Against all odds and to the chagrin of most fans of Vanderpump Rules, the Scandoval saga has taken an even uglier turn with Tom Sandoval filing a lawsuit this week against his former girlfriend, Ariana Madix, claiming that she violated his privacy when peeking at his phone to discover salacious videos of her friend and cast mate.
That moment of alleged phone snooping on Sandoval, her then-partner of a decade, during the season 10 finale of Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules launched not only the biggest scandal yet of Bravo’s reality franchise (or perhaps, the entire reality TV format) but also now gives fans addicted to the slowly unfolding drama the next chapter of the saga between the former couple and Rachel Leviss. Sandoval and Leviss carried on a secret affair while all three were filming the hit The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills spinoff, which follows the drama that seems to come with employees of bars and restaurants owned by Lisa Vanderpump.
In a civil suit filed in Los Angeles court, Sandoval alleges that his privacy was invaded by Madix when she illegally “obtained access” to his phone on March 1, 2023, where she was surprised to find videos of her partner and Leviss. Madix, the suit alleges, did not have Sandoval’s “authorization or permission” to look at his phone or view videos on the device.
Madix then made copies of the torrid videos and distributed them to multiple third parties, the suit alleges — the same claim that Leviss has made in a suit filed against Madix.
Madix’s attorney, Jordan Susman, responded to the suit in a statement sent to The Hollywood Reporter: “It is abhorrent that Tom Sandoval continues to torment Ms. Madix. From engaging in an illicit affair that shattered her home and stability, to months of emotional warfare and now this attempt to further shirk personal responsibility for the effects his actions have had on her and her emotional wellbeing. Mr. Sandoval knows full well what sort of privileges he and Ms. Madix shared in regard to their personal communication devices. If he or his mistress had their way, it would be illegal for someone to discover their spouse or significant other was having an affair.
“For Mr. Sandoval to go from begging Ms. Madix for forgiveness to blaming her for his wrongdoing speaks for itself. Even months after The New York Times branded Mr. Sandoval ‘the most hated man in America,’ he has clearly learned nothing and believes it necessary to continue torturing Ms. Madix in a vain effort to rehabilitate his image. Ms. Madix is confident that a jury will see through this latest ploy and dismiss his frivolous claims.”
Sandoval’s attorney Matthew Geragos told US Weekly that the suit was filed, “in order to ensure a fair and just determination of responsibility among all parties involved” after Leviss filed a suit against Sandoval in February for recording their intimate FaceTime session without her knowledge.
“We filed a cross-complaint on behalf of Mr. Sandoval. This customary legal action was crucial to ensure that liability, if any, is fairly distributed based on the actual level of involvement and fault of each party. We aim to resolve this legal dispute with upmost [sic] respect towards all parties involved,” his attorneys said.
An email sent by THR to Geragos was not immediately returned on Wednesday.
This distribution allegation is also the thrust of a suit, which was filed against Madix by Leviss in February. The 29-year-old is seeking a jury trial in the legal actions against her ex-co-stars and former close friends for eavesdropping, revenge porn and an invasion of privacy. After the scandal broke, she states in the suit, she entered in-patient treatment at a mental health facility.
Leviss also states in the filing that her departure from the show came as she was “subjected to a public skewering with little precedent.” Leviss was last seen during the season 10 three–part reunion and a post-reunion interview filmed after the scandal broke.
Madix has already denied the distribution claims that Leviss and now Sandoval are hurling at her in court. Sandoval already filed a countersuit against Leviss, stating her case is “a thinly veiled attempt to extend [her] fame and to rebrand herself as the victim.” Madix also pushed back on Leviss in court, filing a suit in April, which states that it’s a mere attempt by Leviss to “blame Ms. Madix for the negative reaction [she] received as a result of her affair.”
The sparks could also fly in court if Sandoval and Madix can’t resolve the legal battle over their shared home. The case is set to go to trial in February if still unresolved.
