Vanderpump Rules’ Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Split After Alleged Affair with Co-Star
On March 3, Us Weekly confirmed that Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix had broken up after nearly a decade together.[0] Insiders reported that the split was due to Sandoval's affair with Vanderpump Rules co-star Raquel Leviss.[1]
Madix had been watching Sandoval's band perform at TomTom in West Hollywood, Calif., when she found a sexually explicit video of Leviss on her then-boyfriend's phone.[2] Later, Us Weekly reported that Leviss' attorneys had sent a legal notice to Sandoval, Madix, and her Vanderpump Rules co-stars to stop the spread of the video.[3] The notice alleged that it was filmed “illegally” and “without consent.”[1]
The affair has been going on for upwards of six months, an insider said — “all the while, Tom was sleeping next to Ariana in bed.”[3] TMZ reported that Leviss' lawyers are claiming Sandoval recorded the “sexual” FaceTime video call with Leviss without her permission.[4]
The insider added that Sandoval had tried to break up with Madix in the past after they stopped having sex.[1] Madix wrote on Instagram that her feelings for Sandoval were “sincere and born out of a loving friendship,” but that she needs to “take time to be OK with being alone” and “learn to make better choices.”[5] Leviss also spoke out, saying she is talking to a counselor and “learning things about myself such as my patterns of codependency and addiction to being and feeling loved.”[6]
After the news of the affair broke, Lisa Vanderpump spoke out about it, saying that “Tom and Ariana were the most stable couple on the show.” She added, “I’m sad and I’m sorry it’s ended this way.”
In the wake of the scandal, fans of the show have created memes and merch referencing the affair, with one fan selling “Send it to Darrell” shirts.
It's clear that the affair between Sandoval and Leviss has had a ripple effect on the entire Vanderpump Rules cast, and only time will tell how the situation will play out.
0. “‘Vanderpump Rules' drama: Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss, Ariana Madix and forgiveness” USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2023, https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2023/03/10/vanderpump-rules-cheating-scandal-tom-raquel-ariana-forgiveness/11443102002/
1. “Timeline of Vanderpump Rules Affair, Drama: Scandoval” Vulture, 8 Mar. 2023, https://www.vulture.com/2023/03/vanderpump-rules-affair-timeline-scandoval.html
2. “Lala Kent blasts Tom Schwartz's ‘weakness' amid Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss affair” Page Six, 14 Mar. 2023, https://pagesix.com/2023/03/14/lala-kent-blasts-tom-schwartzs-weakness-amid-scandoval-drama/
3. “Raquel Leviss Speaks Out on Status of Tom Sandoval Relationship” PEOPLE, 9 Mar. 2023, https://people.com/tv/raquel-leviss-speaks-out-status-tom-sandoval-relationship-after-affair-news/
4. “‘Vanderpump Rules' drama, explained: Tom Sandoval's alleged affair is driving the internet crazy” Mashable, 10 Mar. 2023, https://mashable.com/article/tom-sandoval-vanderpump-scandal-explained
5. “Tom Schwartz Says Tom Sandoval Has a ‘Sense of Profound Sadness’ After Raquel Leviss Affair: ‘It’s F–king Complicated’” Us Weekly, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/tom-schwartz-says-sandoval-has-a-sense-of-profound-sadness
6. “Tom Schwartz Breaks Silence on Tom Sandoval Scandal” E! NEWS, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.eonline.com/news/1367625/tom-schwartz-breaks-silence-on-tom-sandoval-scandal
