Photo: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images; Cindy Ord/Bravo via Getty Images
Rachel “Raquel” LevissthinksTom Sandovalfeels like she’s been given “the short end of the stick” after her personal entanglement with her costar exploded on screen during the 10th season ofVanderpump Rulesthis past spring.
Five and a half months after it became public knowledge that Leviss and Sandoval had been in amonths-long affairbehind the back of histhen-girlfriend of nine yearsAriana Madix, Leviss says Sandoval has reaped professional benefits from theBravo show’s surging success, while she’s fallen into debt andhad to take a step back for her mental health.
“He’s not technically a producer, he’s been on the series from day 1, season 1. I don’t know if I’m even able to disclose this information, but he did tell me during negotiations for season 11 that he was offered a producer credit for season 11,” Leviss, 28, toldBethenny FrankelonThe Real Housewives of New York Cityalum’sJust Bpodcast.
To Leviss, Sandoval’s alleged upgrade was a pat on the back. “So, I think he was being rewarded for theScandovalof it all. To me, that’s kind of gross because it seems — it makes me skeptical,” she continued. “Was this really just something that was fabricated for this end result?”
But Bravo has denied Leviss’s claims, issuing a statement to PEOPLE: “Tom Sandoval was never offered a producer credit on season 11 and had absolutely no creative control over editing during any season ofVanderpump Rules.” (PEOPLE has also reached out to Sandoval’s rep.)
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Leviss also claimed Sandoval, 40, demanded more control over season 10 editing when conversation surrounding anintimate videohe screen-recorded — unbeknownst to Leviss — during a FaceTime became potential fodder for the Bravo show.
“If he would’ve asked for permission, I would’ve said no,” Leviss said, adding that duringpickup filming, “I said to Tom, ‘How can I trust you? You filmed me without my consent.’ And he admitted to it, but then after that scene wrapped he said, ‘Why did you say that? why did you say that on camera? You made me look bad. And I was like, ‘Well because that’s what happened.’”
According to Leviss, theSchwartz & Sandy’sco-owner “ended upboycotting filmingthe rest of Scandoval so he could have editing rights to that scene.”
On Thursday’s podcast, Frankel also pointed out that, while Leviss’s story drove a record-breaking season ofVanderpump Rulesfor Bravo, the former pageant queen herself wasn’t assured any material share of that success — even as her medical care has created unforeseen expenses.
“You’re in a deficit. You’re in debt,” said Frankel, 52. ”Interesting.”
In Wednesday’s part 1 of theJust Bconversation,Leviss recounted why she started her relationship with Sandoval while he was in a relationship with Madix, 38. She chalked the decision up to “love addiction” but also claimed Madix and Sandoval’s relationship “hasn’t been what they portray on camera.”
“I would not be involved in this affair secrecy type of situation if I thought there was longevity in this relationship between Tom and Ariana,” she added.
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The first 10 seasons ofVanderpump Rulescan be streamed in full on Peacock.
source: people.com
