There was a ton to digest as the lights went down on Season 10 of Vanderpump Rules. Ariana Madix was left with her heart in a million pieces after learning that Tom Sandoval carried on a months-long affair with Rachel Leviss. Everywhere you looked, there was drama. Between angry outbursts and breaking of penis flutes, nowhere was safe. As Season 11 premiered, fans were already up to date thanks to the real-life playout of the breakup.
If we are being honest, Season 11 was actually really dull. The cast didn’t want to film together, Sandy couldn’t take the hint to leave Ariana alone, Scheana Shay was stuck in the middle while being disloyal, and Lala Kent was the production’s puppet while being disloyal – allegedly. So, personally, I was already prepared for a possible cancellation of the series. But now that Tom has gone and sued his ex-girlfriend, I fear the end is nigh.
Tom Sandoval’s lawsuit explained
On July 16th, Sandy chose to file a lawsuit against Ariana, claiming she accessed Rachel’s explicit videos without “authorization.” Even though it feels like Sandoval is pulling strings, the legal issues at hand are real. Us Weekly reported that Tom’s lawsuit alleges that Ariana “made copies” of the masturbation video and sent them to “Leviss and third parties” against his permission. The move came after both Tom and Ariana were dealt a legal blow as an LA judge determined their countersuit against Rachel was void.
Ariana’s lawyers responded to Tom’s filing by releasing a statement. The statement reads that “it is abhorrent that Tom Sandoval continues to torment Ms. Madix. From engaging in an illicit affair that shattered her home and stability, to months of emotional warfare and now this attempt to further shirk personal responsibility for the effects his actions have had on her and her emotional wellbeing. Tom Sandoval knows full well what sort of privileges he and Ms. Madix shared in regard to their personal communication devices.”
Tom Sandoval broke the law
Even though Bravo admitted that Vanderpump Rules was taking a brief production pause, the show should really just hang up its SUR uniforms. The fact that Tom has been able to stay on the series this long is a wonder. Fans were irate when news broke about Tom allegedly recording Rachel without her permission.
If what Rachel claims is true, Tom broke the law. The California Recording Law states, “California’s wiretapping law is a two-party consent law. California makes it a crime to record or eavesdrop on any confidential communication. Including a private conversation or telephone call, without the consent of all parties to the conversation.”
It is hard to believe that fans will actively want to watch Tom again take center stage in another ridiculous redemption arch after this newest lawsuit. The way everyone except Ariana and Katie Maloney rallied around the overblown bartender was absurd. Production bet on the wrong horse, and it is going to cost them.
What about a Vanderpump Rules reboot?
Okay, so I don’t mean to be harsh (I totally do), but the Vanderpump Rules vet crew has grown up. Some grew into boring adults. Some have grown into shitty adults (looking at you, Sandoval, and Ariana’s close “friends”). But none of them make for good television anymore. I believe there are two choices.
The first idea is to wipe the slate clean and cast a whole new set of up-and-coming models/actors. Now, I have to note that Lisa Vanderpump tried to do this with her Hulu show, Vanderpump Villa. It didn’t work. If a French countryside mansion can’t win fans over, I don’t know what will.
The second option is to have a reboot/spinoff with Katie and Ariana. Most fans want to see these two women thrive. The Toms have gaslighted both for years, and it seems odd that the boys keep getting rewarded for their bad behavior. I don’t want to see Lala and Scheana on The Valley because that show is perfect as is.
The last thing I want is to see this half-assed, fractured group shifting their focus to their jealousy of Ariana, who just had the worst year of her life after losing her dog, her grandma, her friend, and her partner of 9 years. To be honest, I am not even sure I’d watch a reboot at this rate.
