Raquel Leviss Takes Legal Action Against Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix for Privacy Violations

Raquel Leviss Sues Tom Sandoval Ariana Madix for Revenge Porn After Scandal

Raquel Leviss, Tom Sandoval, and Ariana Madix. Getty Images (3)

Just under a day before the anniversary of Scandoval, Rachel “Raquel” Leviss is pursuing legal action against Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix. Leviss is accusing them of revenge porn, eavesdropping invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Documents filed by Leviss, aged 29, on Thursday, February 29, seek unspecified damages. The lawsuit claims that Sandoval, aged 41, recorded a sex tape of her, which she is demanding to be destroyed. Although Leviss did not include Bravo, NBCUniversal, Andy Cohen, or other Vanderpump producers in the lawsuit, she did mention them multiple times.

The paperwork states that Bravo deliberately sacrificed Leviss for its commercial interests by refusing to allow her the opportunity to defend herself, despite her repeated pleas to do so.

The NSFW video, which has been part of the scandal since March 2023, played a significant role. Several cast members hinted that Madix ended her nearly decade-long relationship with Sandoval after discovering a recording of an intimate FaceTime call between him and Leviss.

The documents revealed that Leviss was a victim of predatory and dishonest behavior by an older man, who secretly recorded sexually explicit videos of her without her consent. These videos were then shared publicly by a scorned woman seeking revenge, leading to a scandal. As a result, Leviss sought mental health treatment and stayed in a facility for three months, while Bravo, Evolution, and the cast capitalized on the public interest in the scandal.

The lawsuit also mentioned a NSFW Facetime video of Leviss that was allegedly recorded and circulated by Sandoval, contributing to the explosive situation that unfolded during the airing of Vanderpump Rules' 10th season on Bravo. Madix discovered the affair when she accidentally saw the contents of Sandoval's phone, leading to a chaotic and unscripted turn of events.

Leviss stated that Bravo and Evolution deceived her, making her believe that she had no voice to address her mistreatment. Consequently, she endured the mistreatment quietly while Bravo and Evolution benefited from increased viewership and the cast enjoyed newfound fame and career opportunities. Meanwhile, Leviss suffered humiliation and vilification in the public eye, causing her professional prospects to dwindle and her reputation to suffer irreparable damage.

Leviss claimed that the explicit video was created without her knowledge or consent, stating that it was done "illegally." In response, her attorneys sent a cease-and-desist letter to several VPR stars in 2023, citing a violation of California laws regarding "nonconsensual pornography."

Lala Kent disclosed that she had received a legal notice from Leviss' attorney after mentioning the video multiple times. Following this, Kent, aged 33, took to social media to express her frustration over the lawyer directly contacting her instead of sending the letter to her own attorney, Darrell Miller.

In an Instagram Story, she addressed Raquel and instructed her to have her lawyer send things to her own lawyer, as well as the rest of her friends and cast. She emphasized the importance of understanding the process, especially for someone new to the industry like Raquel. She specifically mentioned sending items to Darrell.

The viral phrase resulted in Kent earning a significant sum of money from merchandise sales.

During the Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen aftershow in June 2023, she revealed that it allowed her to pay the down payment on her home within a few hours. "The amount of money that we made on ‘send it to Darrell’ is pretty mind-blowing. Darrell’s a big star now."

Sandoval and Madix have been contacted for comment.

Editor's P/S:

The unfolding legal battle between Raquel Leviss, Tom Sandoval, and Ariana Madix has laid bare the dark underbelly of the Vanderpump Rules franchise. Leviss