Sophia Michaels
Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval are both in mourning after the sudden death of their mutual friend Ali Rafiq.
Amid ongoing Scandoval drama, the “Vanderpump Rules” stars took to Instagram over the weekend to pay tribute to the St. Louis-based photographer, who died earlier this week.
“The love I have for you is way beyond words I will carry u forever in my heart,” wrote Sandoval, who knew Rafiq since childhood.
“Always cherishing the beautiful memories, uncontrollable laughter, and epic experiences we had together. You were My best friend, my brother. I’ll catch u on the next sunrise…
5min/5hour 5or500.”
Madix, who looked forlorn when she was spotted leaving LAX airport Saturday, also paid tribute to her friend, whom she met through her now-ex.
“I keep wanting to text you. it feels like this can’t even be real. we were just planning your trip to LA. talking about our futures and all the things we were looking forward to,” she began a lengthy post shared via her Instagram Story.
“i miss our talks about life. i miss sending each other cat memes. i miss geeking out over food. or dj videos. i miss you bringing your turntables over. i miss us both wanting to go home but still staying out and having fun. i miss cut copy and chromeo songs.”
Madix continued on, writing that while she knew her late friend “won’t be seeing this,” she hopes it would “somehow” make it to him.
“i love you always and forever. i’m grateful for the moments we spent together and for the love and friendship you showed me over the last ten years,” she added.
“you are so loved and you are so missed. i am proud to be able to say i know ali the great. because you ARE and will always be the greatest.”
Just a few days ago, Rafiq shared a throwback snap of himself and Madix from the early years of “Vanderpump Rules.” He captioned the black-and-white selfie, “Started from the bottom now we here @arianamadix #pumprules #2014.”
Rafiq’s cause of death is not yet known, according to his sister Rabia.
“It’s human nature to ask, what happened, how did he die? The truth is, we don’t know how he died, we just found him and he was already gone,” she said in an Instagram Story after the funeral service Saturday. “We won’t have any answers from his tests for weeks, so we don’t know.”
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Sadly, the loss of Madix’s close pal isn’t the only change in the reality star’s life.
Madix, 37, caught Sandoval, 40, having a months-long affair with fellow “Vanderpump Rules” co-star and ex-friend Raquel Leviss back in March.
She swiftly dumped her boyfriend of nine years and moved on with Daniel Wai, who she met at a wedding just days after learning about the affair.
“Vanderpump Rules” cameras weren’t rolling when Madix made the bombshell discovery. However, Bravo resumed production and taped a new finale that documented the fallout of Scandoval.
The hotly anticipated final episode featured a heated confrontation between the now-exes, and Leviss and Sandoval professing their love for each other. Page Six has since confirmed that Sandoval and Leviss, 28, have called it quits following the scandal.
The three-part “Vanderpump Rules” reunion begins airing next Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
