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A cheating scandal involving the cast members of a Bravo reality television show took the internet by storm.
This article has been updated to reflect new information from the season finale.
It was the cheating scandal that broke the internet: Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix, stars of the Bravo reality television show “Vanderpump Rules” who were a couple for nine years, split after Mr. Sandoval had an affair with their co-star Raquel Leviss.
For weeks, “Scandoval,” as the incident has been coined, dominated headlines on tabloids, with many devoted followers expressing shock as the affair surfaced while the show’s latest season was still on air.
Who are Mr. Sandoval, Ms. Madix and Ms. Leviss? Although season 10 finished filming last fall, when news of the affair trickled out, cameras picked up again in March to catch the aftermath. The result was the season finale, which showed a confrontation between Ms. Madix and Mr. Sandoval, and a scene with Mr. Sandoval and Ms. Leviss admitting their love for one another.
To break it all down for the uninitiated, the offline or those merely having trouble keeping up, Allie Jones, a contributor to The New York Times and the founder of a weekly celebrity gossip newsletter, “Gossip Time,” spoke about “Vanderpump Rules,” the scandal and the subsequent fallout ahead of the show’s three-part reunion on Wednesday.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What is “Vanderpump Rules” about?
“Vanderpump Rules” actually started as sort of a backdoor pilot from another Bravo TV reality show, “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” and it began with a cheating scandal. One of the cast members of “Vanderpump Rules,” Scheana Shay, had cheated with the ex-husband [Eddie Cibrian] of one of the housewives [Brandi Glanville]. Lisa Vanderpump, a restaurateur, was a breakout star from the “Beverly Hills” franchise for nine seasons, and this show is based on the foibles and scandals of people who work in Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurant SUR. But these days, most of the cast members don’t work at the restaurant anymore. They’ve started new bars, new ventures and a lot of podcasts, but we’re still following along as they get slightly nicer apartments and homes.
Can you explain who was involved in this latest scandal and how we got here?
The main characters are Tom Sandoval, who used to be a bartender at SUR and went on to start new bars with another guy named Tom: Tom Schwartz. And he was in a long-term relationship with another cast member, Ariana Madix, who also used to work at SUR and owns a home with him.
Behind Ariana’s back, Tom Sandoval hooked up with yet another cast member, Raquel, and she actually does work at SUR. Raquel used to be engaged to another cast member, James, and Tom [Sandoval] used to date another former cast member, Kristen, and was accused of cheating with Ariana while he was with Kristen. So basically, the web gets very complicated very quickly. But as we’re seeing right now, it’s mostly about Tom, Ariana and Raquel.
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It seems like this was a shock to even the most fervent fans of the show. How did this become public?
This was not something that any Bravo fan, as far as I know, was suspecting, because the show was airing its current season when news of the affair broke out. In the show, Raquel has actually been accused of hooking up with Tom Schwartz, so that’s been the drama. Tom Schwartz has recently divorced from another cast member, Katie Maloney, and some of the girls were upset with Raquel because of her interest in Tom Schwartz.
How have Tom, Raquel and Ariana responded since word of the scandal came out?
Since the rumors started, it has been a long wait for fans to find out what has actually happened, because we had to go through all of the events of the show. Only in the season 10 finale did we get footage of the scene in which Tom and Ariana confront each other. He explains that it started out as a friendship with Raquel, and Ariana really says her piece.
How has it affected them?
Ariana has definitely come out of the scandal with a starring role on this show, and she has seen a lot of other career opportunities. As devastating as this has been on her personal life, fans have definitely sided with her, and she has kind of become a bigger star because of this.
Tom Sandoval has struggled. Even when rumor of the affair emerged, people were going on Yelp and leaving negative reviews on the bar he owned with Tom Schwartz. He has a cover band and people have heckled him at shows. As far as Raquel is concerned, her publicist said she had gone to a mental health facility.
Cheating isn’t something unique to the show. Why did this particular cheating rumor blow up?
It’s just so shocking, because the show has sort of fallen off in recent years, I think most fans will say, and this really feels like a return to form. What’s amazing about this is that “Vanderpump Rules” is a show foundationally built on cheating scandals with significant others. And this is sort of the apex cheating scandal that no one could have ever imagined. It touched so many different people, and it was so diametrically opposed to what was actually happening in the world of the show. For the die-hard Bravo fan, it’s shocking because we’ve been with these characters since 2013. Tom Sandoval has been accused of cheating several times but always seemed to slither out of it.
How have Bravo fans responded?
Fans have positively responded to Ariana, while others have negatively responded to Tom. Fans have not been kind to Raquel. This whole situation has been a gold mine for Bravo fans. There is a plethora of details to pick through. People have now watched the show back from before the affair started to find hints of it. There is no shortage of details and accusations for fans to wade through.
What do you think the show’s creators and producers feel about these events?
There was a really great interview in Variety with Alex Baskin, an executive producer on the show, and Lisa Vanderpump, and I think everybody was just absolutely floored, but they all seemed to be in agreement that they should get cameras on this. The ratings have been way up this season, and this will probably continue through the reunion episodes. Alex said the show would probably take a pause after the reunion airs because there are more revelations that come out that cast members will need time to process. Fans are interested now more than ever to know what else might have happened.
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FAQs
Who else cheated on Vanderpump Rules? ›
It was the cheating scandal that broke the internet: Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix, stars of the Bravo reality television show “Vanderpump Rules” who were a couple for nine years, split after Mr. Sandoval had an affair with their co-star Raquel Leviss.
Did Lala and James sleep together? ›Though they wouldn't fess up to the truth until season 10, Lala Kent and James Kennedy did, indeed, sleep together while James was dating Raquel Levis. At the time, Lala was also in a relationship — she'd just started dating producer Randall Emmett.
What episode does Ariana find out about Tom? ›Scheana Shay Addresses How She Feels About Tom Sandoval Today. As the cast notes in Season 10, Episode 15, Scheana was with Raquel at Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in New York when Ariana found out about the affair and called Raquel.
Are Sandoval and Raquel still together? ›There's still a spark between these two lightning bolts. After declaring their love for one another during the Vanderpump Rules season 10 finale, Raquel Leviss and Tom Sandoval confirmed their feelings are still the same during the third part of the show's reunion June 7.
Did Tom sleep with Ariana? ›After the season-ten finale, Ariana Madix confirmed on WWHL that Tom Sandoval and the woman known as “Miami Girl” did in fact bang lo these nine years ago. “They slept together,” she said.
Did Tom cheat on Katie while married? ›After Tom Schwartz and Katie Maloney got married in 2016, he confessed to drunkenly making out with one of Lala Kent's friends in season six.
Which tom did Raquel hook up? ›Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss' affair was undoubtedly shocking on its own, but Raquel's big revelation during Part 3 of the Vanderpump Rules Season 10 reunion took things to an entirely different level.
Who did Raquel sleep with Vanderpump? ›'Vanderpump Rules' reunion finale: Raquel reveals she slept with Tom while Ariana attended funeral.
Who has Lala Kent slept with on Vanderpump Rules? ›Lala Kent. The fiery SUR hostess hooked up with James Kennedy, Ariana Madix, Katie Maloney and Brittany Cartwright but no, she did not have sex with Jax Taylor, even though there were rumors that she did. (She confirmed the rumor was false on the Vanderpump Rules After Show.)
Did Sandoval and Ariana hook up? ›Ariana Madix is done covering for her ex, Tom Sandoval. After years of speculation, the 37-year-old Vanderpump Rules star confirmed that Sandoval did hook up with "Miami Girl."
Was Raquel sleeping with Tom during season 10? ›
Throughout the reunion, Leviss took accountability for the affair she sustained with Tom Sandoval behind Ariana Madix's back. “I'm so ashamed and embarrassed that I am even capable of keeping this secret from somebody who has been in my corner since the beginning,” Leviss said, “Ariana, I am so sorry for betraying you.
Is Raquel autistic? ›She said that she has been "privately processing" her late autism diagnosis and has accepted it. She is now "filled with more hope and peace than ever before."
When did Schwartz and Sandy's open? ›Ever since Schwartz & Sandy's (finally!) opened in November 2022, Vanderpump Rules business partners Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval have been celebrating their success at the cocktail lounge and restaurant. Most recently, Schwartz documented a special, long-awaited moment during a Saturday night at the venue.
Who is the richest person on Vanderpump Rules? ›Lisa Vanderpump, 62, tops the list of the show's wealthiest with a US$90 million personal fortune.
Did Sandoval sleep with Annmarie? ›During Wednesday's episode of “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” Madix revealed that her ex and the mystery woman did, in fact, have sex.
Why don t Tom and Ariana have furniture? ›He went on to explain that the blank space was necessary to bring the book's photos to life, and that it may not have been doable had furniture been in play as well. "I know some people are saying 'just move it when you shoot,' but 80+ photo setups over a week is a LOT," Pellegrino tweeted.
Who did Katie cheat on Tom with? ›Katie Maloney is sharing her thoughts on the scandalous affair between her Vanderpump Rules costars Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss. The You're Gonna Love Me podcast host, 36, opened up about the matter during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Wednesday night.
Why did Katie dump Tom? ›Why did Katie and Tom get divorced? Katie officially announced she was divorcing Tom on Instagram after rumors circulated about her missing wedding ring. In her post, Katie claimed the couple was on “different paths” but that they still had “deep admiration for each other.” This content is imported from instagram.
Does Peter still work at SUR? ›Yes I am part of Blingka/ Celebrity slots, I still work at Sur restaurant and I am on the TV show Vanderpump rules. I'm working on producing films as well as my own show and podcast.
Did Tom sleep with the girl in Miami? ›“They slept together,” she said during her Clubhouse appearance last Thursday. “It was before we were exclusive, and I didn't want people to think the absolute worst of the man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with.
Who did Tom date on Vanderpump Rules? ›
Krystie Lee Yandoli. Season 10 of Vanderpump Rules is the gift that keeps on giving for fans who can't get enough of every last detail involving Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss' monthslong affair that was apparently happening in plain sight, even with hints of their deceit filmed on camera.
Is Tom Sandoval friends with Jax? ›In 2017, Tom Sandoval advised his friend Jax Taylor to not live with his girlfriend Brittany Cartwright after they broke up. Fast forward to 2021, and Sandoval found himself in the same situation, living with his ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix after cheating on her with Raquel Leviss.
Who did Sandoval sleep with in Vegas? ›Doute accused Sandoval of cheating on her with Madix during season 2. At the reunion, which aired in February 2014, the TomTom cofounder confessed to kissing Madix in Las Vegas while he was still dating Doute. He claimed, however, that they never fully hooked up until his relationship with the Michigan native was over.
Did Kristen and Brittany hook up Vanderpump? ›Brittany has denied that the hook-up ever happened, and we've seen that it has caused a rift in her relationship with Jax. Kristen, on the other hand, said that she and Brittany have shared some drunken kisses, which she still maintained when Bravotv.com caught up with her.
Did Jax really sleep with Kristen? ›One of the show's most infamous hookups went down in season two, when Jax confessed to sleeping with Kristen Doute, his best friend Tom Sandoval's longtime girlfriend and Stassi's best friend. Though Kristen initially refuted the claim, she finally admitted that they hooked up (but never kissed) during the finale.
Did James and Logan sleep together? ›In the episode, James denied this, and Logan ultimately admitted that he spread the rumors, which were completely false. He also expressed his love for James as the end of their friendship seemed to be upon them. However, there's one member of the SUR squad who doesn't think that the story ends there.
Did Tom cheat with Annemarie? ›After news broke of Sandoval and Raquel's affair, Jax Taylor said during an appearance on WWHL that Tom and Annemarie's infamous hookup “100 percent happened.”
Why did Jax and Brittany break up? ›'Vanderpump Rules' Turns 100: The Craziest Moments Ever
The Michigan native made headlines in December when he admitted on an episode of Vanderpump Rules that he cheated on Brittany with their former SUR coworker Faith Stowers. “I wasn't thinking. It was one of my usual mess-ups.
After revealing on an episode of Vanderpump Rules that she didn't "have a jawline," Ariana received Kybella injections to help with her chin area. Ariana's doctor, established board-certified plastic surgeon Dr.
Did Schwartz sleep with Raquel? ›During a bombshell April 5 Watch What Happens Live interview, Tom Schwartz revealed he found out Sandoval and Leviss first hooked up last August before things got more serious. "From my point of view, it became, like, an emotional affair," he added, "which is still inappropriate."
Did Brock hook up with Raquel? ›
Scheana goes on to say that Brock denied the rumors, stating “Absolutely not,” in regard to whether or not there was any truth to the rumors. Scheana also asked if Raquel ever tried (to hook up with him). and Brock also denied this claim.
What did Ariana see on Tom's phone? ›Tom Sandoval laughed over how Ariana Madix found out about his affair with Raquel Leviss by seeing a sexually explicit video of her on his phone after it dropped out of his pocket. “Here's an original song.
What celebrity has an autistic wife? ›Rob Dyrdek is showing his eternal support for wife Bryiana Dyrdek. The Iconic Beauty president recently opened up about her autism diagnosis, noting that after taking time for herself, she wanted to share details about her development.
How did Raquel break her nose? ›Nassif and Raquel told him that James bumped her nose when he came in for the kiss.
Why are James and Raquel not together? ›“After these five wonderful years we had together, we decided we have two different goals and made the decision to call off the engagement,” the former couple wrote in December 2021. “We love each other very much, but we aren't in love anymore.
How much of TomTom does Lisa own? ›To clarify the Toms situation, Vanderpump Rules documented Lisa, Ken, Sandoval, and Schwartz opening Tom Tom back in 2018. The Toms each made a $50,000 investment for 5% of the business.
Does Tom and Tom still own TomTom? ›He and costar Tom Schwartz are partial owners of TomTom, a West Hollywood bar they launched with Vanderpump in 2018, as well as Schwartz & Sandy's, which opened in November after a number of delays.
What happened to Sandy's? ›Originally, Sandy's was only to merge with Hardee's and maintain its own identity, but in 1973, ninety percent of the locations agreed to switch to Hardee's; the other ten percent remained Sandy's. In 1979, the last Sandy's location in Muscatine, Iowa, became a Hardee's.
Why is Stassi rich? ›What Is Stassi Schroeder's Net Worth? The former Bravo star has an estimated net worth of $2 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Her accomplishments go beyond appearing on TV. In addition to her time as a SURver, the Louisiana native is a blogger, podcast host and author.
Is Lisa Vanderpump a billionaire? ›Lisa Vanderpump's net worth in 2023 is $90 million. Vanderpump is a businesswoman and a reality show actress who has starred in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, American Housewife, Seperate Lives, Baywatch Nights, The Comeback, and many others.
How much does Sandoval make per episode? ›
So What Does Tom Sandoval Make for VPR? According to the Hollywood Reporter, the core cast of Vanderpump Rules was “barely netting $10,000 for their participation in the entire first season” but went through a round of contract negotiations in 2017 and 2018 to the tune of $25,000 per episode.
Who else did Tom cheat with besides Raquel? ›' Did Tom cheat with anyone else? By D.M. Fans of reality television can't seem to get enough of the Vanderpump Rules cheating scandal involving Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss. Tom had been involved with his co-star, Ariana Madix, and the two shared a home together.
Who got banned from Vanderpump Rules? ›On Tuesday, Bravo issued a statement saying, “Bravo and Evolution Media confirmed today that Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni will not be returning to Vanderpump Rules.”
Who has Max slept with Vanderpump Rules? ›In the clip, he gets called out for sleeping with Scheana Shay and Dayna Kathan and essentially tossing them aside when the flings were over.
Does Lynette find out Tom cheated? ›He deduces that Porter is sleeping with some girl there—but when Lynette sees Anne leaving from the rehearsal space when Tom is there, she is led to believe Tom is cheating on her... until one episode later when they discover that it is actually Port who is sleeping with Anne.
Who did Tom cheat on Lynette with? ›It is later found out that this woman is Nora Huntington, a woman with whom he had a one night stand years before he had met Lynette. In the second season finale it is revealed that she had apparently conceived his child, a daughter named Kayla Huntington, from their one night stand.
Does anyone on Vanderpump Rules actually work at Sur? ›Although most of the main cast has moved on from their actual serving and bartending jobs, IG posts and different scenes in "Pump Rules" show that they all head back there at some point.
Are Jax and Brittany still married? ›One of the only VPR couples still together, Jax and Brittany welcomed their first child—son Cruz—in April 2021 a year after they walked away from the show.
Did Kristen sleep with Max? ›The major shocker, however, came when Max revealed he slept with Kristen Doute after they stopped filming (and after he and Dayna nearly got back together in the fall). This revelation prompted Stassi Schroeder to snap, comparing the situation to the James Mae designer hooking up with Jax Taylor during season 2.
Did James cheat on Raquel? ›And when Raquel found out later in the season that James cheated on her, she was understandably shocked. She gave her reaction to E! News at the premiere party. “She [Lala] did say that she hooked up with James and it was during the time that James and I were together,” Raquel said.