Vanderpump Rules Season 11: Tom Schwartz's Nerve-wracking Journey Begins

Tom Schwartz is feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension as he gears up to film season 11 of Vanderpump Rules. Despite the recent scandal involving Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss, Schwartz remains optimistic and eager to reunite with his volatile group of friends. He acknowledges that they have a complicated history filled with ups and downs, but ultimately, their strong bond is rooted in love.

The reality star expressed his apprehension about the cameras resuming filming for the new season. However, he believes that the conflicts within the Pump Rules crew are always justified and he feels fortunate to be part of a show that has been on the air for over a decade.

Schwartz initially faced criticism when it was revealed in March that his co-star Sandoval had been involved in a months-long affair with Leviss. Schwartz himself had a romantic encounter with Leviss at Shay and Davies' wedding in August 2022. He faced backlash for knowing about the cheating scandal but not informing Sandoval's then-girlfriend, Madix, about the infidelity. (During part 3 of the Pump Rules season 10 reunion, Leviss disclosed that she and Sandoval had hooked up for a second time at the same event.)

Schwartz garnered attention once again when he expressed his support and empathy for his business partner and close friend amidst the controversy. Schwartz, along with Sandoval, co-owns the Los Angeles-based restaurants Schwartz & Sandy's and TomTom.

During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in April, the Minnesota native addressed Ariana, expressing his love for her despite her current feelings towards him. He also acknowledged the negative public perception of Tom, but emphasized his loyalty and refusal to abandon his old buddy. Schwartz acknowledged Tom's awareness of his wrongdoing, referring to him as a "monster" for his actions. He even urged others to show kindness to Tom, suggesting that they give him a hug, even if he doesn't necessarily deserve it, as he is going through a difficult time.

Madix, aged 37, confirmed that she had severed all communication with Schwartz due to his unwavering loyalty towards her former partner. During the season 10 finale of Pump Rules, Madix expressed her decision to no longer maintain mutual friendships with Schwartz, even going so far as to unfollow him on social media back in March. She revealed, "I don't consider you a [co-conspirator], but I cannot continue being friends with him. I used to be his unwavering supporter, defending him even to you. I pushed him to abstain from alcohol for five days so he could get his sperm tested for potential embryos in the future, because if he truly desired that, I wanted him to have it. I wish I didn't miss him, but I believe what I miss is not genuine."

Schwartz has devised a new strategy for handling the drama within the group this time. He intends to adopt a more stoic approach and avoid getting entangled in the chaos. Reflecting on his past behavior during the start of Scandoval, Schwartz admits to wavering a bit and withdrawing into himself.

After the intense season 10 reunion, which was aired recently, Schwartz has decided to step back from the ongoing clashes. He feels the need to take a break and has faced considerable scrutiny due to his loyalty towards his close friend.

Courtesy of Brook Rushton / FOX

A close acquaintance of mine was involved in a scandal that unexpectedly gained widespread attention, and it has had a profoundly negative impact on me. It has become a significant source of distress in my life, resulting in a prolonged state of unhappiness. He created a major problem, and instead of taking responsibility for it, he left the task of resolving it to us at the businesses. It is challenging for me not to feel resentful towards him.

Schwartz plans to make changes for season 11, including putting more effort into his appearance. He acknowledges that he has often been seen wearing comfortable clothing, but now that he is single, he wants to improve his image. He humorously mentions that he will step up his game and strive to be more sophisticated and charming. He also mentions that he had planned to undergo a makeover last year but will finally do it now.

Schwartz attributes his newfound self-assurance to Stars on Mars, a recently premiered reality show on Fox. The show follows celebrities as they live, eat, sleep, and strategize in a simulated space station on Mars, facing both physical and emotional challenges. In an interview, Schwartz expressed that his participation in the competition series has transformed him into a more resilient version of himself, referring to it as "Tom 5.0." He stated that he now feels more composed and prepared to tackle any obstacles that life throws his way.

According to Schwartz, participating in the show has allowed him to regain his optimistic perspective. He believes that this desire to reclaim his positive outlook has been a recurring theme in his life over the past few years. Through his experience on "Mars," Schwartz realized that his optimistic nature had always been within him; he just needed to uncover it, refine it, and reconnect with himself. As a result, he is now rediscovering self-love and embracing it wholeheartedly.

Schwartz mentioned that his experience on Mars has taught him valuable lessons that he plans to apply in the Pump Rules universe. He mentioned that despite having to shovel a lot of waste, they were able to repurpose it as fertilizer. Reflecting on this, Schwartz wonders if there is a metaphor or a valuable insight he can gain from this experience as he looks ahead to the next season. He chooses to leave it at that, leaving it open for interpretation.

Catch Stars on Mars on Fox every Monday at 8 p.m. ET, and stream it on Hulu the next day.

Reporting by Christina Garibaldi