Tom Sandoval shaded former flame Raquel Leviss after learning she blocked him on Instagram after he sent her a birthday message as she turned 29 on Monday.
While promoting the September 25 premiere of FOX’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, Sandoval, 40, reacted to Raquel’s diss, offered his support to ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix, 38, amid her role on Dancing with the Stars, and admitted that Vanderpump Rules season 11 was “very hard.”
“I’m doing a lot better. I’ve gotten through the worst. I definitely went through some very, very dark times,” Sandoval shared with Extra’s Melvin Robert after being asked how he’s doing months after his months-long affair with Raquel was exposed.
After being faced with a bevy of backlash for cheating on Ariana, Sandoval traveled to New Zealand to film Special Forces.
“I felt it would be a nice, healthy distraction from all the chaos and sh*t going on in my life… I wanted to get away. Leaving the country sounded so appealing,” he admitted. “Being around other people that have gone through their own hardships and having them tell their stories and what they’ve learned. It’s very inspiring and it really puts things in perspective.”
While Sandoval acknowledged that there are still plenty of people who are upset about his actions, he said he “[understands]” and admitted he “screwed up.”
“I’m just trying to do better, be better and take my life one day at a time,” he explained.
Throughout production on the upcoming 11th season, Sandoval struggled in his dynamics with his castmates, who infamously berated both him and Raquel at the season 10 reunion.
“For me personally, it was a very hard season. I felt very isolated,” Sandoval revealed. “I’m definitely not used to being so much on the outskirts and it was tough It was tough at times. It was also really tough for fellow castmates. They’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. If they like me and say hi to me they get lit up on social media.”
As he and Ariana continue to live together at their $2 million mansion in the Valley Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, Sandoval said he looks forward to voting for his former partner on Dancing With the Stars.
“I will be voting for her,” he confirmed. “I think she’s going to do really well. She’s got a lot of actual ability when it comes to dancing. She’s been wanting to be on the show for a long time. I’m super stoked for her.”
As for his ex-mistress, Sandoval explained why he took a photo of Raquel to the Special Forces set despite being banned from doing so.
“During this whole scandal we didn’t have a lot of people. We had each other. She was very much a source of strength. I felt like we both were for each other,” he reasoned.
Then, after saying that he believes Raquel is “doing great” in Arizona after spending two months in a mental health treatment facility, Sandoval recalled “[wishing] her a happy birthday” on Instagram before getting blocked.
“I think it’s a little thirsty and immature personally. But she is who she is,” Sandoval stated. “I still wish the best for her. I hope she’s doing good and I hope she finds her happiness.”
Vanderpump Rules season 11 is expected to premiere on Bravo later this year or in early 2024.