly like it – I don’t dwell on ratings. The show was already gaining momentum before recent events, but those actually increased viewership, and now this reunion is a huge draw, bringing in even new fans.

Over the past year, I’ve realized how much I still have to learn about relationships. I thought I was pretty mature before, but looking back, I was definitely naive. I’m in a good place now, but I know I’ll probably make some mistakes this summer – that’s just part of growing up, and I’ll learn from them, even if I’m not thrilled about it.

You talked about wanting a genuine connection in your next relationship during the reunion. What qualities are important to you in both romantic partners and friends? I really value friends who are consistently there for me, wanting to spend time together not just when we’re filming, but throughout the week too. It’s easy for people to become distant once the show ends, but I’ve grown closest to those who still make an effort. I’m currently spending a lot of time with Kyle – we see each other every weekend.

I’m hoping to find someone who’s intelligent, driven, has a good sense of humor, is kind and considerate, and is confident and independent. If she also happens to be on Summer House, I’d take things slowly, but I’m not specifically looking for someone from the show.

Congratulations on releasing “Wildfire”! You’ve been passionate about singing for years and even studied at Frost School of Music. Can you tell us about your path – how did you move away from performing, and then find your way back to music?

I’ve always loved to sing. I went to music school initially, but then I shifted gears and worked in the business side of things – first at WME, then running my own company, which eventually led me into finance. I gradually moved further from actually making music, though I never stopped singing for fun. Then, being on Summer House opened doors back to entertainment, and I started writing and recording again. It began as a hobby, something that made me happy, but now it’s become my biggest priority.

I absolutely still use what I learned in music school! I’ve been singing in groups with multiple voices and harmonies my entire life, which helps me quickly and easily create vocal arrangements for my songs. And I’m constantly working on improving my technique – I was actually just finishing a voice lesson!

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2026-06-16 00:56