Tom Schwartz Has a "Plan" to Make Him and Ariana Madix "BFFs Again"
The Vanderpump Rules cast member said he's willing to put in years of work to repair his relationship with Ariana.
Tom Schwartz isn’t giving up on Ariana Madix.
It's no secret that the Vanderpump Rules castmates had developed a close bond over the past decade, so much so that Tom Schwartz asked the Single AF Cocktails author to be one of his groomsmen. However, their relationship took an unfortunate turn during Vanderpump Rules Season 10, when Ariana learned that her now ex-boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, was having an affair.
Tom Schwartz confirmed he had known about his friend's infidelity months before it came to light, but was hesitant to let Ariana know.
“I just wanted to look you in the eyes and say I’m sorry for this whole thing,” Tom Schwartz told Ariana in the Season 10 finale. “I’m not looking for sympathy here, but I’m being painted as this co-conspirator, and it’s f---ing devastating to me.”
Ariana Madix ends her friendship with Tom Schwartz
Ariana said she didn’t consider Tom Schwartz to be a “co-conspirator,” but felt it was necessary to end their friendship.
“I don’t think that you are that person, but I will not have mutual friends with [Tom Sandoval],” she explained. “So, I’m not your friend anymore.”
Ariana doubled down during her May appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, which aired a week before the Season 10 reunion special. At one point during the episode, Ariana was asked a series of questions about her highly publicized breakup, including whether she believed Tom Schwartz was “covering” for his good friend.
“I don’t think it was just covering, I think it was actively participating in my downfall,” Ariana responded.
Tom Schwartz on Repairing His Friendship with Ariana Madix
Although Ariana has shown very little interest in repairing her friendship with Tom Schwartz, the bar and restaurant owner said he’s hopeful that they’ll be on good terms someday… even if it requires years of hard work.
“I’m always cordial with her and I’m always excited to see her,” he said in a recent interview with People magazine. “She’ll give me a nod and say hi, but I think our friendship [is] going to take some work. I got a five-year plan. Five years from now I want to be BFFs again.”
Tom Schwartz also applauded Ariana for her recent string of wins, including her post-breakup “glow-up,” her cocktail book tour, and her impressive performance on Dancing with the Stars Season 32, on which she placed third.
“[She’s] crushing life,” Tom Schwartz told People. “Not that she wasn’t thriving before, but her star is shining bright right now. She’s a star and she’s dancing.”
