Vanderpump Rules stars Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz may be known for cheating on reality TV stars, but they don't want their fans to go down the same path.
Sandoval, 40, and Schwartz, 41, both issued a public service announcement (PSA) on the former's “Everybody Loves Tom” podcast in which they did not choose infidelity, even though they were known to do so, as documented on their Bravo series, which led to one of the world's biggest celebrity scandals of 2023.
Schwartz began the conversation by saying, “You should give a PSA now.” If you're unhappy in your relationship [or] If you feel lost or have feelings for a colleague and it starts to escalate, don't do it.
“Do not do it. Just sit down and have this very uncomfortable conversation with your partner. Go to therapy or just say it's over. Don't have a damn affair!'
Earlier this year, Sandoval was embroiled in a cheating scandal so big that he was nicknamed “Scandoval” after sleeping with fellow actress Rachel Leviss while dating Ariana Madix for over nine years.
“Vanderpump Rules” stars Tom Sandoval (left) and Tom Schwartz may be known for cheating on reality TV stars, but they don't want their fans to go down the same path
In March, it emerged that Vanderpump Rules star Sandoval had cheated on his girlfriend of nine years, Ariana Madix (center), with her co-star Raquel Leviss (right), pictured in 2022
He agreed: “One thing that really stuck with me was the insecurity I had within myself.” I felt like. “Oh my God, I can’t lose this other person because I’ll never get this.”
“I had such insecurity with myself that I felt like if I let it go it would never happen again. You can do it.” [find that again]. And trusting in that is much safer than staying and living in it.”
Sandoval went on to say that he was at a low point and lacking confidence when the 29-year-old reality star gave him attention and that he was attracted to it.
He explained: “I was in a situation where I had such low self-confidence and such low self-esteem in this aspect and that aspect that, you know, I was having a hard time when the whole Rachel thing happened.”
Sandoval said he was her biggest cheerleader and fan, “but here she is this beautiful girl and she's coming at me. 'And I don't deserve this.'
His co-host Jason Bader agreed, saying that he believes Sandoval knew he was involved in something “not right” and that his mind was constantly filled with other bad things.
Sandoval replied, “Yeah, and then you get addicted, you cling to the feeling you had when you were with that person, and you start hiding from the reality of the rest of your life.” And you lose yourself just love it.
“Dude, when I think back on it now, I'm like, 'Holy shit.' And Schwartz and the other people around me saw me and I was fucking fixated and barely present.”
Schwartz began the conversation by saying, “You should give a PSA now.” If you're unhappy in your relationship [or] If you feel lost or have feelings for a colleague and it starts to escalate, don't do it.
He continued, “Don't do it.” Just sit down and have this very uncomfortable conversation with your partner. Go to therapy or just say it's over. Don't have a damn affair!'
Sandoval agreed: “One thing that really stuck with me was the insecurity I had within myself.” I felt like. “Oh my God, I can’t lose this other person because I’ll never get this.”
Sandoval continued that he was at a low point and lacked confidence when the 29-year-old reality star gave him attention and he was attracted to it as he explained, “I was in a position where I was so low.” I was self-confident and had such low self-esteem in this and that aspect that when the whole Rachel thing happened I had a hard time.
Schwartz added that he was a “background figure” in Sandoval's life at the time.
Sandoval found himself in the media frenzy in March when it emerged that Tom Sandoval had cheated on his girlfriend of nine years, Ariana Madix, and her co-star Raquel Leviss (now Rachel).
The couple had been together for nine years and owned a home together in Los Angeles, but that all fell through when Tom began an affair with their mutual friend – who changed her name back to Rachel after the scandal.
Tom immediately became a hate figure and had to hide from the public after being “shunned by the entire country” and even had to keep his friends and family at arm's length as they faced increasing abuse online.
Although he still stars on the series, Rachel left the Bravo TV series after completing a stint in a mental health facility.
Tom has since confirmed he is no longer in touch with Rachel, claiming she pushed him aside when the scandal broke.
He explained: “We were best friends.” It's heartbreaking to go through this. I was completely in love with her. She's not just any hot girl. I was a model for 15 years – it goes deeper than that.
“The way she just scared me away… I don't know, I'm not in her head.”
Sandoval found himself in the media frenzy in March when it emerged that Tom Sandoval had cheated on his girlfriend of nine years, Ariana Madix, with her co-star Rachel Leviss (pictured).
Schwartz is also no stranger to cheating, having dated a woman in 2017 while he was still married to Katie Maloney.
The drama unfolded on a Vanderpump Rules episode that aired in January 2018, when Katie burst into tears when her co-star Lala Kent revealed that Schwartz had made out with one of her friends, Allie, during a night out in early 2017 .
“Bubba, I don’t remember this,” Schwartz told Maloney when she heard the news.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” she screamed.