Tom Sandoval Opens Up About His Anxieties Over Sharing the Spotlight with Ariana Madix at BravoCon
Tom Sandoval expresses apprehension about co-paneling with ex Ariana Madix at BravoCon 2023 Discover his reasons and the anticipated dynamics surrounding their appearance
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Tom Sandoval is ready to face Vanderpump Rules fans at BravoCon, but he still has some concerns.
"I'm feeling a bit anxious about sharing the same stage as Ariana [Madix]," expressed Sandoval, aged 41, to Tom Schwartz during the "Everybody Loves Tom" podcast episode on Thursday, November 2, leading up to the Las Vegas event.
Anticipating contrasting responses from the audience, Sandoval mentioned his expectation of a significantly different reception compared to Ariana, aged 38. He explained, "When she takes the stage, it's all cheers and celebrations. However, when I come on, people might want to show their allegiance to Team Ariana or something similar, and that makes me a little uneasy."
The ex-couple will be joined by their fellow cast members - Scheana Shay, Katie Maloney, James Kennedy, Lala Kent, and Schwartz - on Friday, November 3rd, to discuss the season 10 drama of Vanderpump Rules.
When the Bravo series first aired new episodes in February, everyone was talking about Schwartz's affair with Raquel Leviss while he was still married to Katie, who is now 36. However, things became more complicated both on and off the screen when doubts arose about Raquel's relationship with Sandoval.
In March, it was confirmed that Sandoval and Ariana had ended their nearly decade-long relationship due to Sandoval's infidelity. This revelation prompted the cameras to capture additional footage for the new season finale, which delved into the details of the drama. Following this, the cast came together for a three-part reunion in the same month to address their issues before taking a short break prior to season 11.
During the production hiatus, Raquel, aged 29, sought treatment at a mental health facility. Throughout her 90-day program, Raquel remained dedicated to her treatment, while her former colleagues continued to film season 11 without her. Once she completed her treatment, Raquel officially confirmed that she had no intentions of returning to Vanderpump Rules.
“I needed some time away because of the chaos, noise, and online vitriol. But another reason for going to a treatment facility was to gain insight into my behaviors," she shared on Bethenny Frankel's "ReWives" podcast in August. "I wanted to understand why I consistently choose unavailable men and find myself in unhealthy relationships. I needed to identify the aspects of my behavior that needed to change. To initiate that change, I had to understand the root causes leading to those behaviors."
Raquel further revealed, "It took me a while to accept, but I eventually discovered love addiction, which is a genuine condition. It involves mistaking intensity for intimacy—an addiction fueled by chemical changes in the brain similar to those caused by drug use. This understanding helps explain why I couldn't break away from this person, although it doesn't excuse what happened. However, now I am more aware and knowledgeable."
Sandoval, however, made a comeback on the show despite his strained relationships with most of his co-stars. He embraced the spotlight by subsequently embarking on a tour with his band, Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras, as well as making a guest appearance on Fox's Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. Interestingly, it appears that Sandoval did not film any scenes directly with Ariana, who had previously expressed her refusal to communicate with him.
"This situation served as a realization for me that I am capable of overcoming difficult challenges. The worst-case scenario actually occurred, yet I managed to be fine. See, it's evident that you can handle whatever obstacles come your way," Ariana, the recipient of We's prestigious title of Reality Star of the Year, exclusively shared with Us in October.
Ariana also took a moment to contemplate how much she has evolved since becoming a part of the series in 2013. "I have truly matured. I used to be someone who resisted the idea of growing up," she admitted. "However, with time, I have learned to love myself more and extend greater compassion to myself when faced with the trials and tribulations of filming. And this newfound self-acceptance has enabled me to treat others with greater kindness and understanding."
