Michelle Saniei is giving a rare update on her relationship with Dr. Dre.
The Valley star confirmed in a new interview with PEOPLE that she is still dating the rapper and music executive after the two were first photographed holding hands while leaving Nobu Malibu on April 25.
Michelle, 37, said she and Dr. Dre, 61, are enjoying their time together but keeping the relationship private.
“We’re spending time together and we love being in each other’s company,” Michelle said adding that the two met through a mutual friend.
When asked what her Valley costars and ex-husband Jesse Lally think about the relationship, Michelle made it clear that she is not interested in making her romance a public spectacle.
“For now we’re just keeping everything super private. I’m just living my life,” she said.
The update comes after Michelle and Dr. Dre sparked major headlines when they were seen together in Malibu. Days after the photos surfaced, Jesse told TMZ that he was just as surprised as everyone else.
Jesse said he “did not get a heads up” about Michelle and Dr. Dre’s relationship and saw the images for the first time “on social media the same way as everyone else.”
Michelle and Jesse married in 2018 and share their 6-year-old daughter, Isabella. The former couple announced their split in March 2024 and finalized their divorce in October 2025.
Michelle said she does not regret ending her marriage.
“I think in the beginning you get so scared, ‘Did I make the right choice and is this best for myself and my child?’ But now looking back, I feel like everything I did was the best decision for myself and for my daughter and I have no regrets on that part,” Michelle said. “I’m truly happy with where life is taking me.”
Michelle also opened up about where things stand with Jesse now that they are divorced and coparenting Isabella.
According to Michelle, their communication is focused mainly on their daughter.
“I try not to really have a relationship with him unless it has to be about our daughter. We won’t text, we won’t see each other unless like Isabella has a school function, then we’ll go and we’ll sit next to each other,” Michelle explained.
She admitted that things are not always perfect between them, but said they are doing better than they were before.
“We definitely have our moments. He still makes me upset at times and it’s hard to navigate, but I just focus on myself. Don’t get me wrong, we definitely fight here and there, but we’re much better than before,” she said.
Michelle was previously linked to Aaron Nosler, whom she dated for about a year after her split from Jesse.
Dr. Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, was previously married to attorney Nicole Young from 1996 until 2021. The former couple share son Truice and daughter Truly. He is also a father to eight other children from different relationships.
Five months after filing for divorce, Nicole accused Dr. Dre of abuse in court documents obtained by PEOPLE at the time. She claimed he “held a gun to my head” twice and “punched me in the head/face” during their marriage.
“Andre has verbally and emotionally decimated my personhood to the extent that I currently suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome,” Nicole said in the documents filed in the Superior Court of California.
Dr. Dre denied the allegations.
In December 2021, he agreed to pay Nicole $100 million in their divorce settlement. At the time, he had a reported net worth of $820 million.
As for Michelle and Dr. Dre, the two appear to be keeping things low-key. Michelle has not posted the relationship on social media, and Dr. Dre has not appeared on this season of The Valley.