Lara Sophia 
Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval’s longstanding friendship with never be the same following Scandoval. Find out why Schwartz is taking a breather from his friendship with Sandoval.
Vanderpump Rules star Tom Schwartz is moving forward from Scandoval by taking a break from his friendship with Tom Sandoval.
On Monday’s episode of Stars on Mars, the Schwartz and Sandys co-owner revealed that he is “stepping back” from his relationship with Sandoval following his “incredibly messed up” with Raquel Leviss.
“It seems each time I try to weigh in or talk about, ramble on about it, drivel on, I inevitably sound like I’m somehow justifying it or making excuses for it, and I’m not,” Schwartz explained. “There’s just no excuse for it.”
“Any sort of version of his side of the story has become obsolete because of the way he handled it. Ultimately, that’s his life. That is his life,” he added. “I did not have an affair. I am not him. It’s just so strange that I’ve been absolutely mired in this. It’s taken on almost a life of its own.”
The 40-year-old concluded that he is “stepping away from it permanently.”
Schwartz also opened up about Tom Sandoval’s “torrid affair” with Raquel, saying, “It’s horrible, and I feel complicit.”
“I didn’t cover for him, but I had his back,” the Florida native explained. “He came to me, confided in me that he was in love with someone else.”
“My friend had an affair that just happened to swipe the nation, and it’s incredibly messed up, but the thing is, I’ve become mired in it,” he continued. “That’s been a huge source of just angst in my life. I’ve been in this extended funk.”
Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss’ seven-month-long secret relationship became public knowledge in March 2023, just days after Sandoval’s partner of nearly a decade, Ariana Madix, uncovered their affair.
The scandal rocked the Bravoverse as fans watched it all play out on season ten of Vanderpump Rules.
Vanderpump Rules is expected to return for season 11 in 2024.
