Tom Sandoval at the “Vanderpump Rules” Season 11 Premiere held at the Hollywood Palladium on January 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:River Callaway/Variety via Getty Images
River Callaway/Variety via Getty Images
Tom Sandovalis taking the first step to redemption amid the fallout ofScandoval.
On Tuesday’s episode ofVanderpump Rules, theSchwartz & Sandy’sco-owner, 41, saw the impact of his affair withRachel “Raquel” Levissduring a group meditation session in Lake Tahoe.
After being paired with his former friendScheana Shay, she revealed that she was not ready toforgive and forget Sandoval’s actions.
“This is the longest I’ve ever gone in 15 years of friendship with Sandoval and not speaking to him or seeing him,” she said. “I’m still holding on to anger and resentment and hatred inside of me so I’m not ready to meditate and breathe together like no, no, no.”
Scheana Shay (L) and Tom Sandoval arrive to the 2018 E! People’s Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar on November 11, 2018.Charley Gallay/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Charley Gallay/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Scheana then broke down in tears as the instructor told them to ask their partner for what they needed. At first, she said she was “fine” but the instructor encouraged them not to hold back. She then said, “So, I’m not okay. I just need a minute,” before leaving the session.
“When thinking about the last day seeing you — like this would be the last day — I got very sad,” Sandoval told her. “Then, I took a moment to think about all the beautiful and amazing times that we’ve had together and just took a moment to take it in to sort of like, celebrate it.”
She then responded, “I thought about the last day I saw you so much during this because I was genuinely worried you were gonna do something to yourself and I don’t want to keep hating you,” referring to hismental health strugglesamid the scandal.
“I need to let go of that because it doesn’t feel good. But, you did this,” she added.
Tom Sandoval (L) and Scheana Marie attend day two of the 33rd annual Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show on March 27, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Bryan Steffy/Getty
Bryan Steffy/Getty
After their conversation, Sandoval hoped to get back in Scheana’s good graces, saying, “I’m hoping that Scheana is reminded I’m not this ruthless, heartless villain, that I’m a friend. I miss her.”
TheScheanangianshost admitted the conversation helped her see Scandoval in a different light, explaining, “The mask finally fell and I saw that there is still a soul inside. I’m like, ‘Oh s—, that’s my friend Tom. He misses me and our friendship and he knows how bad he f—ed up.’”
Later in the episode, Scheana called Ariana andKatie Maloneyto discuss how it was “a really heavy loss” to cut Sandoval out of her life after he gave her “a very genuine apology” during their trip to Tahoe. She added, “I felt like for the first time I got genuine tears from him and not performative. I just feel like I needed to let go of the hatred I had for him because I can’t keep hating him for you. I’m mad that he did all of this because I miss him. I miss my friend.”
Ariana Madix, Katie Maloney, Lala Kent and Scheana Shay attend the Valley Brat Summer Pool Party at a private residence on August 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Katie then weighed on the situation, saying, “Scheana is definitely getting close to crossing a line with Ariana. That was her life partner of a decade, like the other wrong audience, chick.”
The conversation left Scheana upset that Ariana was not willing to hear side of the story. She began to cry and told Lala, “She either dismisses how I feel or tells me I shouldn’t feel this way because he’s a bad person.”
Despite their differences, Scheana insisted she was still thrilled for Ariana’srecent successes, saying, “I’m so happy for her. Even her gettingDancing with the Stars. She knew how bad I wanted that. And I told her. I’m so genuinely happy for you… I’m just hurting still.”
She continued, “Why can I never have one moment where it can be about me? … I’m hurt. I lost a very, very dear friend here. I am struggling with that. But I’m not allowed to feel anything because it’s only about Ariana.”
Lala Kent, Ariana Madix and Scheana Shay pose backstage as she makes her broadway debut as “Roxy Hart” in the hit musical “Chicago” on Broadway at The Ambassador Theatre on January 29, 2024 in New York City.Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
“I understand where you’re coming from,” Lala responded. “You can still have Ariana’s back, but she also has to acknowledge what you’ve been through. It’s time for Ariana to pull her head out of her own ass. She needs to come back to reality and remember who her friends are and what they’ve done for her. Scheana has been ride or die since day one for Ariana. And now it’s time for Ariana to return the favor.”
However, Brock insisted that it was time for Sandoval to take accountability, sharing in a confessional, “I’m looking at Tom right now, we have a percentage of accountability and then blame. It’s probably like a solid 10% accountability and 90% blaming everybody else for his issues.”
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Vanderpump Rulesairs Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.
source: people.com
