Inside Scoop: Karamo Brown Reveals What Really Happened at the ‘Pump Rules’ BravoCon Panel
Moderator Karamo Brown spills the beans on the intense atmosphere he experienced while hosting the ‘Vanderpump Rules’ panel at BravoCon 2023, providing exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into the gripping tension that unfolded
Karamo Brown, 43, attended the Vanderpump Rules 2023 BravoCon panel and revealed that the behind-the-scenes drama was just as captivating as the on-stage events. He described the cast as a source of constant tension and expressed uncertainty about their ability to resolve their issues.
Karamo, who hosted the Pump Rules panel from Las Vegas on Friday, remembered experiencing a change in atmosphere as the Bravo cast made their way onto the stage, amidst their ongoing feud with Tom Sandoval. (In March, news broke that Sandoval, 40, had been involved in an affair with Raquel Leviss while he was dating his co-star Ariana Madix.)
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal
On the stage, everyone appeared calm and initially seemed to have a friendly dynamic. However, once they started the panel, it became evident that there was a strong division and animosity towards one individual in the cast. The crowd also expressed their disapproval towards Sandoval, who had harmed Ariana without offering an apology. Sandoval faced several boos from the audience, particularly when a fan questioned his presence and advised him to leave.
Karamo expressed his conflicted emotions regarding the fans' response to Sandoval. "As a fan of the show, a part of me says, 'Yes, boo.' However, another part of me believes that we need to allow this man an opportunity to grow. We should give him a chance to demonstrate his improvement," he shared, highlighting Sandoval's remarkable sobriety journey. "He has been sober now, which is truly remarkable. He is making better choices."
Ally Lewber, Lala Kent, James Kennedy, Katie Maloney, Ariana Madix, Karamo Brown, Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Sandoval, Tom Schwartz, Scheana Shay, and Brock Davies, as pictured in the photograph by Nicole Weingart/Bravo.
Referring to the cheating scandal, the Queer Eye star observed that Sandoval stood out as the outsider within the group. "Once they left the stage, Sandoval swiftly vanished," Karamo noted. Nevertheless, Karamo did manage to speak with Sandoval briefly after the panel concluded. "I praised him for having the courage to come here and confront this," he shared with Us.
When asked by Karamo if he had any comment on not apologizing to Ariana, Sandoval simply replied "No," leaving the emcee disappointed. Despite facing criticism from the crowd and his fellow cast members, Karamo found it most surprising that Tom Schwartz remained loyal throughout the scandal.
"For Sandoval, Tom Schwartz is still that unwavering support. He stands by him no matter what. Their friendship is truly remarkable. I just expected him to defend himself a bit more," Karamo revealed.
Schwartz, aged 41, faced criticism from his colleagues for keeping quiet about Sandoval's affair with Raquel. While most of the cast only found out about the hookup between Sandoval, 29, and Raquel in March, Schwartz was already aware of it in August 2022. (Sandoval and Raquel have since ended their relationship, and Raquel has chosen not to return for season 11 of Pump Rules, which premieres in January.)
"The incident was a one-night stand in August, but from my perspective, it developed into an emotional affair. While still inappropriate, I didn't see it as a straightforward progression," Schwartz candidly shared during an April appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. "Then, in January, Sandoval came to me and admitted that he was in love with Raquel."
Schwartz's knowledge of Sandoval's cheating didn't sit well with many members of the Pump Rules cast, including his ex-wife Katie Maloney. However, Karamo expressed to Us on Friday that he supports Schwartz standing by Sandoval despite the negative reactions. "If you're going to be loyal, be loyal all the way. I don't appreciate friends who are indecisive," Karamo concluded.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
