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Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix, and Raquel Leviss: A Vanderpump Rules Timeline
Behold: The ultimate guide to the drama that's playing out in Season 10 of Vanderpump Rules.
It is difficult to have missed the headline-grabbing drama on Vanderpump Rules Season 10. But whether you have been a dedicated viewer from Season 1 or are just following the series now, there is so much to catch up on! When exactly did Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval break up? When did Raquel Leviss' one-time engagement to James Kennedy end? Who was friends with whom before this all went down? And when does the much-anticipated reunion air?
As the VPR drama continues to unfold both onscreen and IRL, here's everything you need to know to catch up on the allegations, events—including a look at the timeline and episode details)—and all the backstory on Tom, Ariana, and Raquel.
Tom, Ariana, and Raquel's backstories
For anyone unfamiliar with the happenings in WeHo, Tom and Ariana met on the show and dated for almost a decade before their public breakup in March 2023.
The pair started dating on the show, after confirming their relationship during the Vanderpump Rules Season 2 reunion in 2014, and had been together for more than nine years. In their time together, the SUR bartenders bought a house together, shared dogs together, and co-wrote a cocktail recipe book.
Raquel was introduced to VPR through her now-ex-fiancé James Kennedy; they broke up after five years in December 2021. She was a longtime friend of Tom's and one of Ariana's best friends—as well as friends with many of the Vanderpump Rules cast.
Vanderpump Rules Season 10 began filming in July 2022
Vanderpump Rules typically films in the summer, and Season 10 began production in July 2022; cast member Lala Kent posted an Instagram Story on July 13 to mark the occasion.
Tom and Raquel allegedly began their affair in August 2022
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 15 (aired May 17, 2023), Watch What Happens Live (April 5, 2023), Vanderpump Rules Season 10 reunion Parts 1 and 2 (aired May 24 and 31, 2023)
Tom Sandoval's best friend and business partner, Tom Schwartz, said during an April 5 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen that his friend began an affair with Raquel in August.
According to the Schwartz, Sandoval told him that he'd recently had "a one night stand" with Raquel. In January, Sandoval apparently told Schwartz he was "in love."
Schwartz also claimed he'd been told that Sandoval had broken up with Ariana — or tried to — before she discovered the affair.
"I'm not trying to evoke any sympathy for Tom. He knows what he did is disgusting [and] he literally could not have handled that affair in any worse possible way," he continued. "[But] he knows he's a monster for what he did. If you see him, give him a hug. Maybe he doesn't deserve it, but give him a hug. He's down bad."
During the Season 10 finale, Sandoval spoke about when his affair with Raquel began. During the first episode of the Season 10 reunion, he claimed it happened while the show was filming, after a night together at The Abbey.
Raquel said in Part 2 of the Season 10 reunion that her relationship with Tom initially became romantic after the girls’ trip to Vegas and Lake Havasu in August that she went on with Ariana, Lala, Katie Maloney, and Kristina Kelly. (Ariana left early when she found out her dog Charlotte was terminal.)
Watch the episodes on Peacock.
Raquel kissed Oliver Saunders in August 2022
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episodes 5, 6, and 11 (aired March 2023)
Oliver Saunders, the son of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Garcelle Beauvais, hooked up with Raquel in early August while she was on the aforementioned girls trip to Las Vegas (he works at Vanderpump à Paris there).
Because Lala also had her sights on the handsome server, the encounter caused a riff between the VPR ladies, and Katie, Lala, and Kristina called out Raquel for her behavior.
''I'm starting to see a pattern in Raquel," Katie in a Season 10 Episode 6 interview. "It seems she is only interested in men that her friends are either married to or interested in, and that is a big red flag for me."
Later in the season, Raquel went on a date with Oliver.
“You gotta give her a break,” Oliver said when asked about the current situation during an April 3 appearance on the Behind the Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast. “We all make mistakes and we just gotta roll on, you know? So that’s my two cents.”
Watch the episodes on Peacock.
Tom, Tom, and Raquel at Scheana and Brock’s August 2022 wedding
In August, most of the cast decamped to Cancun for the August 23, 2022 wedding of Scheana Shay and Brock Davies.
Raquel kissed Tom Schwartz on camera
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 9 (aired April 5, 2023)
Throughout Season 10, much chatter was dedicated to a will-they, won't-they make out session between Schwartz and Raquel, which Schwartz's ex-wife, Katie, found highly objectionable. The pair did end up locking lips while in Cancun for the wedding; the encounter was teased in the season's trailer.
"My attraction for Schwartz definitely outweighs my desire to be friends with Katie," Raquel said during a Season 10 Episode 9 interview.
During the third episode of the Season 10 reunion, after Lisa repeatedly expressed surprise that Raquel and Tom Schwartz had kissed after her earlier, alleged “one night stand” with Sandoval, Raquel claimed she’d felt attraction to Schwartz and had just been curious about kissing him
Behind the scenes, Raquel and Tom Sandoval slept together again
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10 Reunion Part 3 (aired June 7, 2023)
Several times during the Season 10 reunion, Sandoval and Raquel both claimed they’d put the brakes on things after their August 2022 hookup, calling their first time a “one night stand.”
But in a post-reunion interview filmed six days after the reunion (featured in Part 3), Raquel admitted the two had slept together again at Scheana and Brock’s wedding in August after which their relationship became a regular thing.
“Did you guys have sex multiple times in Mexico?” the producer asked. “Yeah,” Raquel replied.
“So it was like, a regular, ongoing thing between you two, it sounds like, as of Mexico?”
“Yeah, I mean, yeah,” she answered again. “Uh, I don’t remember, like, how often it would happen, but it definitely picked up speed more after we wrapped filming.”
Watch the episodes on Peacock.
Tom and Raquel were spotted together at The Abbey
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 11 (aired April 19, 2023)
Ally Lewber revealed that she spotted Tom and Raquel dancing together at WeHo hotspot The Abbey after one of boyfriend James’ "See You Next Tuesday" gigs sometime after the Shay-Davies wedding.
Though the DJ didn't think much of the encounter, Ally had some insight to share. “I personally wouldn’t be comfortable with it, I guess, to have my boyfriend out at 1 a.m. with girls, but everyone’s different," she said in an interview.
Tom didn't leave a Labor Day party to be with Ariana after her grandmother died
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 13 (aired May 3, 2023), Watch What Happens Live (aired March 22, 2023)
Jax Taylor — who, with wife Brittany Cartwright, has provided commentary for Season 10 episodes on Peacock — said on WWHL in March that he was at a Labor Day party in Orange County with Tom and Raquel when Ariana called Tom to tell him her grandmother had died.
"He didn't go home. He didn't leave," Jax said. "He used the fact that he couldn't get an Uber and meanwhile people were coming in and out of the house all day long because it was a Labor Day party."
During Season 10, Episode 13, Tom not leaving the party was brought up among the group, with Ariana asking Tom to explain what happened. "I should've [left]," he said. "I just figured that you... I don't know."
"We've been together now for eight and half years, and somehow, somewhere, it feels like maybe he just doesn't think I'm as important anymore," Ariana said in an interview.
Raquel slept over at Tom's house while Ariana was away
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 13 (aired May 3, 2023), Season 10 Reunion Part 3 (aired June 7, 2023)
In the above clip from Season 10, Episode 13, Ken Todd is seen telling wife and SUR owner Lisa Vanderpump and Katie that Raquel spent the night at Tom and Ariana's house while Ariana was away for her grandmother's funeral—without her long-term boyfriend in attendance.
"I can’t believe that Tom Sandoval had Raquel over when Ariana is away," Ken said. "And she stayed all night."
Lisa, however, already knew because Raquel was late to work the day after and eventually admitted she was at Sandoval's, though she claimed she slept on the couch. When confronted by Lisa over FaceTime, Sandoval first tried to deny Raquel had slept over but eventually admitted it, though he also denied anything happened.
During Part 3 of the reunion, Andy asked if Raquel and Tom had actually hooked up during that sleepover, which Tom again denied. However, Raquel admitted in her post-reunion interview later that episode that there was more to the story.
"It’s the one story that we've agreed on getting straight,” she told an off-camera producer. “And I know that the reason why Tom wanted to lie about it is because it's a really bad look to hook up with someone's boyfriend in their own house when they've gone out of town, especially for a funeral of all things.”
Watch the episodes on Peacock.
Raquel counseled Ariana on her sex life with Tom
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 14 (aired May 10, 2023)
In the trailer for Episode 14, Raquel and Ariana are shown having a very open conversation about Ariana and Tom’s sex life — or what Tom had earlier indicated that he considered the lack thereof.
Raquel offered some advice to her supposed best friend: “I feel like, in a relationship, you should want to have sex.”
Ariana explained to Raquel what she'd said to Tom: She didn't feel like there was intimacy outside the bedroom because they weren't spending enough time together.
“When you come home after working all night and you think you are just going to whip your d-ck out and I will be like, ‘Yeah lets f-ck.’ That is never going to happen,” she said.
Raquel bought a lightning bolt necklace in honor of her relationship with Tom
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 14 (aired May 10, 2023), Season 10 Reunion Part 3 (aired June 7, 2023)
At the end of the Episode 14 clip, above, Raquel was seen buying a $780 necklace with a lightning bolt on it, which just happenned to be the symbol Tom Sandoval uses at TomTom and for his band.
During the third episode of the Season 10 reunion, she admitted in response to a question with Andy that she did so because of her romance with Sandoval.
“It was significant to who he became in my life, and I know that’s not what anyone wants to hear,” she said.
Lisa expressed shock at her actions.
“I don’t understand this. It was on camera. It was so provocative,” she said. “It’s almost like you were acting out some sort of weird charade.”
“I know,” Raquel replied. “I was cringing so hard watching that back.”
Raquel wore a TomTom Sweatshirt to BravoCon in October 2022
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 15 (aired May 17, 2023)
Raquel wore a TomTom sweatshirt on day three of BravoCon 2022 in New York City. Soon after, Katie commented on an Instagram re-post about the outfit, saying “‘She a fan girl. Started as a fan of the show and now a fan of the Toms.”
In a separate comment, Raquel responded, “I admit… I am a fan of the toms." Later, she added more: “I’m definitely a fan of the restaurant… best vibe, food and drinks in WeHo in my opinion. But I’m also a fan of Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval!! Here to support their business endeavors.”
The model then shared a post of her own to discuss the outfit.
"Just came here to say that the number one reason I wore this TomTom sweatshirt on Day 3 of BravoCon was for the comfy vibes,” she wrote. “I also wore it to support BOTH of the Toms.”
She also added a hashtag: "#NumberOneTomStan"
In Season 10, Episode 15, Katie recalled a comment Tom Schwartz made to her about the TomTom sweatshirt Raquel wore to BravoCon. When Katie suggested Raquel was wearing the sweatshirt for Schwartz, Tom Schwartz allegedly told her: "She's not there for me, trust me."
Tom Sandoval dressed as Raquel for Halloween 2022
Sandoval copied Raquel's controversial BravoCon look when he dressed as her in a TomTom sweatshirt and wig for Halloween. At the time, Raquel re-shared his homage on her Instagram Story.
During Part 3 of the Season 10 reunion, Ariana said she'd actually helped Sandoval put the costume together.
Raquel visited Tom Sandoval’s hometown of St. Louis in late December
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10 Reunion Part 3 (aired June 7, 2023)
After the scandal broke and the reunion wrapped, TMZ broke the news that Raquel had allegedly visited St. Louis with Sandoval shortly after Christmas by publishing a photo of the two of them on December 29, 2022.
After the first reunion episode, Ariana addressed the visit in an Instagram reply, according to the New York Post.
“He also spent Christmas with me and my family in LA (photo shown in the finale) before splitting his time and going home to see his after,” she wrote. “First holidays without my grandma please remember.”
In her post-reunion interview that aired as part of the third episode, Raquel initially said she couldn’t recall ever visiting St. Louis. But photo evidence from producers — the now-deleted pic from her Instagram stories showing her and Tom posing in front of the Apotheosis of St. Louis statue on December 29, 2022 — proved otherwise.
“It frickin’ happened. Yeah,” Raquel eventually revealed.
Vanderpump Rules Season 10 premiered February 8, 2023
Season 10 premiered approximately seven months after filming initially began.
Ariana learned that Tom and Raquel were having an affair on March 1, 2023
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 15 (aired May 17, 2023)
In Season 10 Episode 15, Ariana and Tom recounted how and when Ariana learned of the affair. Ariana was watching Tom’s band perform at TomTom when his phone fell out of his pocket. “Call it women’s intuition, call it lightbulb, call it whatever,” Ariana said in an interview, noting the urge she had to look at Tom’s phone in the moment. In doing so, she found a screen recording of a FaceTime between Tom and Raquel, prompting a conversation with Tom and a phone call with Raquel. “I called Raquel saying, ‘If you have ever given a sh-t a bout me, tell me.’”
“I learned on a Wednesday night that there are evil, evil people in this world,” she continued. “And sometimes they are the people closest to you and you have no idea.”
Ariana also recounted the story to friends, including Katie and Scheana, as seen in the clip above.
Scheana learned about Tom and Raquel's affair on March 1, 2023
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 15 (aired May 17, 2023), Watch What Happens Live (aired April 19, 2023)
As the cast notes in Season 10, Episode 15, Scheana was with Raquel at Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in New York when Ariana found out about the affair and called Raquel. In the finale episode, Scheana told Ariana, Katie, and friends, that she had "so much rage" in her upon learning of the affair. "I was so angry, I shoved her so f-cking hard away from me" before noting that Raquel was telling Tom Schwartz that Scheana punched her.
During Scheana's April 19 WWHL appearance, the "Good as Gold" singer settled some rumors about what really went down between her and her former friend. “I did not punch her in the face. As you see, I can't really form a proper fist,” Scheana said, showing off her manicure. “Look, there’s a shove and there’s a punch, and I did not punch her.” Scheana also confirmed she threw Raquel's phone.
Reports of Tom and Ariana's breakup went public on March 3, 2023
TMZ first reported Tom and Ariana's breakup on March 3, 2023.
Season 10 resumed filming, and cameras captured the fallout from Tom and Raquel's affair in early March 2023
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 15 (aired May 17, 2023)
As the drama continued to swirl, the VPR cameras came back to catch the action.
"You may have heard rumors that the cameras were up over the weekend — yes, the cameras were up,” Andy Cohen said during his Radio Andy SiriusXM show in early March. “The cameras have been up on everyone, getting reactions and filming, so you will see this play out in a sense this season of Vanderpump Rules, before the reunion.”
In the official trailer for the Season 10 finale, Sandoval is shown in conversation with many people about his recently-discovered affair, including Scheana.
“I was going to break up with Ariana regardless,” he told her.
“But you didn’t. You f—d her best friend instead,” Scheana responded.
In another scene, Sandoval was crying in the arms of Schwartz.
“I felt something I hadn’t felt in a very long time,” Sandoval explained to his best friend, who simply responded “Jesus Christ, man."
Sandoval is also seen talking to Ariana about his friendship with Raquel in the context of their affair.
“I don’t give a f-ck about f-cing Raquel!” she screamed at him, adding that she regretted ever having loved him.
Raquel, on the other hand, appeared light-hearted during her conversation with Sandoval, giggling in an intimate moment while telling him how their affair “turned out so horribly wrong.”
And at the end, Sandoval's other ex, Kristen Doute, is seen pressing her fingers together and saying, “You ready?”
Tom confirmed his affair with Raquel on March 4, 2023
Featured in: Vanderpump Rules Season 10, Episode 15 (aired May 17, 2023)
Tom initially issued two statements via Instagram. The first, posted March 4, included an apology to those feeling “anger” or “disappointment” toward him, as well as Tom Schwartz and their other business partners. The second (shared March 7) was an apology to Ariana.
“I can only imagine how devastating this has been for Ariana and everyone around us,” he wrote in part. “I feel really horrible about that. My biggest regret is that I dishonored Ariana. I never meant to disappoint so many people, including our loving families and friends.”
Tom's bar, Schwartz and Sandy's, shared a statement on March 4, 2023
As speculation and anger began to spread, Sandoval's newest venture, bar Schwartz and Sandy's, shared a statement to its public Instagram page on March 4, reminding boycotters that there are more people involved in the business than just its famous owners.
“In light of the recent news, we appreciate the many words of support but we also understand the outpouring of outrage that has been directed towards our businesses,” read the statement in part. “However, those of us who are not famous have dedicated our time, hearts, and money to make this restaurant a reality. We too are disappointed by the current situation as Ariana has always been a good friend and a great supporter of the restaurant. We appreciate that you may feel a certain way but please understand that the livelihoods of others also depend on this business. There are four more people involved in this venture other than just Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz.”
Raquel apologized, addressed her feelings for Tom on March 8, 2023
Raquel issued a statement to ET on March 8 addressing the affair.
“I want to apologize for my actions and my choices foremost to Ariana, and to my friends and the fans so invested in our relationships. There is no excuse, I am not a victim and I must own my actions and I deeply regret hurting Ariana," it began. “I have sought emotional validation through intimate connections that are not healthy without regard for my own well-being, sometimes negatively affecting others and often prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships. I am taking steps to understand my behavior and make healthier choices.”
In another statement on her Instagram account that day, Raquel spoke directly about her feelings for the Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras frontman.
“Besides the indefensible circumstances surrounding our relationship, my feelings for Tom have always been sincere and born out of a loving friendship. Knowing how many people we hurt, I need to understand my choices and learn to make better ones. I need to take care of my health, work on my self-growth and take time to be ok with being alone,” she wrote. “I care for Tom and I don’t want to label anything or predict what lies ahead. Right now I need to heal.”
Lisa talked about the drama on WWHL on March 8, 2023
Featured in: Watch What Happens Live (March 8, 2023)
Lisa was the first cast member to appear on WWHL following news of the alleged affair and offered an update on Ariana.
“I have seen Ariana and I have [filmed] with her. It’s an integral part of the story now. I would say the word I would use [to describe her] is devastated,” the restauranteur said on March 8.
As far as her reaction to an alleged affair, Lisa said she had "literally no words" and was “gobsmacked” and “flabbergasted.”
She also shared her wishes for the then-upcoming reunion.
“I hope that when the reunion comes, we actually all sit down and we can have a better understanding of how this happened, why this happened, and when this happened," she said.
Katie appeared on WWHL on March 15, 2023
Featured in: Watch What Happens Live (March 15, 2023)
During Katie's WWHL appearance a week later, she said she believes her ex-husband Tom Schwartz was "duped" by Tom Sandoval and Raquel during the alleged affair.
"I don't know exactly [when he found out]," she added, noting that she had asked him about it.
If he did know, however, and hadn't been honest with her?
"I'd light him on fire," Katie said.
When Andy asked her if she believes Sandoval and Raquel are in love, she noted that they "better" be.
"At this point they better fall in love. Because who's going to date them?"
Ariana issued a statement on March 16, 2023
Following an extended period of silence, Ariana shared some insights in a March 16 Instagram post.
“I want to express my most sincere gratitude for the outpouring of love and support I have received from friends, family, and people I’ve never even met in the last two weeks," she wrote. "When I have felt like I couldn’t even stand, you all have given me the strength to continue and seen me through my darkest hours.”
“To say I have been devastated and broken is an understatement,” she continued. “However, I know that I am not in this alone. So many of my closest friends are also grieving this loss right now and reeling from this betrayal on so many levels. I am so f--king lucky to have the best support system in the world and I hope I can repay every single person for the love you have shown me.”
She ended the post with a kicker for the ages.
“What doesn’t kill me better run.”
The Vanderpump Rules Season 10 Reunion filmed on March 23, 2023
Don't worry: they talked about it all. In an Instagram Story posted the morning of the reunion — March 23 — Lala said she was “on 10," promising she'd be "on 100" later in the day.
The same day, Bravo released the reunion seating chart(s). In the first of two charts, reunion host Andy Cohen was situated in the middle of the action, joined to his left by Ariana, Katie, James, and Lala and, to his right, by Lisa, Tom Sandoval, Raquel, and Tom Schwartz.
The second showed Schwartz next to Sandoval, with Scheana on the end.
As for the reunion looks, BravoTV.com released a peek of the glam to come. Naturally, Ariana's dress was subject to much chatter; the blonde stunned in a custom crimson number.
Tom Schwartz appeared on WWHL on April 5, 2023
Featured in: Watch What Happens Live (April 5, 2023)
In a memorable Clubhouse appearance shortly after the reunion filmed, Tom Schwartz spoke about the fallout of Tom Sandoval's relationship with Raquel and his opinion of Tom Sandoval's actions ("he got lost in the sauce"). Tom Schwartz spoke about the tough position he felt he was put in and said that his best friend and business partner "took advantage of [his] kindness."
In addition to sharing his belief of when the affair started, Tom Schwartz said that Tom Sandoval first came to him in January 2023 saying he was "in love" with Raquel, after previously telling him about their "one night stand" in August.
The appearance covered many topics, later leading Tom Schwartz to comment on his self-proclaimed "unhinged interviews."
Tom Sandoval gave update on Raquel in a podcast interview on April 11, 2023
On the April 11 episode of the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, Tom shared more of his side of the story.
First and foremost, he gave an update on his relationship with Raquel, revealing that, for now, the pair are simply “really good friends.”
“We’re not putting any label on it,” he added. “We’re also just kind of taking a break.”