Raquel Leviss has finally broken her silence.
Five months have passed since the affair that led to the highest ratings yet for Bravo. Leviss had a seven-month affair with Tom Sandoval, who was already in a long-term relationship with the model’s best friend, Ariana Madix. The affair, known as Scandoval erupted in March of 2023 off-camera, and then producers quickly picked production back up to capture the aftermath for Season 10 of Vanderpump Rules’ sensational three-part reunion.
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Leviss, now officially returning to her birth name Rachel, appeared as a guest on the former Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel’s ReWives podcast on Wednesday to offer her part in the affair.
The former pageant contestant checked herself into a treatment facility in Arizona in April after being struck with rigorous death threats and hate online.
Leviss spoke, “Part of the reason why I wanted to take some time away is just because it was so chaotic and loud, and there was such vitriol online. But then the other part of the reason why I wanted to go to a treatment facility was to understand my behaviors. It took me a while to accept, but I learned about love addiction, and it’s a real thing. It’s where you confuse intensity for intimacy. So it is addictive, and it explains why I couldn’t stop seeing this person, but it also doesn’t excuse the fact that it happened.”
Leviss understands that her “mistakes” are now forever and noted that she got lost in the buzz. Now, it seems as if she is severing ties with Bravo. She joked that the network has profited at her expense but she hasn’t received a dime.
“My mistakes that I’ve made on camera live on forever. And you mentioned something about the addiction of doing reality TV and the way that they always dangle that carrot in front of you, like, ‘Well, you need to tell your side of the story otherwise it’s gonna be written for you.’ And that’s terrifying. So I almost went back… just because of that.”
“The network is running to the bank, like laughing, running to the bank with the scandal, and I haven’t seen a single penny. I feel like it’s not fair. And I feel like a toddler saying, ‘it’s not fair,’ but it really isn’t.”
The Vanderpump Rules star confessed a few other details. She said she and Madix were never close friends – they never even hung out off-camera. She also said that people close to the couple knew their relationship turned business and were reduced down to an image. Leviss admitted that she’s still healing from her engagement to James Kennedy and used alcohol to cope.
On the other hand, Ariana Madix and other castmates have received nothing but love and opportunities since her split with Sandoval. Although still seen filming with her ex-boyfriend, the “Something About Her” co-founder is a guest on Love Island and is heading to Dancing with the Stars. She’s had back-to-back endorsement deals and has garnered over a million dollars in revenue since the betrayal. Tom Schwartz appeared on FOX’s Stars on Mars and will be on the upcoming season of Winter House, and Sandoval will be on FOX’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
Madix and Sandoval were all seen arriving together at SUR Tuesday night for James Kennedy’s See You Next Tuesday with the likes of Scheana Shay, Katie Maloney, Lala Kent, Tom Schwartz, Lisa Vanderpump and more.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reality-reckoning-rachel-leviss-part-one/id1531000011?i=1000624634612
