Tom Schwartz breaks his silence amid allegations of a months-long affair between his best friend and business partner, Tom Sandoval, and Vanderpump Rules Co-star, Raquel Leves.
Schwartz, who has been linked throughout Season 10 to the man Levis had his eye on after calling off her engagement to James Kennedy, said he was shocked to learn about Sandoval’s dalliances with Levis and saddened to see his nine-year relationship with his co-star. Superstar and friend Ariana Madix has come to an end.
In the video he got it TMZ, Schwartz said that Sandoval is “relatively OK” and that he is deeply saddened. Having said that, Schwartz says Sandoval “seems like a piece of the genre, and to a certain extent, he is. But he knows he’s loved.”
As for Ariana, Schwartz is adamant that she has a really good support system.
He said, “She’s with friends.” “I hope you live a good life and indulge. I hope you embark on a journey of living.”
Schwartz insists he has not seen or spoken to Levis since the so-called “Scandoval” outbreak.
As for whether he knew about the case all along, Schwartz deflected, saying he’d rather not talk about it.
“You’ll see it play out in the show.”
Schwartz and co-owner Sandoval’s statement follows two public apologies from Sandoval, who mentioned his business partner in his first post about the scandal.
“Hey, I totally understand and deserve your anger and disappointment towards me, but please leave Schwartz my friends and family out of this situation…,” Sandoval wrote, asking fans to leave his best friend and business partner, Tom Schwartz, out of the drama. “Schwartz specifically only recently found out about this, and he certainly did not condone my actions.”
“This was a very personal thing,” Sandoval said.
The 39-year-old reality star also urged fans to leave their pub out, and stressed that his business partners and employees “didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I am so sorry that my partners, Greg, Brett, and Schwartz and our staff must suffer because of my actions,” he wrote before signing. “I’m going to take a step back and take a hiatus out of respect for my employees and partners. I need some time to process everything else. Sorry for everything.”
On their official Instagram page, Schwartz and Sandy also posted a message asking fans to back off. “In light of the recent news, we appreciate the many words of support but also understand the outpouring of anger that has been directed at our business,” the post read. “However, those who aren’t famous have dedicated our time, hearts, and money to make this restaurant a reality.”
The post included kind words for Madix. “We are also disappointed with the current situation, as Ariana has always been a good friend and a huge supporter of the restaurant,” the statement read.
The letter noted, “We appreciate that you may feel a certain way, but please understand that other people’s livelihoods also depend on this work.” “There are far more people involved in this place than just Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz. Our staff, from waitresses and bartenders to chefs and dishwashers, all have nothing to do with this unfortunate situation. Please keep in mind that point negative comments affect more than just the individual Which you might feel bad about.”
The statement concluded, “Our goal has always been to create a place where our community can come and enjoy a pleasant atmosphere with good food and friendly service, and we intend to continue focusing on that endeavour.”
Speaking again Wednesday, Sandoval shared a second personal message on his Instagram account, apologizing to “everyone I’ve hurt.”
He then focused his apology on Madix, writing, “Most of all, I want to apologize to Ariana. I made mistakes, I was selfish, and made rash decisions that hurt someone I love. No one deserves to feel that pain so shockingly in public.”
News of Sandoval and Elvis’ relationship first broke earlier this month, with a source telling ET that there were “many instances where Ariana felt disrespected by Tom and eventually ended things.”
“The incident with Tom and Raquel has created a huge split in the group with almost everyone against Tom and Raquel,” another source told ET. “The group feels like Tom is going through some kind of midlife crisis, with his band creating and acting at times. The girls crowd around Ariana, but know that in time she’ll be okay.”
while, Vanderpump Rules Production has resumed with plans to include the dissolution and its aftermath in season 10, a source told ET. This split, another source told ET, is a good thing since neither Madix nor Sandoval want to get back together.
“Ariana has no plans to get back together with Tom after what he did to her and Tom is ready to move on,” the source said. “Ariana is devastated and feels betrayed, which is something she won’t be able to get over for a long time.”
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