Did Tom Sandoval Plan the Cheating Scandal on Purpose?! Raquel Leviss Says…
Sometimes, semantics really matter.
Case in point: Tom Sandoval‘s recent comments regarding what he’s learned in the wake of Scandoval. For those who might need a refresher, we’re referring to the affair that rocked the Vanderpump Rules universe last year when it came to light during season 10 that Tom had cheated on his girlfriend of nine years Ariana Madix with their then-castmate Rachel “Raquel” Leviss.
“I’m just trying to be a better person, I swear to God I really am,” Sandoval told Nick Viall during the Jan. 30 episode of the The Viall Files podcast. “What have I learned? To not ever do that again, to not ever be in a nine-year f–king relationship and end it that way. To not ever cheat that way. I’m never going to do that, never going to happen again.”
At which point The Bachelor alum interceded with, “What do you mean ‘cheat that way?’ When you say ‘cheat that way’ it implies that you might cheat differently.”
Sandoval then quickly clarified, “To have an affair. To ever do that. “
Tom Schwartz, who joined his business partner on the episode, added of Viall’s question, “That clarification was good.”
River Callaway/Variety via Getty Images
And while Leviss confirmed last summer that she’ll be absent from season 11 of the Bravo show—which premiered on Jan. 30—she has continued to reflect on the affair and her relationship with Sandoval.
In fact, she recently speculated on whether the 40-year-old had orchestrated their affair for Vanderpump Rules.
“The thought has crossed my mind, like, ‘Did Tom mastermind this?'” Leviss wondered on the Jan. 29 episode of her Rachel Goes Rogue podcast. “He is known to self-produce, and all he has is this show, and the success of this show equals longevity in his career. He’s over 40 now, and this is his life. This is his main income.”
The 29-year-old continued, “When we did have conversations like, ‘How is this going to play out?’ He said, ‘We can be together next season.’ I think he had his motivation behind it that really escalated the situation. Whereas if it wasn’t a reality TV show and we weren’t all filming, I wonder if it would be like this.”
For more on everything that’s transpired in the VPR universe since the explosive end of season 10 and the beginning of season 11, keep reading.
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