In February, Rachel Leviss sued both Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix, accusing them of creating revenge porn, eavesdropping, inflicting emotional distress, and invading her privacy. Tom denied Rachel’s accusations, describing the lawsuit as an attempt to extend her fame and rebrand herself as a victim. Ariana, on the other hand, argued that Rachel’s filing was an example of a SLAPP suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) and sought to have all claims against her dismissed.
In February, Rachel sued both Tom and Ariana, claiming that they created revenge porn, eavesdropped, participated in the intentional infliction of emotional distress and invaded her privacy.
Tom denied Rachel”s accusations and characterized the lawsuit as a bid to extend her fame and “rebrand herself as the victim.” Meanwhile, Ariana alleged that Rachel”s filing was an example of a “SLAPP” suit — a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation — and asked that all three of the claims against her be dismissed.
“It”s one thing for her to come after me,” Tom said during the season 11 Vanderpump Rules reunion, “but to come after Ariana, I”m questioning if she has a f**king soul. It”s insane.”
Tom has apparently changed his tune now, though, as he recently filed a lawsuit in which he claimed that Ariana gained access to explicit videos of him and Rachel on his cell phone without his permission.
“Tom Sandoval, it”s a s**t thing to do after a s**ty thing you already did!” Scheana said on her Instagram Story. “Call me a f**king idiot, OK? I said it at the finale. ”Don”t make me look like an idiot.” Well, you did!”
“I think it”s cruel. I think it”s vile. I think it negates any ”remorse” that you tried to show at the reunion saying [Rachel] was a coward or whatever you said about her suing Ariana,” she added. “Y”all were together for almost a decade. You shared a mortgage. You shared bills. You shared passcodes! OK? She knew your password!” Scheana Shay and Tom Sandoval – Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo
It”s quite the change of tune for Scheana, who spent much of season 11 at odds with Ariana, her one-time best friend, over her unwillingness to cut Tom out of her life completely.
For now, the women appear to be on the same page. In a statement to ET, Ariana”s attorney, Jordan Susman, a partner at Nolan Heimann LLP, said, “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,” the statement added. “Tom 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,” the statement continued. “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.”