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In the still unfolding aftermath of the Vanderpump Rules Scandoval, it really feels like everything is coming up Ariana. She’s filmed a Lifetime movie; has brand deals with Bloomingdales, Bic Razors, and Uber Eats; has attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner; is rumored to be on Dancing with the Stars; and has been doing interviews on The Today Show, The View, and with… The New York Times. The paper published an interview with Ariana after the season finale in which she shared her thoughts on Tom and Raquel, filming after learning about the affair, and her newly raised profile. Some highlights:
On filming with Tom after learning about the affair: When he sat down on that couch [during filming] and tried to give the sad sack act, I knew he was going to try to sell a bit. I knew he was trying to be that person so that I would be the angry person; I could see what was happening in front of my face, and it was really frustrating. Honestly, when he started yelling at me, I felt a little bit satisfied that he was finally going to be the real him.
On Tom and Kristen’s breakup all those years ago: Their relationship was much different than my relationship with him, but at the same time, I think there is a common denominator when it comes to certain problems. What’s crazy is their relationship ended 10 years ago, and yet, somehow, he’s managed to not grow in those areas at all.
On whether there’s redemption for Tom and Raquel: I think any chance that either of them separately had for that ended when they started giving trash interviews victimizing themselves, her TMZ [interview] and his Howie Mandel [interview]. I think had they not done or said all of those horrible things, maybe one day, but I think the answer ultimately is no. In our friend group, the answer is no.
On her current career success: It is a lot of pressure because for any public-facing woman or any woman in general who goes through something, there are a lot of expectations around how you’re supposed to handle things. But it is really incredible to have that support and I feel as though it did come at a cost, a very unexpected cost.
On how she feels about being on reality TV: I’ve always had a little bit of that anxiousness about saying something that would upset someone or whatever, and I still have that to some degree. But I also feel as though the worst possible things that could happen to somebody happened to me on this show: the loss of my dog of 18 years, the loss of my grandma, this whole thing happening very publicly. Part of me feels like, What’s the worst that can happen? The worst already did. So going forward, it feels a little bit like, What can I not handle at this point?
This interview was so good, as all her interviews have been. Even I felt a little satisfied when Tom started yelling at her because he was clearly trying to make himself the victim in the moments before. He’d been setting up the narrative for weeks, if not months, that he was trying so hard and she was so mean to him, as a way to justify what he’d done. And Ariana’s right that he hasn’t grown — watching season two he handles his breakup with Kristen exactly the same way and says he was trying and she was distant. Anyway, I agree with her there is no redemption for the affair partners — they’ve shown such a lack of remorse so far that their friends won’t forgive them and public opinion will not turn in their favor. I also think Ariana is handling the heightened attention and opportunities perfectly. But it’s true that it came at an unexpected cost and as we watch it all play out I can only imagine about how hard it must be to go through all this painful stuff so publicly.
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It was always about “look at me, look at me” with Tom. He’s such a narcissistic little boy. Ladies remember, Once a cheater always a cheater. So, I have no doubt that he’ll be cheating on Rachel as well. Once it stops being about him he’s on to the next new thing. What a pathetic jerk!
I saw a clip where he was blaming her for not be suspicious of him. Even his business partner was like “dude….no.”
I have been so impressed by how Ariana has handled herself and frankly, handled Tom. She gave him just enough rope and then sat back and watched him destroy his own reputation.
I don’t think any of us would have blamed her if she’d gone low and played dirty, but she has been nothing but classy.
Kimmy….
Ariana had an affair with Sandoval when he was still in a relationship with Kirstin Doute.
You’re applauding her for being classy but she did the same thing a decade ago. Now? She’s in the reverse position, Kirstin’s position. Karma came for her.
Sandoval was willing to cheat on his gf to get with Ariana, then after a decade he was willing to cheat on Ariana (his now gf) to get with Raquel.
If he’ll cheat with you he’ll cheat on you. Ariana has nothing to be surprised about… and ‘being classy’ might as well be a euphemism for saving face.
I had never ever seen Vanderpump Rules before a couple of days ago.
I saw all the wall-to-wall media coverage of this affair, so I’m like, let me check this out. I watched the finale of Season 10, and read a bunch of stuff so I could figure out who the hell all these people were 🤣
I decided to watch a few episodes from Season 1 to see where this all started, and then just happened to move ahead to the Reunion of Season 2 (where Sandoval and Kristin discuss their break up). DAMN, he is literally saying the same exact words/phrases and making the same claims he did with Ariana now, that he did with Kristin then. My eyes were rolling so hard to the back of my head. I had no idea I would be watching the same scenario playing out, but seeing them so close together is eye-opening. I am sure most fans haven’t watched both so close together – time-wise.
I have to admit, this show is trainwreck gold, and I can see where the hype is coming from. I cannot imagine going through something so devastating publicly but Ariana seems to be handling herself with grace and class.
Honking for more VPR content!
Also, it’s been speculated/reported on a few Bravo instagram accounts that he’s been spotted with a “tiny blonde,” implying he’s fully moved on from both Ariana AND Raquel.
I just can’t stand anything about him. His speech patterns and actual voice itself are so grating and juvenile that it’s hard to reconcile them coming out of a 40+ yr old ‘man.’
Toot toot!
Sandoval hasn’t changed in the last ten years because he will *never* change (until he’s old and can no longer attract women on the regular). My dad was just like him. He’d cheat on my mom and then gaslight her into believing she was insane for thinking he was. He’d make her feel his “distance” was entirely her fault in the hopes she’d finally be so beaten down, *she’d* be the one to ask for a divorce (so he wouldn’t have to). My mom ultimately did ask for a divorce after 21 years, and my dad proceeded to follow the exact same playbook with his next two wives. The ravages of time are what kept him from repeating the pattern with a *fourth* wife. After he turned 60, his looks and health began to decline, and he became more settled out of necessity, not desire.
I loved my dad, but after watching what he did to my mom (as well as his two wives after her), I’m so glad Ariana didn’t waste any time booting Tom to the curb once she had proof of his cheating.
You get them how you lose them.
Ariana was the other woman a decade ago, and now she’s the cheated on woman.
2013: Ariana had an affair with Tom Sandoval while he was with Kristin.
2022: Raquel had an affair with Tom Sandoval while he was with Ariana.
Thank you. Everyone seems to forget that Ariana was once the other woman in Tom and Kristen’s breakup.
Stassi even mentioned to Jax that Tom had slept with Ariana whilst with Kristen and Jax said he wasnt going to betray their friendship. They all covered for one another and it was seriously a boy’s club. Sadly, Ariana thought she was smart enough to not deal with it, but I suspect her depression and self esteem on the show over the years was because of her cosigning his cheating…They appeared to have an agreement to never fight on the show, which I think made everything worse. It looked like a facade for years to me. Tom didnt seem into her after year 2 or 3.