Tom Sandoval.Photo:MediaPunch/Shutterstock
MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Tom Sandovalmay be a singer, but that didn’t mean he relished the moment when he had to face the music onVanderpump Rules.
Sandoval, 41, got real with PEOPLE at the show’s season 11 premiere this week when asked what it was like the confront his costars asVPR’s friendship group was still processing hisaffairwithformer costarRachel “Raquel” Leviss.
“It was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to face on such a regular basis,” he admits. “It was very, very challenging and very, just very emotional.”
Tom Sandoval at the ‘Vanderpump Rules’ season 10 Reunion.Nicole Weingart/Bravo
Nicole Weingart/Bravo
Less than a year has passed sinceVanderpump Rulesproducers picked back up cameraswhen Sandoval’s exAriana Madixdiscovered an intimate video of Leviss on Sandoval’s phoneand instantly ended theirnine-year relationship. Afew months of international headlinesafter that, the cast — minus Leviss —began filming on season 11as they continuedprocessing the betrayalandnavigate their shifting social dynamicsin real time.
Thefirst trailershowed Madix, 38, and Sandovalawkwardly cohabitatingand fiercely clashing as they both try to turn the page on the next chapter of their lives.
As for Leviss, 29, she briefly stepped away from Hollywood toenter mental health treatmentthat she has since said was intended to address herlove addiction.
One of Leviss’s last public appearances before that was at theVanderpump Rulesseason 10 reunion, where she faced her costars — including Madix — for the first time since the cheating scandal.
Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix and Raquel Leviss.Faye Sadou/Media Punch/Alamy
Faye Sadou/Media Punch/Alamy
At this week’s premiere, Sandoval told PEOPLE he hopes fans watch the new episode with compassion.
Admitting that “I’m definitely not perfect,” he laid out his plea: “I am a human being, I’m not a character, you know. This isn’t the Cardinals versus the Cubs, like, you know, I am I’m notNeganfromWalking Dead. I’m myself who’s putting myself out there along with the rest of my castmates.”
He added, “This just happens to be like a s— time for me because of what I’ve done. You know, just keep in mind I’m a person.”
Tom Sandoval.Kevin Winter/Getty
Kevin Winter/Getty
Last November, theSchwartz & Sandy’sco-owner faced a harsh reception atBravoCon 2023.
He could barely get a word in when attempting to speak, beginning, “It feels good to be here in Vegas. It’s BravoCon” before the crowd erupted into boos that continued any time he tried to talk.
As for Madix, she met Brown’s inquiry about filming season 11 with a terse response: “It was weird, it was difficult and I’m glad it’s behind me.”
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Vanderpump Rulesseason 11 premieres Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
source: people.com
