Lisa Vanderpump has spoken.
The reality star shared her thoughts on business partner and mentee Tom Sandoval’s breakup from Ariana Madix after an affair with ‘Vanderpump Rules’ castmate Raquel Leviss.
via People:
The Los Angeles restaurateur, 62, told Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen on Wednesday’s episode that she was “gobsmacked,” “flabbergasted” and had “literally no words” after learning of the secret relationship between Sandoval, 40, and Leviss, 28, that led to the end of his nine-year relationship with Madix, 37.
“I didn’t see it coming, nobody saw it coming,” she said, confirming that she had seen Madix since the news broke and that she was “devastated.” Vanderpump added, “[There were] a lot of tears.”
“Ariana was always that ride-or-die girlfriend,” she continued, before joking, “It seems like Raquel was the ‘ride’ girlfriend, she was the ‘die’ girlfriend.”
Speaking further about Leviss, Vanderpump said she “didn’t clearly know who she was,” noting, “She stuck her toe in the Peter [Madrigal] pond, she snogged Oliver [Saunders], she schmoozed with [Tom] Schwartz and then she shagged Sandoval.”
Cohen, 54, also asked Vanderpump about her thoughts on Sandoval’s two apologies, the first of which came on Saturday, and the second late Tuesday night. Vanderpump said it was clearly “because he had some kind of reaction to the first apology that he felt it necessary to apologize to Ariana [in a second one].”
“I want to see true contrition,” she later said, urging the VPR cast to take advantage of the “difficult” upcoming reunion when they “all sit down and have a better understanding of why this happened, how this happened and when.”
“It’s been going a long time,” she continued of the affair. “That’s what’s so shocking to me. It wasn’t just a shag … I think [the fault is] equal. It takes two to tango!”
She added: “I think they had a game plan, I think it was to get through the reunion, then to let the bomb drop and if there was another season, then have a few weeks, a few months to get used to it. But just by the longevity, I mean … I thought he was in love with Ariana.”
“This is breaking up a couple that’s been together for [nine] years. I mean, the deceit — she is a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” she said.
Vanderpump also noted that she believes Schwartz knew about the affair long before it became public and that she “never really trusted” Sandoval. “I think they are so close … I do think he knew something,” she said.
In a final note, Vanderpump urged fans to be more mindful of their reactions to the news. “This kind of vigilante justice, I don’t agree with it all. These are people living their lives in a public forum, which is very difficult … it’s a show but they’re all hurting. I’m not saying we should let them off the hook. Condemn their actions, but don’t condemn the people.”
Sandoval worked as a bartender at Vanderpump’s restaurant SUR before becoming a partial owner of Tom Tom with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, her husband Ken Todd and VPR’s Tom Schwartz. Sandoval and Schwartz, 40, also own Schwartz & Sandy’s cocktail lounge and restaurant in Los Angeles.
Last week, Madix discovered that Sandoval had been cheating on her with Leviss after she found an intimate video and “inappropriate” messages between the two on his phone while he was performing with his band, Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras.
After the news broke on Friday, Cohen tweeted, “How many parts is too many parts for the #pumprules reunion???” Vanderpump then replied, “Ummm one…I’m not sure my heart is up to it.”
We don’t really watch ‘Vanderpump Rules,’ but this white mess has taken over the news cycle. Is it really that big of a deal?
#PumpRules star @LisaVanderpump opens up about the fan reaction to the Scandoval drama. #WWHL pic.twitter.com/hstWshzuGz
— Watch What Happens Live! (@BravoWWHL) March 9, 2023
