Raquel Leviss and Tom Sandoval had a friendship for years before their affair blew up the Vanderpump Rules universe and there are plenty of receipts to prove it — and cringe at — looking back.
Fans met Leviss during season 5 of the Bravo show, which premiered in 2016, during her relationship with James Kennedy. Despite any ups and downs in the past between Sandoval and Kennedy (the two men were at odds when the DJ started dating the TomTom co-owner’s ex Kristen Doute during season 3,) Sandoval and Ariana Madix welcomed Leviss into the group.
Sandoval and Kennedy’s friendship continued to blossom, and the Schwartz & Sandy’s cofounder even helped the England native plan — and finance — his proposal to Leviss in 2021.
“I’m so honored and glad you brought me in the know,” Sandoval said during a season 9 episode. “It’s so fun for me.”
The two musicians created an over-the-top Coachella-themed proposal in Palm Springs.
“I’ll never forget what Tom Sandoval did for me to make this happen. He’s a best friend to me,” Kennedy said in a confessional. “I know he’s got [Tom] Schwartz and everything, but come on, Tom’s my best friend.”
Sandoval noted at the time that he “hoped to recreate something amazing” for Madix — whom he started dating in 2014 — one day. “Tom, you do all the time,” she replied. “And I know this has you written all over it.”
“Seeing Ariana so happy, it just really inspires me to want to do something so special for her,” he added. “If and when we do decide to get engaged.”
While Madix has previously said she didn’t feel the need to walk down the aisle, she noted in an interview on the same episode that she would struggle to say no if Sandoval planned something so special for her — and kept it intimate. “If it was like this, but it’s just us, yeah, then maybe,” she said of getting engaged down the line.
Kennedy and Leviss’ post-engagement happiness was short-lived as the pair split in November 2021. Months after making out with Schwartz at Scheana Shay’s wedding in August 2022, news broke that Sandoval and Leviss had been quietly having an affair behind Madix’s back.
The bartenders subsequently called it quits and fans began dissecting all of Leviss and Sandoval’s past interactions. The summer before their affair was exposed, the SURver even compared their relationship to siblings.
“I feel like he looks at me like a little sister and he’s supporting me,” Leviss told E! News in July 2022. “And you know, [in] just a very kind way that I really, yeah, he’s a really great guy.”
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Scroll through for more from Leviss and Sandoval:
During season 7, Leviss and Lala Kent were at odds and things escalated when the former pageant queen mentioned the Give Them Lala Beauty founder’s father in an argument. (Cue the infamous “Bambi-eyed bitch” reference.) At the time, Sandoval defended Leviss. “Obviously, I don't think Raquel's really picking fights,” he said on Bravo Pregame in 2018. “I think sometimes too it's a lack of communication and sometimes if Lala even hears the word 'dad' come out of her mouth … it's instantly triggering to her." Shutterstock (2)
“James and I split the $25k because nothing brings me more joy than to help a friend accomplish a dream that they have,” he said on an October 2021 episode about helping Kennedy plan his proposal to Leviss. “Most people probably wouldn’t spend a lot of money on a friend’s engagement, especially when they are applying for a home equity loan, but proposals are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. You can always borrow more money.” After their split, he told Cohen that he didn’t regret his decision to help Kennedy out financially. "We went through a lot, and we did it big,” he said on the season 9 reunion in 2022. "It was worth it. Tenfold." Earl Gibson III/Shutterstock; Charles Sykes/Bravo
Madix noted on WWHL that she and Sandoval were at Disneyland with Leviss and Kennedy days before they announced their split. While she was "absolutely floored” by the news, Sandoval added: "It was probably the most surprising moment we've had on Vanderpump Rules in years." Bravo (2)
After Kennedy accused his ex of being a “homie-hopper” because of her interest in costars Peter Madrigal and Schwartz, Sandoval defended her. “I don't know — I think she's just being single and enjoying herself,” he told Us in February 2023. Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock; Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
As Schwartz’s makeout with Leviss made waves with his ex-wife, Katie Maloney, the “You’re Gonna Love Me” podcast host slammed Leviss in the comments section of a photo of her and Schwartz in February 2023. “I think it's a little weird that, like, Katie follows Raquel and is reading through comments and stuff,” Sandoval told Us at the time. Maloney also initially blamed Shay for pushing the pair together. “I mean, you know, if you ask for chocolate milk and somebody gets you chocolate milk, like, and you’re mad at them, like, you asked for it,” Sandoval added. “You know what I mean? Like, she literally asked for it. She told Scheana, like, ‘I encourage you to do that. I’m doing my thing, and I’m having fun.’” John Salangsang/Shutterstock; Stewart Cook/Shutterstock
Sandoval told Us in February 2023 that he “understands and respects” Maloney’s request for Schwartz not to hook up with anyone in their friend group but doesn’t agree with it. “But I also think that when you break up with somebody and choose to divorce them, you kind of forfeit the right to tell somebody what they can do after the fact,” he said. Bravo (2)
During a March 2023 appearance on WWHL, Leviss called Sandoval hotter than Schwartz. After the affair news broke, Cohen shared behind-the-scenes details of the moment. “Scheana’s antenna was up. … I’m going through my cards and … Scheana said to Raquel, ‘You know, I only picked Sandoval because I knew that you were gonna pick Schwartz.’ And Raquel said, ‘Well, Sandoval has abs,’ and kind of shrugged,” he said on his SiriusXM show. “So, you know, that was interesting. And again, I didn’t think twice about it.” Lisa O'Connor/Shutterstock
During a March 2023 episode, Leviss was upset after fighting with Kent, Maloney and Kristina Kelly on a girls’ trip. “I can’t unsee the f—king bully that you were to her. For no reason. For no reason except to flex your f—king power,” Sandoval told Kent in defense of Leviss. “You have moved on from [sleeping with James while he was with Raquel]. She hasn’t because she just got this information two weeks ago.” He also slammed Maloney for Leviss, saying: "Katie here is the thing with you. If someone doesn't have your exact perspective then they are somehow wrong." Casey Durkin/Bravo
“Besides the indefensible circumstances surrounding our relationship, my feelings for Tom have always been sincere and born out of a loving friendship. Knowing how many people we hurt, I need to understand my choices and learn to make better ones. I need to take care of my health, work on self growth and take time to be OK with being alone,” Leviss said on March 9, 2023. “I care for Tom and I don’t want to label anything or predict what lies ahead. Right now I need to heal.” Leviss has given coy updates about her current status with Sandoval. Two weeks later, she told TMZ: “It started off as a friendship and turned into something more. We’re just trying to get through these next through steps and make amends and hear everybody out. I know a lot of people are angry. So just getting through these next few steps and not putting a label on anything. We’re just kind of taking a break for now.” Nicole Weingart/Bravo
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