Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix is “grossed out” by Katie Maloney’s ex-husband Tom Schwartz after his involvement in covering up the Scandoval affair. Schwartz appeared to be the decoy for Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss as they hooked up in secret for seven months. The 40-year-old initially claimed he found out in January but later admitted he knew they slept together in late August. Schwartz is the only current Vanderpump Rules cast member to remain friends with Sandoval.
Katie revealed how Ariana really feels about Schwartz while appearing in a recent episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast. “Of course she’s upset,” Katie said, claiming her sandwich shop co-owner is “grossed out by him.” Katie clearly understood these feelings and called out her ex-husband for being complicit in the affair. She said that, his ever-changing timeline aside, Schwartz should’ve told Ariana as soon as he found out Sandoval and Raquel were cheating. Slamming Schwartz and Sandoval’s toxic friendship, Katie remarked, “They have been covering for each other over the years in their gross ways.”
Vanderpump Rules’ Katie Maloney Calls Raquel “Sick & Awful”
Three months after the Scandoval news first broke, the affair still dominates headlines. When asked why it’s become one of Bravo’s most infamous scandals, Katie theorized, “It is the deception and the nefarious nature of it all.” The 35-year-old pointed to the extra layer of betrayal since Raquel was one of Ariana’s best friends. Calling Raquel “so sick and awful,” Katie slammed the former beauty queen for “how she would allow Ariana to love up on her” while sleeping with her pal’s boyfriend of nine years. Katie also brought up the unbelievable moment in a recent episode when Raquel encouraged Ariana to open up about her relationship woes with Sandoval.
That conversation was one of the many things that made Raquel the latest Vanderpump Rules villain. Soon after interrogating Ariana about Sandoval, the 28-year-old berated Katie about her divorce from Schwartz, even making Katie’s mom cry. Things got worse when Schwartz later defended Raquel instead of having his ex-wife’s back. A Vanderpump Rules season 10 finale preview clip added an extra “gross” layer to the cover-up, as Ariana revealed that Sandoval recorded his infamous FaceTime session with Raquel at Schwartz’s place. This proves how Scandoval was a new low for the years-long toxic friendship.
Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright theorized that Katie and Schwartz would still be married if Sandoval was less of a factor, and Katie admitted there was truth to it. But his divorce and the public outcry hasn’t swayed Schwartz’s loyalties. On Watch What Happens Live, he acknowledged Ariana likely hated him but insisted he loved and cared about her. However, he still stood up for Sandoval, asking viewers to give his buddy a hug. As Schwartz, Sandoval, and Raquel keep digging themselves deeper, Katie, Ariana, and their upcoming sandwich shop are set to thrive.
Vanderpump Rules airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo.
Sources: Not Skinny But Not Fat/Apple Podcasts, Katie Maloney/Instagram
