Here Is Everything That Led Up To The ‘VPR’ Scandoval
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If you are the slightest bit of a Vanderpump Rules fan, or even if you're not, you've probably spent the last week reading up on the drama that has completely blown up the cast, and the Internet.
Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval, a couple among the VPR cast for over nine years, called it quits earlier this month and, unlike the tragic break up of Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz, this break up is bringing the whole VPR cast down with it, because it also includes an affair between another cast member: Rachel "Raquel" Leviss.
Yup, things are getting wild, even for Bravo (so much so, that the network is reportedly filming an emergency scene for VPR titled "Scandoval," following the affair, per US Weekly).
If you're feeling a little lost, that's totally understandable—practically 10 years of VPR episodes led to this moment. So, here's everything you need to know about Ariana and Tom, Tom and Raquel, and what else led to this now historical event in the world of reality television.
Hold on, what is Vanderpump Rules?
Okay, yes, let's start from the beginning to make sure everyone is up to speed. Vanderpump Rules, or VPR, is a reality show that started in 2013 as a show profiling hot people working at SUR, or Sexy Unique Restaurant, in Los Angeles. SUR is owned by Lisa Vanderpump, a housewife on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, per TIME.
Like most reality shows, the cast changes a lot. However, the current main cast members are Katie Maloney, Tom Schwartz, Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss, James Kennedy, Lala Kent, Scheana Shay, Brock Davies, and Charlie Burnett.
Tom Sandoval, a bartender and aspiring actor, was a series regular from the very beginning. Ariana Madix appeared on the show sporadically until season 2, when she also became a series regular. Now with the background out of the way, let's get into their relationship.
2014: Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix announce they are dating.
Between season 2 and 3 of VPR, Tom and Ariana confirmed they were in a relationship at the cast member reunion.
Prior to his relationship with Ariana, Tom was dating former VPR cast member Kristen Doute. He revealed his relationship with the two women slightly overlapped during the cast member reunion in 2014, per US Weekly.
2016: Raquel joins the VPR cast.
In season 5, Rachel "Raquel" Leviss is introduced to the world of VPR as James Kennedy's girlfriend. She is a recurring character until 2021, when she is made into a full cast member, per Vulture.
2019: Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix buy a house together.
Though they reportedly shared an apartment together prior, Tom Sandoval and Ariana bought a house together in Valley Village in February 2019, per the Los Angeles Daily News.
The house was reportedly built in 2018, and Sandoval and Ariana paid $2 million for it.
May 2021: Tom Sandoval funds James' proposal to Raquel.
This is where it starts to get a bit...odd in hindsight. In 2021, James Kennedy plans an elaborate Coachella-themed proposal for Raquel (coined "Rachella," of course).
Tom Sandoval reportedly helped James cover the cost of the $25,000 (!!) proposal. He claimed he helped because "nothing brings [him] more joy than to help a friend accomplish a dream that they have,” according to Bravo. Hmm.
October 2021: Ariana opens up about freezing her eggs to eventually start a family with Tom Sandoval.
Later that year, Ariana spoke with Danny Pellegrino on his podcast Everything Iconic about freezing her eggs. At the time, Ariana and Tom weren't ready for children, according to Ariana.
However, she didn't want to completely close the door on starting a family. "[Tom's] whole thing is...he doesn't like absolutes, he doesn't like being told what to do, and honestly I don't either," she said on the podcast, referencing people in their lives insinuating they were "running out of time."
Ariana explained that she went through the procedure because she could afford it, and because of life's unpredictability. "For me, it's about having control over my life," she said.
December 2021: James and Raquel call off their engagement.
In a real "Champagne Problems" scenario, James and Raquel call off their engagement over Instagram in December 2021, per Vulture. "We love each other very much, but we aren’t in love anymore," they wrote in a join statement.
April 2022: Raquel is connected with the Other Tom.
Shortly after Tom Schwartz and Katie Maloney announced their divorce, rumors begin circulating about Schwartz and Raquel being spotted at Coachella together looking close.
However, it was not, in fact, Schwartz who was enjoying the festival with Raquel—it was Tom Sandoval. She even posted a picture on her Instagram as evidence, which just adds fuel to the affair fire now.
Despite this foreshadowing (and potential origin story of the affair), Raquel reportedly kissed Tom Schwartz at fellow VPR cast member Brock Davies' wedding in August 2022, per US Weekly.
Fall 2022: Sandoval and Raquel are so not conspicuous.
It seems Fall 2022 is when Raquel and Tom Sandoval start to take their relationship to the next level.
Per Vulture, there is fan speculation that the two got matching lightning bolt necklaces, and Tom even dressed up as Raquel for Halloween (which could be platonic, but probably not).
January 2023: Rumors are kind of extinguished.
In February, Ariana Madix denies circulating rumors that she and Sandoval are in an open relationship, per Bravo. Similarly, Tom suspiciously jokes that they are not in an open relationship anymore in an interview with E! News.
March 2023: Ariana finds out about the affair.
At the beginning of this month, Ariana reportedly made a phone call to Raquel after finding a sexually explicit video of her on Sandoval's phone. At the time the call was made, Raquel was reportedly out for drinks with fellow VPR cast member Scheana Shay after an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. While still on the phone with Ariana, Raquel admitted to having an affair with Sandoval to Scheana, per Page Six.
On March 3, 2023, news broke that Sandoval and Raquel had been having an affair for "months," per Page Six.
This reportedly led to an altercation between Raquel and Scheana.
On the night of the phone call with Ariana, Raquel and Scheana reportedly had a massive altercation. Scheana was "furious," a source told PEOPLE. She allegedly got violent with Raquel according to TMZ, however that report has not been confirmed.
Raquel alleges that Scheana punched her in the face and hasn't apologized, in court documents obtained by Page Six. The VPR star recently filed a restraining order against Scheana, per legal documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times. A hearing is set for March 29, 2023.
Scheana and Raquel reportedly have not spoken since event this occurred, per Page Six.
Where do things stand now?
After the "Scandoval" officially broke, all VPR cast members reportedly unfollowed Raquel and Sandoval on social media, per Vulture. Kristen Doute, Tom Sandoval's ex, also reportedly visited Ariana amid the affair breaking, and is firmly on her side, according to PEOPLE.
Raquel reportedly sent a court notice to her fellow VPR cast members regarding the video that was allegedly found by Ariana on Tom Sandoval's phone, per PEOPLE. The video was apparently an "intimate FaceTime call" between Tom Sandoval and Raquel, which Sandoval allegedly recorded. In a legal notice, Raquel's attorney's alleged that the call had been recorded "illegally" and "without permission," per PEOPLE.
In the days following the news breaking, Raquel and Sandoval also have posted several notes app apologies onto their Instagram pages.
Initially, Sandoval did not acknowledge any harm done to Ariana, and only asked angry fans to leave Schwartz and the pair's shared restaurant, Schwartz & Sandy's, out from the backlash. He released an apology more directed at Ariana three days later.
Raquel also provided more clarity on where she and Tom Sandoval stand in a recent Instagram post. "My feelings for Tom have always been sincere and born out of a loving friendship," she wrote. "I care for Tom and I don't want to label anything or predict what lies ahead. Right now I need to heal."
So far, Ariana has not made a public comment on the affair. However, Kristen Doute reportedly mentioned how Ariana is doing on a recent episode of her podcast Sex, Love, and What Else Matters.
"She's sad. She doesn't want to hear about anything anymore," Kristen said, per Page Six.
Sandoval and Ariana are reportedly also still living together in their Village Valley home, per PEOPLE.
If you want all the context on this Vanderpump Rules drama, you can stream all the seasons on Peacock.
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