Image Source: Getty / Todd Williamson / Bravo
The Bravo world was rocked on March 3 when “Vanderpump Rules” stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix cut up after 9 years collectively. In the aftermath, quite a few shops reported that their cut 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 verify the information on social media, together with producer Andy Cohen, who tweeted out a siren emoji after which requested, “How many elements is simply too many elements 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 attempting to determine what precisely occurred between the three stars, however on March 8, Sandoval and Leviss each launched statements apologizing to Madix for his or her roles within the state of affairs. If you are not a Bravo head, or are muddy on the main points, here is a full timeline of the drama, together with the newest statements on the problem.
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 have become buddies after 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 12 months. Sandoval’s finest pal 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 cut 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 bought 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 cut up that December.
During the summer time of 2022 (and as filmed for the present, which is presently 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 marriage ceremony of solid member Scheana Shay in late August. Since the present premiered, Leviss has mentioned 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 buddies. Shay and Leviss appeared collectively on the March 3 episode of the “Chicks within the Office” podcast (which was launched earlier than information broke), and Leviss mentioned, “Ariana [and Scheana] have been those that actually embraced me into this group and have been there for me since day one, so I do know who my true buddies are.”
How Long Were Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Together?
Sandoval and Madix started relationship 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 cut up amid allegations of dishonest involving Leviss and that “Vanderpump Rules” was filming the fallout. Other shops shortly confirmed the information, as did a few of their “Pump Rules” costars on Instagram, together with Kennedy and Lala Kent. Madix reportedly came upon in regards to the affair on Wednesday when she noticed Sandoval’s cellphone and his texts with Leviss.
Sources instructed People that the affair had been occurring 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 principally wore it to be cozy and added, “I additionally wore it to help 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 not too long ago. He additionally requested that folks not take their frustration out on their restaurant Schwartz and Sandy’s. “Hey, I totally perceive and deserve ur anger and disappointment in the direction of me, however please go away Schwartz my family and friends out of this example,” he wrote. “Schwartz particularly solely came upon about this very not too long ago, and most positively didn’t condone my actions.”
“This was a really private factor,” Sandoval continued. “Schwartz & Sandy’s may need my title on it, but additionally there are 3 different companions and 20 workers, who particularly depend on the restaurant for earnings for them and their households. Just like TomTom, I’m a small a part of a a lot greater factor. Please direct ur anger in the direction of me and never them. They did nothing fallacious.”
Sandoval went on to apologize to his companions who “must endure for my actions.” He added that he could be stepping away from the eating places for now “out of respect for my workers & companions.” He concluded his put up, “I want a while to deal with every part else. Sorry for every part.” Sandoval didn’t point out Madix in that assertion.
Hours earlier, Schwartz and Sandy’s additionally posted a press release on Instagram asking folks to be type to the employees there who had “nothing to do with this unlucky state of affairs.” The assertion additionally referred to as Madix “a great pal and a fantastic 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 wish to firstly apologize to everybody I’ve damage by means of this course of. Most of all, I wish to apologize to Ariana. I made errors, I used to be egocentric, and made reckless choices that damage any individual I like. No one deserves to really feel that ache so traumatically and publicly.”
He continued, “I can solely think about how devastating this has been for Ariana and everybody round us. I really feel actually horrible about that. My largest remorse is that I dishonored Ariana. I by no means meant to disappoint so many individuals, together with out loving household and buddies.”
He then appeared to deal with “Vanderpump Rules” viewers, writing, “My love for Ariana was robust than any digital camera ever may have captured. Some of our greatest time collectively have been by no means filmed. The similar goes for a few of our largest struggles. I want issues occurred in a unique order and our relationship was not severely tarnished, and that it ended with the identical respect for her that it started with. I owed Ariana higher.”
He concluded, “I’m past unhappy that it ended the best way it did. The selections I made damage so many individuals. I acted in a manner that clashes with who and the way I wish to be. I’ll replicate and work on myself. I’ve work to do. I all the time have, and I all the time 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 along with her writing, “I wish to apologize for my actions and my selections foremost to Ariana, and to my buddies and the followers so invested in {our relationships}. There is not any excuse, I’m not a sufferer and I have to personal my actions and I deeply remorse hurting Ariana.”
She continued, “I’m reflecting on my selections, talking to a counselor and I’m studying issues about myself equivalent to my patterns of codependency and dependancy to being and feeling beloved. I’ve sought emotional validation by means of intimate connections that aren’t wholesome with out regard for my very own well-being, generally negatively affecting others and infrequently prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships. I’m taking steps to know my conduct and make more healthy selections.”
The assertion went on, “Although I selected to be on a actuality present accepting the nice and unhealthy that comes with it, past my very own actions I’ve been bodily assaulted, misplaced friendships, obtained dying threats and hate emails along with having had my privateness violated.”
Leviss concluded, “I’ve begun counseling to finish my unhealthy behavioral cycle, be taught to set stronger emotional boundaries and be taught to guard my psychological well being. I do not count on sympathy, understanding or forgiveness. Right now I have to focus by myself well being and well-being and as I attempt to be a greater particular person shifting ahead, I’ll prioritize my psychological well being and be taught from my errors.”
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 cellphone 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 rationale 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 recognized liar and a cheat who has betrayed everybody near her. Scheana by no means punched Rachel, interval. The supposed darkish markings round her left eye have been there for months. Neither Scheana nor different solid members need something to do with Rachel going ahead. The decide has solely heard a one-sided account of what occurred, and we sit up for presenting the complete and true story on the March 29 listening to.”
Meanwhile on March 9, Leviss addressed hypothesis in regards to 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 emotions for Tom have all the time been honest and born out of a loving friendship. Knowing how many individuals we damage, I want to know my selections and be taught to make higher ones. I have to care for my well being, work on self progress and take time to be happy with being alone.”
Concluded Leviss, “I take care of Tom and I do not wish to label something or predict what lies forward. Right now I have to heal.”
What Has Ariana Madix Said About Raquel Leviss and Tom Sandoval’s Affair?
Madix has but to make a put up or assertion of her personal, and she or he deleted her Instagram account when the information broke. (As of March 9, she’s rejoined the platform.) But her pal (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 buddies have been there supporting her.
Her brother, Jeremy Madix, additionally commented on Kennedy’s since-deleted Instagram put up in regards to the information, writing, “It’s humorous to look at folks social climb and be soooooooo faux that they are prepared to sh*t on folks which might be presupposed to be their ‘finest pal’ (a time period that will get thrown round fairly often round right here) all simply to return up or have some type of story line,” based on Us Weekly.
Will the Cheating Drama Be Part of “Vanderpump Rules” Season 10?
The “Vanderpump Rules” cameras are again on and filming the fallout of the dishonest allegations, and that footage will probably be included on the finish of the season, which is presently airing. Multiple solid members have 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 pal Kristen 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 truth TV star posted her supportive Instagram for Madix, which suggests she’ll be wading into the controversy that Bravo followers have dubbed “Scandoval.”
The present has but to movie the season’s reunion, which, based on Cohen on his March 6 radio present, is scheduled to happen in two weeks. However, it isn’t clear how the restraining order towards Shay will have an effect on filming, which generally includes your entire solid collectively in a single room.
— Additional reporting by Victoria Edel