Image Source: Getty / Todd Williamson / Bravo
The Bravo world was rocked on March 3 when “Vanderpump Rules” stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix break up after 9 years collectively. In the aftermath, quite a few retailers reported that their break up was prompted by the revelation that Sandoval cheated on Madix with their costar Raquel Leviss in a months-long affair. Dozens of Bravo stars appeared to substantiate the information on social media, together with producer Andy Cohen, who tweeted out a siren emoji and then requested, “How many parts is too many parts for the #pumprules reunion???” POPSUGAR reached out to reps for Sandoval, Madix, and Leviss for touch upon the allegations however didn’t obtain responses.
The web has since been ablaze with Bravo followers making an attempt to determine what precisely occurred between the three stars. On March 8, Sandoval and Leviss each launched statements apologizing to Madix for his or her roles within the state of affairs. Now, over per week later, Madix has launched a press release about her breakup and the aftermath. If you are not a Bravo head, or are muddy on the small print, here is a full timeline of the drama, together with the newest statements on the difficulty.
Who Are Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix, and Raquel Leviss?
Sandoval, Madix, and Leviss are all solid members of “Vanderpump Rules.” Sandoval and Madix met and turned associates once they labored as bartenders at eating places owned by former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Lisa Vanderpump earlier than the present started filming. Sandoval was a solid member when the primary season premiered in 2013, whereas Madix joined for season two the next yr. Sandoval’s finest buddy is fellow solid member Tom Schwartz, with whom he is began two eating places: TomTom With Vanderpump, and Schwartz and Sandy’s totally on their very own. Schwartz break up from his spouse, castmate Katie Maloney, in early 2022.
Leviss, in the meantime, was first launched in season 5 because the girlfriend of solid member James Kennedy. The pair obtained engaged in May 2021 after 5 years collectively. (Sandoval even helped Kennedy plan and pay for the over-the-top proposal.) However, the couple finally break up that December.
During the summer time of 2022 (and as filmed for the present, which is at the moment airing on Bravo), there have been rumors that Leviss was hooking up with Schwartz and that their attraction got here to a head on the wedding ceremony of solid member Scheana Shay in late August. Since the present premiered, Leviss has stated that it was OK for her to be concerned with Schwartz regardless of Maloney’s needs as a result of she and Maloney weren’t associates. Shay and Leviss appeared collectively on the March 3 episode of the “Chicks in the Office” podcast (which was launched earlier than information broke), and Leviss stated, “Ariana [and Scheana] were the ones that really embraced me into this group and have been there for me since day one, so I know who my true friends are.”
How Long Were Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Together?
Sandoval and Madix started courting in 2014. They purchased a home collectively in Valley Village, in Los Angeles, in 2019.
Did Tom Sandoval Cheat on Ariana Madix With Raquel Leviss?
On March 3, TMZ broke the information that Sandoval and Madix had break up amid allegations of dishonest involving Leviss and that “Vanderpump Rules” was filming the fallout. Other retailers rapidly confirmed the information, as did a few of their “Pump Rules” costars on Instagram, together with Kennedy and Lala Kent. Madix reportedly discovered concerning the affair on Wednesday when she noticed Sandoval’s telephone and his texts with Leviss.
Sources instructed People that the affair had been happening for six months. During that point, Leviss continued to play up rumors that she was concerned with Schwartz. She wore a TomTom sweatshirt to BravoCon in October, and when Maloney accused her of being a “fangirl,” she wrote on Instagram that she largely wore it to be cozy and added, “I also wore it to support BOTH of the Toms.” She included #QuantityOneTomStan.
Weeks later, Sandoval dressed as Leviss within the sweatshirt for Halloween, as Leviss memorialized in her Halloween Instagram spotlight.
What Has Tom Sandoval Said About the Affair?
Sandoval posted a press release on his Instagram on March 4, asking that folks not direct their anger towards Schwartz, who he says knew nothing about his actions till just lately. He additionally requested that folks not take their frustration out on their restaurant Schwartz and Sandy’s. “Hey, I fully understand and deserve ur anger and disappointment towards me, but please leave Schwartz my friends and family out of this situation,” he wrote. “Schwartz specifically only found out about this very recently, and most definitely did not condone my actions.”
“This was a very personal thing,” Sandoval continued. “Schwartz & Sandy’s might have my name on it, but also there are 3 other partners and 20 employees, who especially rely on the restaurant for income for them and their families. Just like TomTom, I’m a small part of a much bigger thing. Please direct ur anger towards me and not them. They did nothing wrong.”
Sandoval went on to apologize to his companions who “have to suffer for my actions.” He added that he could be stepping away from the eating places for now “out of respect for my employees & partners.” He concluded his put up, “I need some time to address everything else. Sorry for everything.” Sandoval didn’t point out Madix in that assertion.
Hours earlier, Schwartz and Sandy’s additionally posted a press release on Instagram asking individuals to be variety to the employees there who had “nothing to do with this unfortunate situation.” The assertion additionally referred to as Madix “a good friend and a great supporter of the restaurant.” Schwartz has not commented, however on Saturday followers posted images of him on the restaurant greeting visitors.
On March 8, Sandoval posted a brand new assertion to his Instagram web page, writing, “I want to first and foremost apologize to everyone I’ve hurt through this process. Most of all, I want to apologize to Ariana. I made mistakes, I was selfish, and made reckless decisions that hurt somebody I love. No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly.”
He continued, “I can only imagine how devastating this has been for Ariana and everyone around us. I feel really horrible about that. My biggest regret is that I dishonored Ariana. I never meant to disappoint so many people, including out loving family and friends.”
He then appeared to deal with “Vanderpump Rules” viewers, writing, “My love for Ariana was strong than any camera ever could have captured. Some of our best time together were never filmed. The same goes for some of our biggest struggles. I wish things happened in a different order and our relationship was not severely tarnished, and that it ended with the same respect for her that it began with. I owed Ariana better.”
He concluded, “I am beyond sad that it ended the way it did. The choices I made hurt so many people. I acted in a way that clashes with who and how I want to be. I will reflect and work on myself. I have work to do. I always have, and I always will.”
Image Source: Getty / Charles Sykes / Bravo
What Has Raquel Leviss Said About the Affair?
Leviss launched a press release to “Entertainment Tonight” on March 8, which started together with her writing, “I want to apologize for my actions and my choices foremost to Ariana, and to my friends and the fans so invested in our relationships. There is no excuse, I am not a victim and I must own my actions and I deeply regret hurting Ariana.”
She continued, “I am reflecting on my choices, speaking to a counselor and I am learning things about myself such as my patterns of codependency and addiction to being and feeling loved. I have sought emotional validation through intimate connections that are not healthy without regard for my own well-being, sometimes negatively affecting others and often prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships. I am taking steps to understand my behavior and make healthier choices.”
The assertion went on, “Although I chose to be on a reality show accepting the good and bad that comes with it, beyond my own actions I have been physically assaulted, lost friendships, received death threats and hate emails in addition to having had my privacy violated.”
Leviss concluded, “I have begun counseling to end my unhealthy behavioral cycle, learn to set stronger emotional boundaries and learn to protect my mental health. I don’t expect sympathy, understanding or forgiveness. Right now I must focus on my own health and well-being and as I strive to be a better person moving forward, I will prioritize my mental health and learn from my mistakes.”
Leviss’s assertion got here a day after it was reported by TMZ that her legal professionals had despatched letters to the “Vanderpump Rules” solid saying that the video on Sandoval’s telephone that Madix discovered was recorded with out her permission and that everybody who had the video ought to delete it. That similar day, Leviss additionally served Shay with a restraining order, as confirmed by People, although the explanation for the order is unknown (although Leviss claims in her assertion that she was bodily assaulted and doesn’t title the particular person).
In a March 9 assertion to POPSUGAR, Shay’s lawyer, Neama Rahmani, responded to the submitting saying, “This case is a fabrication by a known liar and a cheat who has betrayed everyone close to her. Scheana never punched Rachel, period. The supposed dark markings around her left eye have been there for months. Neither Scheana nor other cast members want anything to do with Rachel going forward. The judge has only heard a one-sided account of what happened, and we look forward to presenting the full and true story at the March 29 hearing.”
Meanwhile on March 9, Leviss addressed hypothesis concerning the standing of her relationship with Sandoval in an Instagram put up amid rumors that the pair deliberate to proceed their scandalous romance. Wrote Leviss, “Besides the indefensible circumstances surrounding our relationship, my feelings for Tom have always been sincere and born out of a loving friendship. Knowing how many people we hurt, I need to understand my choices and learn to make better ones. I need to take care of my health, work on self growth and take time to be ok with being alone.”
Concluded Leviss, “I care for Tom and I don’t want to label anything or predict what lies ahead. Right now I need to heal.”
What Has Ariana Madix Said About Raquel Leviss and Tom Sandoval’s Affair?
In the early hours of March 16, Madix took to Instagram and shared a photograph of herself in a protracted pink and inexperienced robe. She started the caption, “hi. where to begin?”
She continued, “i want to express my most sincere gratitude for the outpouring of love and support i have received from friends, family, and people i’ve never even met in the last two weeks. when i have felt like i couldn’t even stand, you all have given me the strength to continue and seen me through my darkest hours. to say i have been devastated and broken is an understatement. however, i know that i am not in this alone. so many of my closest friends are also grieving this loss right now and reeling from this betrayal on so many levels. i am so f*cking lucky to have the best support system in the world and i hope i can repay every single person for the love you have shown me.”
She concluded, “what doesn’t kill me better run,” and signed off, “love, ariana.”
Before Madix spoke out, her buddy (and Sandoval’s ex-girlfriend) Kristen Doute posted a video on Instagram on March 3 of the pair hugging. Doute assured followers that Madix was not alone, and her associates have been there supporting her.
Her brother, Jeremy Madix, additionally commented on Kennedy’s since-deleted Instagram put up concerning the information on the time, writing, “It’s funny to watch people social climb and be soooooooo fake that they’re willing to sh*t on people that are supposed to be their ‘best friend’ (a term that gets thrown around very often around here) all just to come up or have some sort of story line,” in accordance with Us Weekly.
What Has Sandoval’s Best Friend, Tom Schwartz, Said About the Affair?
On March 11, Schwartz — Sandoval’s finest buddy and enterprise associate — broke his silence concerning the affair. TMZ caught up with the restaurateur on the LAX airport the place he gave an replace on how his associate is doing. “[Sandoval’s] OK, I think. Relatively speaking, I mean, he has a sense of profound sadness, rightfully so, that he’s a piece of sh*t. And to some extent, maybe he is,” Schwartz stated. “But he knows he f*cked up, and the whole thing is just really sad.”
He went on to precise his hope that Madix is surrounded by associates and is transferring ahead. “Luckily, Ariana has a really good support system, and she’s with her friends,” he continued. “I hope she’s living a good life, just indulging. Hope she goes on a living spree. I’m just hoping this whole thing blows over.”
Schwartz went on to say he hasn’t been in touch with Leviss since information of the scandal broke, and he denied publicly kissing her to cowl up the affair for his buddy. “It’s f*cking complicated. That’s the understatement of the year. I think Tom’s OK,” he stated. “Really, I’m just sad about the negative impact it’s having on our business, but I think cooler heads will prevail, and I’m just gonna keep on keeping on.”
“Vanderpump Rules” Season 10 Midseason Trailer
The “Vanderpump Rules” cameras are again on and filming the fallout of the dishonest allegations, and that footage might be included on the finish of the season, which is at the moment airing. On March 20, Bravo launched the season 10 midseason trailer, which begins with Shay’s wedding ceremony and Maloney and Madix on the lookout for an area for his or her new sandwich spot earlier than issues actually get ugly. “I was the OG homewrecking whore of this group,” Shay tells Leviss within the clip. “And then came Lala. And now here you are.” We additionally see Madix seemingly confront Sandoval concerning the affair when she tells him, “You don’t deserve one f*cking tear of mine.” Meanwhile, Leviss is heard in a voiceover, saying, “I don’t f*cking regret our relationship.”
Multiple solid members have additionally posted images of themselves filming speaking heads for brand new episodes, and there are quite a few rumors about scenes filmed between Madix and Sandoval and Leviss and Sandoval. On March 10, Bravo confirmed Madix’s buddy Doute could be returning to the sequence after she was fired in 2020 for a racist prank she pulled on her then-costar Faith Stowers. Her return comes after the fact TV star posted her supportive Instagram for Madix, which suggests she’ll be wading into the controversy that Bravo followers have dubbed “Scandoval.”
Additionally, Schwartz confirmed to TMZ that the messy state of affairs would unfold in entrance of the cameras. When requested when he discovered concerning the affair, he stated, “You’ll see it play out on the show.”
Will Raquel Leviss Attend the “Vanderpump Rules” Season 10 Reunion?
The present is predicted to movie the season’s reunion this week, and Leviss formally confirmed her attendance to E!. “Yes, I will be attending the reunion in person,” she instructed the outlet.
Some viewers have questioned how the restraining order towards Shay will have an effect on filming, which generally entails all the solid collectively in a single room. However, in a March 23 assertion shared with POPSUGAR, Shay’s legal professional, Neama Rahmani, stated, “Scheana will be present at today’s filming in person. Scheana intends to follow the law, but she wants to be part of the reunion. If Rachel attends, Scheana and ‘Vanderpump Rules’ will make sure that Scheana remains 100 yards away to comply with the restraining order.”
Rahmani added, “There is no real way for the temporary restraining order to be dropped, so it will remain in effect until the permanent hearing on March 29 and then it will just lapse if Rachel doesn’t pursue it. And if Rachel does pursue it, Scheana intends to call witnesses and present evidence to disprove her false accusations.”
— Additional reporting by Victoria Edel
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