Lala Kent Confronts Tom Sandoval Over Alleged 'Grooming' of Raquel Leviss in Drama-Filled 'Vanderpump Rules' Episode

Lala Kent Accuses Tom Sandoval of 'Grooming Raquel Leviss in Heated Fight

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Lala Kent made a serious accusation against Tom Sandoval during a heated argument on Vanderpump Rules.

In the most recent episode that aired on Tuesday, March 5, Lala, who is 33 years old, tried to resolve issues with Sandoval, who is 41, after their group trip to Lake Tahoe.

Lala questioned Sandoval about how he concealed his affair with Raquel from their costars. She expressed her curiosity, asking him how he could tell her to be real and honest while keeping secrets.

In addition, Lala criticized Sandoval for previously suggesting that she wasn't open enough about her life on camera.

"You used to tell me this often. And then, on the day you both were caught, you even wrote an article about it. It was truly shocking. It was so confusing," she shared in a confessional. "Sandoval was quoted in the article saying that I give off a negative vibe and need to be more authentic. I couldn't help but think, 'How ironic that this was released today? And how hypocritical coming from you.'"

Meanwhile, Sandoval defended his remarks about Lala's relationship with her now-ex-fiancé, Randall Emmett. Lala and Randall, who is 52 years old, went public with their romance in 2018 after his divorce from wife Ambyr Childers. There were rumors circulating, however, that Lala and Randall's relationship started before his divorce was officially finalized.

Sandoval responded to Lala, acknowledging that her life had been a mystery and off-limits for a long time, and they had respected that. He expressed feeling like certain topics were only allowed to be discussed if she was comfortable with them.

Speaking to the cameras, Sandoval confessed that he had failed to see Lala's perspective. He admitted to lying about a seven-month relationship, while pointing out that Lala had also lied about a few years within a six-year relationship. Both of them were dishonest, leading Sandoval to suggest that they consider it a draw in this situation.

Sandoval continued to express his opinion that Lala did not prove herself enough during her time on Vanderpump Rules. In reaction, Lala walked away briefly before returning to confront Sandoval.

"You are crazy. I felt sorry for you for a moment and now you are scaring me," she said to Sandoval. "This is all you can focus on. You are not letting me grow. However, this incident occurred four months ago and I am giving you the chance to grow."

Lala wondered if she had given too much credit to Sandoval for his personal growth, especially after his public breakup with Ariana Madix in March 2023 due to his infidelity. During the filming of season 11 of Vanderpump Rules, Sandoval faced estrangement from most of his castmates, with the exception of Tom Schwartz.

During a heated argument on Tuesday, Lala unexpectedly shared the reason behind her growing sympathy for Rachel, who is 29 years old.

Lala expressed her feelings during the final part of the season 10 reunion, mentioning that what triggered her was when she heard, "If I don’t fall in line with Sandoval then I have nobody." She accused Sandoval of isolating, grooming, and lying. She also stated, "I do not want to know you. You are scary."

Sandoval, who had a fizzled-out relationship with Rachel, reacted angrily to Lala's accusations. He responded, "Lala, you don’t know me. Don’t sit there and accuse me of grooming. You do not know me."

Scheana Shay and her husband, Brock Davies, intervened and encouraged Sandoval to apologize. Sandoval admitted to Lala that he realized his actions seemed hypocritical after keeping a seven-month affair a secret from his cast members.

“I may have misunderstood you,” he said before embracing Lala. “I apologize. I don't want things to be tense between us. I truly value you and how you've impacted me. It's made me see you in a different light. I'm still processing everything, even now. It's a lot to take in for everyone involved.”

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Despite exiting the series, Rachel has since sounded off on her brief romance with Sandoval.

After completing a 90-day stay in a mental health facility, she shared her insights on the "ReWives" podcast in August 2023. She opened up about her journey to accepting love addiction, where confusing intensity for intimacy can lead to addictive behaviors similar to drug dependency. While this realization doesn't excuse past actions, it sheds light on the chemical changes in the brain that drive such patterns.

You can catch Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules on Bravo every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. If you miss an episode, you can stream it on Peacock the following day.

Editor's P/S:

The article sheds light on the intense confrontation between Lala Kent and Tom Sandoval in the latest episode of "Vanderpump Rules." Lala