Nia and Danny Booko Felt Like They Had a ‘Target on Our Back’ Because of ‘The Valley’ Portrayal (Exclusive)

Nia and Danny Booko admitted that being one of the few successful relationships on The Valley put “a target” on their back.

“There were a lot of conversations that happened that we were not a part of,” Nia, 35, who is expecting the couple’s fourth baby, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, April 10, at the red carpet premiere for The Valley season 2. “There’s moments that catch you off guard a little bit.”

Nia praised Danny, 41, for handling himself “with integrity and character” despite the rumors being spread about them. Danny, for his part, admitted it “was a surprise” to see the speculation about their marriage on screen.

“There were things that had happened way before we had started filming that people wanted to bring back up that were already resolved,” he noted to Us. “It was people coming with a little bit of a target on our back because of how we were portrayed in season 1.”

Danny continued: “All you can do is put your best foot forward and handle everything with ownership, character, integrity and move on, get better and take care of it. All you can do is make sure the No. 1 relationship is us and that we’re strong. That’s what we always do. We’re really strong in communication and making that happen.”

Despite season 2 of The Valley being “a roller coaster,” Nia praised her and Danny’s marriage, adding, “What we experienced while filming over the summer could have brought us farther apart or brought us more together. But because of the way we communicate and how we are, I feel like we’re stronger than ever. Even more than before. I feel like we’re very blessed that we have great communication because it didn’t affect us.”

Jax Taylor and Danny have previously hinted at a falling out. After season 1 aired in 2024, Jax, 45, shocked fans when he hinted that Danny and Nia’s relationship wasn’t as sweet as it seemed on screen.

In May 2024, a social media user called Danny and Nia the “cutest couple” on television “right now,” writing via X, “Sorry @mrjaxtaylor I genuinely love you and Britt, but I want to cry every time I see these [two].” Jax, who is going through a divorce with wife Brittany Cartwright, replied to the post, writing, “Will see how this goes.”

Jax continued to tease a feud between him and someone else on The Valley, and made it clear that he wouldn’t let anything go unaddressed during the second season of The Valley. He shared on the “When Reality Hits” podcast in June 2024, “You guys are in for it because I’m going to make sure there are things that are going to be told this time. I feel like everything wasn’t let out of the bag. There was a lot of like, ‘Why wasn’t this shown?’ That’s not going to happen. Some of you people are going to be in for a surprise.”

Danny subsequently seemed to sound off on Jax’s subtle digs while defending his and Nia’s marriage.

“One of whom you thought was your closest friends on there trying to stir stuff up and insinuate things that aren’t true. And try to stir the pot, which he thinks is for the show,” he said on an episode of Nia’s “Hold My Crown” podcast in July 2024. “But it is blatant lies. It’s hurtful. And friends don’t do that.”

After hearing what was said about him, Danny was shocked to learn the source of the rumors, saying, “We need to have that conversation. I would like to have that conversation that may happen on season 2. But I hope it happens before. Because I don’t like conflict. I don’t like feeling this way. I don’t like what he’s doing and putting out there right now. It isn’t cool. It’s not just me but it’s about our marriage.”

Nia also didn’t name anyone while addressing the offscreen situation. “I know there’s some of the guys who you get along with. But then I feel like there’s some guys that haven’t been quality friends for you. That makes me apprehensive,” she told Danny about preparing to film new episodes of The Valley with male costars Jax, Luke Broderick, Jason Caperna and Zack Wickham. “It feels a little bit different on the guys’ side.”

As they prepare for the new season to air, Danny and Nia are focused on their little ones.

“We’re getting ready to be a family of six. I’m feeling good physically and we’re just preparing. It’s a lot to have a whole new little human in our world,” she told Us before Danny added, “We’re in such a sweet spot right now with Asher being three years old and the twins being one-and-a-half. It’s gonna be crazy, wild and beautiful.

The Valley season 2 premieres on Bravo Tuesday, April 15, at 9 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Peacock.

With reporting by Amanda Williams