Sophia Michaels
Tom Schwartz is re-evaluating his friendship with Tom Sandoval.
The “Vanderpump Rules” star revealed he hasn’t seen or spoken to his business partner and BFF in “a little while” despite standing by his side amid backlash over his bombshell affair with Raquel Leviss.
“He made a big mess and he left it for us to clean up,” Schwartz said on Wednesday’s episode of “When Reality Hits with Jax and Brittany.” “It’s hard for me not to be resentful of him … I’m taking a break from Tom right now.”
When host and former co-star Jax Taylor pointed out that Sandoval seemingly “took advantage” of Schwartz’s “kindness,” Schwartz, 40, agreed, saying he felt “used” by his friend.
“In this case in particular, I really do feel like he exploited me,” he continued, noting that he became an “unfortunate confidant” in the “vile” scheme.
According to Schwartz, Sandoval sold him “a s—t bill of goods,” claiming he tried to break up with then-girlfriend Ariana Madix “three times,” and that “she treated him like s—t, she belittled him, they had no intimacy and that they were more or less just roommates.”
However, he did admit he is “guilty of being too complacent” and should have pressed Sandoval, also 40, to come clean about the dalliance.
Although Schwartz claimed that Sandoval “regrets” the affair, he also isn’t thrilled that the wannabe rockstar decided to go on tour with his cover band in the wake of the scandal.
“I know he’s very passionate about the band but the optics of it — not even from my point of view but people see that he’s up there and he’s singing his heart out with his shirt off,” he continued. “It just looks like he has no contrition, it looks like he just doesn’t give a f—k and he is living out his rockstar dreams.”
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Schwartz then urged Sandoval to take more accountability for his actions — without trying to simultaneously put part of the blame on Madix.
“I know Tom is itching to tell more of his side of the story but when you have a full-blown affair, your side of the story becomes obsolete … he needs to lose the ego, he needs a change of heart, humility and to say ‘I’m sorry’ — not ‘I’m sorry, but…’”
Up until now, Schwartz was the only “VPR” cast member to defend Sandoval after news of his affair broke in March.
As previously reported, Madix discovered Sandoval and Leviss’ months-long affair on March 1 after finding a sexually explicit video of her then-BFF on her then-boyfriend’s phone.
The drama was captured during Season 10 of the Bravo series and became the focal point of the explosive three-part reunion.
The final episode – which is expected to drop a “bombshell” relating to Scandoval – airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
