Tom Sandoval’s friend group experienced a significant shift following his cheating scandal and subsequent split from Ariana Madix in March 2023, with most of their mutual friends siding with Madix. In the aftermath, Sandoval attempted to rebuild his social circle, surrounding himself with new faces and those who remained loyal, despite criticism from fellow “Vanderpump Rules” cast members who suggested these friends were mainly people on his payroll.
Tom Sandoval’s friend group experienced a significant shift following his cheating scandal, leading to a loss of long-term friends and a subsequent effort to rebuild his inner circle with those who remained loyal amidst the backlash, as depicted in Season 11 of “Vanderpump Rules.”
Oh boy, Tom Sandoval’s world got rocked hard. His friend group? Totally in for a rollercoaster ride after his cheating scandal hit the fan.
So, Tom and his now-ex, Ariana Madix, used to share the same squad. But then, bam! His affair with their “Vanderpump Rules” co-star Rachel “Raquel” Leviss splashed across headlines. Post-split in March 2023, guess what? Most of their buddies publicly sided with Ariana. Ouch.
Sandoval, in a February 2024 episode of the Bravo hit, spilled the beans. “Since the scandal broke, I’ve lost a lot of long-term friends,” he said. He’s been clinging to the few who stuck by him.
Season 11 of “Vanderpump Rules” zooms in on Sandoval’s quest to patch up his inner circle. Right after filming kicked off, he threw a birthday bash swarming with new faces. He told the cameras these were the loyalists who weathered the storm with him.
“I cannot begin to express how truly grateful I am for all the people that have stuck around. These people have put up with so much hate because of things that I did,” he emotionally shared during season 11. He felt “really bad” about the backlash his friends faced. “Just being my friend, it really means a lot to me. More than anything.”
But, not everyone’s buying what Sandoval’s selling. His fellow “Vanderpump Rules” stars? They’ve got their own takes. Madix threw shade, saying Sandoval’s new crew were basically people on his payroll.
And then there’s James Kennedy, throwing zingers at Sandoval’s latest squad. Bravo even got in on the action, labeling everyone at Sandoval’s birthday bash, highlighting how many were tied to his music career.
“Tom’s party is like a who’s who? Like who the f—k are you people?” Kennedy joked in a February 2024 episode. “Tom, you used to be the coolest guy on the block. Now look!”
So, if you’re curious about Sandoval’s current inner circle, keep scrolling. It’s quite the mix, I’d say.
