Vanderpump Rules cheating scandal rocks reality TV world

The Bravo-verse has been shaken to its core in the last week after the revelation that long-time Vanderpump Rules cast member Tom Sandoval has been carrying on a lengthy affair with co-star Raquel Leviss, shocking his girlfriend of almost a decade as well as fans and fellow cast mates.

The scandalous news broke after Sandoval’s now-ex girlfriend, Ariana Madix, found an explicit video of Leviss on his phone during his band’s show in Los Angeles the night of March 1, after which she broke off their relationship. Messages on his phone revealed that Leviss and Sandoval had been communicating inappropriately for at least six months prior.

The news shook Bravo fans and ignited a firestorm of social media responses from viewers as well as stars of the show, which began airing in 2013. Friends of Madix have publicly condemned Leviss and Sandoval’s actions, prompting lengthy apologies from both on social media. Levis claims she and her therapist have uncovered she has an addiction to “being loved” and is working to make better choices. Sandoval issued an apology and asked fans not to take out their hatred of him on his employees and partners at his bar in Hollywood, TomTom, which he partially owns with fellow co-stars Lisa Vanderpump and Tom Schwartz.

Sandoval issued a second apology after fans and his co-stars noted he had apologized to everyone the first go-round except the person he hurt most, Madix. In the most recent apology, he specifically apologizes to her and takes responsibility for the affair.

Leviss was previously engaged to co-star and DJ James Kennedy before the two called off their engagement last year.