People are obsessed with where Jason Caperna is from. If you’ve spent any time on Bravo Twitter or Reddit lately, you’ve seen the theories. Is he Italian? Filipino? Mixed? The man basically walked onto our screens on The Valley as the level-headed lawyer married to Janet Caperna, and suddenly, everyone became an amateur genealogist.
Honestly, the confusion is kind of understandable. He’s got a very specific look that doesn't fit into one neat box, and that Italian last name—Caperna—tends to throw people for a loop. But here is the thing: Jason Caperna has actually been pretty open about his background on his own platform, even if the show doesn't spend every episode talking about his DNA results.
Jason Caperna Ethnicity: The Real Breakdown
So, let's get into the actual facts. Jason is Blasian.
Specifically, he has confirmed on his and Janet’s podcast, This Side of the Hill, that he is part Black and part Korean. This isn't just internet rumors; it's something he’s addressed directly during an "Ask Me Anything" style episode.
He grew up on Long Island, which explains some of the vibe, but his ancestral roots are much more diverse. The "Blasian" identity is one that many fans "clocked" early on, though plenty of others were guessing everything from Pacific Islander to Brazilian.
- His mother is Black.
- His father is Korean.
Wait, then why the last name Caperna?
This is the part that usually confuses the casual viewer. His father, who is Korean, was adopted by an Italian-American family. That is where the name comes from. It’s a very "only in America" kind of story—a Korean man raised in an Italian household on Long Island, passing down a Mediterranean surname to his Blasian son who eventually becomes a high-powered attorney in Los Angeles.
Why Fans Are So Curious
Reality TV audiences love to categorize people. On The Valley, you have a lot of very "standard" reality archetypes, but Jason and Janet represent a slightly different demographic. Jason is a partner at Acumen Law, LLP. He's smart, he's calm, and he often acts as the "adult in the room" when Jax Taylor is having a meltdown.
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The curiosity about jason the valley ethnicity also comes from a place of representation. There aren't a ton of Blasian men on mainstream reality TV, especially not ones portrayed as the successful, stable "voice of reason." When Jasmine Goode mentioned on the show that she and Jason were the only two Black people in the group, it sparked a massive debate online because some viewers didn't realize Jason identified that way.
Life Outside the Heritage Debate
Beyond his DNA, Jason's life is pretty much the definition of "settled." He and Janet got married in June 2022. It wasn't some massive, televised circus like some Vanderpump Rules weddings; they actually got married on her uncle’s front porch.
They welcomed their son in December 2023. If you’re watching Season 2, you’re seeing them navigate that "new parent" life while also trying to stay out of the line of fire of Kristen Doute’s rumor mill.
- Career: Partner at Acumen Law, LLP in Glendale.
- Education: Boston College (undergrad) and Loyola Law School.
- Role on The Valley: The resident "attorney friend" and Janet’s support system.
It is worth noting that while Jason is cool with sharing his background, he doesn't make it his entire personality on the show. He seems more interested in talking about legal advice or how to handle Jax's latest ego trip.
Common Misconceptions About Jason's Background
I’ve seen people insist he’s Filipino because of the Spanish/Italian influence on many Filipino surnames. I’ve seen people swear he’s Hawaiian.
Actually, I think the most common mistake is assuming he is "just Italian" because of the name. In reality, the Caperna name is a beautiful example of how adoption shapes families and identities. He’s a guy who grew up with those Italian-American cultural influences from his dad’s side, combined with his Korean and Black heritage.
Basically, he’s a bit of everything.
Why It Matters for the Show
In a cast full of people who sometimes feel like they’re "performing" for the cameras, Jason feels real. Knowing his background—a mix of cultures, an adoption story, and a career in law—adds layers to why he might be a bit more reserved than someone like Jax or Jesse. He’s had to navigate different worlds his whole life.
If you want to keep up with the more nuanced side of his life, you should probably check out their podcast. They dive into stuff there that never makes the final cut of a 42-minute Bravo episode. You'll get a much better sense of who Jason is as a person, rather than just "Janet's husband" or "the guy with the Italian name who isn't Italian."
If you’re looking to follow Jason’s journey or Janet’s take on the friend group, the best place to start is by catching up on The Valley on Peacock and listening to their This Side of the Hill podcast episodes from early 2024, where Jason specifically breaks down his family history.