Ariana Madix speaks out on Tom Sandoval breakup, Raquel Leviss affair
Ariana Madix broke her silence after her longtime boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, had an affair with their “Vanderpump Rules” co-star Raquel Leviss.
Madix spoke out for the first time on Instagram, saying she’s been “devastated and broken” since finding out the news, but thanked her friends and fans for “the outpouring of love and support.”
“Hi. where to begin?” she wrote to her 1.4 million followers on the platform alongside a snap of herself out in Mexico.
“I want to express my most sincere gratitude for the outpouring of love and support i have received from friends, family, and people i’ve never even met in the last two weeks.”
“When i have felt like i couldn’t even stand, you all have given me the strength to continue and seen me through my darkest hours,” she added.
“To say i have been devastated and broken is an understatement. however, i know that i am not in this alone,” wrote Madix, who dated Sandoval for almost a decade.
“So many of my closest friends are also grieving this loss right now and reeling from this betrayal on so many levels.”
“I am so f–king lucky to have the best support system in the world and i hope i can repay every single person for the love you have shown me,” she went on.
“What doesn’t kill me better run,” she concluded her lengthy caption.
Her comments come after Page Six confirmed on March 3 that Madix, 37, and Sandoval, 39, broke up once she found out he and Leviss, 28, had been “communicating inappropriately for months.”
A source told us at the time that Madix was “blindsided” by the dalliance and had “no idea there were any issues” between her and Sandoval, whom she had been dating since 2013.
Not only that, but Madix and Leviss had grown close in recent months, leaving the Something About Her co-owner feeling “betrayed by her friend.”
We heard Madix “found out” about the pair’s “full-on affair” on March 1 while attending Sandoval’s cover band’s show, where he gushed about “respecting” his now-ex-girlfriend.
When asked how their relationship had withstood the test of time, Sandoval said he and Madix were “really good about respecting each other.”
Noting that while they’ve had their “ups and downs,” the bartender said they both had “each other’s backs in a reasonable way.”
As news of the full-blown affair came to light, both Sandoval and Leviss issued social media statements, respectively.
“I want to apologize to Ariana. I made mistakes, I was selfish, and made reckless decisions that hurt somebody I love,” Sandoval wrote last week.
“No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly. I can only imagine how devastating this has been for Ariana and everyone around us.”
“I feel really horrible about that,” he continued. “My biggest regret is that I dishonored Ariana. I never meant to disappoint so many people, including our loving families and friends … I owed Ariana better.”
For her part, Leviss issued a lengthy statement in which she blamed the affair on her “addiction” to love and vowed to do better from here on out.
“I am reflecting on my choices, speaking to a counselor and I am learning things about myself such as my patterns of codependency and addiction to being and feeling loved,” she wrote.
“I have sought emotional validation through intimate connections that are not healthy without regard for my own well-being, sometimes negatively affecting others and often prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships.”
While this is the first time Madix has addressed the affair, her brother, Jeremy Madix, was quick to defend her — and slam Sandoval — on social media just hours after the news broke.
On cast member James Kennedy’s Instagram post about the matter, Jeremy called Sandoval a “try hard having a midlife crisis with his cringey band” before taking shots at Leviss, whom he said “has faked her way to the top.”
Amid the controversy, Sandoval publicly apologized to Madix on March 8, writing in part on Instagram that he “made mistakes” and “reckless decisions that hurt somebody” he loved.
“No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly,” he continued. “I can only imagine how devastating this has been for Ariana and everyone around us. I feel really horrible about that.”
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Leviss also issued a mea culpa to Madix, blaming the entanglement on her “addiction” to love.
“There is no excuse. I am not a victim, and I must own my actions, and I deeply regret hurting Ariana,” the former pageant queen said in a statement.
“I have begun counseling to end my unhealthy behavioral cycle, learn to set stronger emotional boundaries and learn to protect my mental health.”
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Producers have been filming the fallout from the affair for Season 10, which is currently airing.
However, a source close to the situation told Page Six exclusively that “no one” from the “Pump Rules” cast is talking to Leviss as cameras roll.
“Vanderpump Rules” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
Raquel Leviss thinks she could take Lala Kent’s man — if she had one.
On Wednesday’s episode of “Vanderpump Rules,” which Andy Cohen previously teased as “shocking,” Kent confronted Leviss after the latter decided to make a move on Oliver Saunders, who was married at the time, during a night out in Las Vegas.
“I will say — you drinking, I would never trust you around my man. Never,” the mother of one told Leviss.
Leviss — who admitted to being intoxicated — simply shrugged and said, “I mean, like thank God you don’t have a man to like f–king have around.”
Visibly irritated and shocked about her confession, Kent told Leviss she was going to “shut” her down and go to bed in order to have a “good rest of the trip.”
However, Kent admitted to Katie Maloney and Kristina Kelly that she had chosen to walk away from the situation for fear of getting into a fight with Leviss, 28. She also recognized that “the second” Leviss said those words, “she immediately wanted to retract” them.
“I feel nervous at this point in my life with anyone who’s gonna be a liability and who’s unpredictable,” Kent, 32, said.
However, in a confessional, Kent clarified, “If Raquel were not wasted right now, I’d put the bitch right back in her grave.”
Meanwhile, Maloney teased that Leviss was “Mrs. I’m gonna make out with your man,” adding, “Hide your kids, hide your boyfriend, hide your boyfriend, hide your boyfriend.
Maloney had been feuding with Leviss after she found out that the latter wanted to make out with the former’s ex-husband, Tom Schwartz.
“I’m starting to see a pattern in Raquel,” Maloney added in a confessional. “It seems that she’s only interested in men that her friends are either married to or interested in, and that is a big red flag for me.”
Leviss, who had been listening to the conversation behind closed doors, later cried over her co-stars “judg[ing]” her for “getting drunk and having fun.”
Once sober, she admitted to Kent that she felt “embarrassed” over the conversation and even insinuated that she didn’t remember what had happened.
“I think anybody who is a woman would take offense to what you said,” Kent told her. “Do you feel that way? Like if someone said, I don’t know that I’d feel comfortable if you had one too many drinks around my dude,’ do you really feel like, ‘well if you can’t keep him, then here I am!’ Do you feel that way?”
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The interaction between the four women was filmed months before Leviss was exposed for having an affair with Tom Sandoval while he was with Ariana Madix, his girlfriend of almost a decade.
Earlier this month, Madix found a sexually explicit video of Leviss on Sandoval’s phone and saw that the two had been “communicating inappropriately” since July 2022.
After being exposed, both Sandoval and Leviss shared lengthy statements while Madix has stayed silent on the entire ordeal. She, however, has been spotted spending time with friends and running off to Mexico.
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Following the shocking news, Cohen clarified that this specific scene between Leviss and Kent was “not recut” and “not touched” to foreshadow “Scandoval.”
“The conversations that go on between Katie and Lala and Raquel are not to be believed in the light of what has come out,” Cohen emphasized on Monday’s episode of SiriusXM’s “Andy Cohen Live.”
“This is how it was going to be shown … which makes it all the more shocking. You won’t believe it.”
“Vanderpump Rules” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
Law Roach might be done with the fashion world, but he will always have “love” for Zendaya.
One day after the iconic stylist announced his shocking retirement, he took to Twitter to address rumors he and the “Euphoria” star had a falling out.
“So y’all really think I’m breaking up with Z…..,” Roach tweeted Wednesday. “we are forever!”
In a second tweet he added, “She’s my little sister and it’s real love not the fake industry love.”
He then posted a gif of two girls playing in a flower-filled field with the words “me & u must neva part,” adding, “Literally me and Zendaya…”
Roach didn’t, however, elaborate on whether or not he will still be styling the actress from time to time — as one could only hope.
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The pair have been working together for over 12 years, with Zendaya crediting Roach for her “fearless” approach to fashion.
The clarification comes after an awkward video of the pair at a recent Louis Vuitton fashion show went viral.
In the clip, Zendaya — clad in a show-stopping tiger-printed look from the label — was given a seat in the front row, leaving Roach without a place to sit.
While the Emmy-winning actress, 26, tried to get Roach to sit behind her, the stylist seemingly took offense to the suggestion as he scoffed and walked away.
Less than one week after the incident, Roach, 44, announced in a dramatic Instagram post that he would no longer be styling Hollywood’s biggest stars.
“My Cup is empty….. thank you to everyone who’ve supported me and my career over the years. Every person that trusted me with their image, I’m so grateful for you all,” the self-proclaimed “image architect” wrote underneath a graphic that read, “RETIRED,”
“If this business was just about the clothes I would do it for the rest of my life but unfortunately it’s not!” he continued. “The politics , the lies and false narratives finally got me! You win … I’m out.”
Although it’s still unclear who the celebrity stylist was shading, we can all take a collective deep breath knowing he and Zendaya are still on good terms.
Prior to his retirement, Roach — who has also dressed Megan Thee Stallion, Hunter Schafer, Kerry Washington, Celine Dion, Ariana Grande, Priyanka Chopra, Lindsay Lohan and more — received the inaugural Stylist Award at the 2022 CFDA Awards.
Zaya Wade is officially a cover girl.
Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s 15-year-old daughter stars on Dazed’s latest issue, marking her first time fronting a fashion magazine.
The teen model, who came out as transgender in 2020, was dressed almost exclusively in Miu Miu for her cover shoot; fitting, as she made her runway debut for the label during Paris Fashion Week earlier this month.
“My relationship with fashion has really evolved over the years. It started out as, ‘Oh, my parents are super fashionable, and I want to dress up and be as fashionable as them,’” Zaya told the glossy.
“But, as time has passed and I’ve become more integrated into the fashion world, it’s become a really important part of expressing myself and my identity. Whether I’m wearing a dress for winter formal or wearing a suit for a shoot, it’s just a way to level up my iconic-ness, I feel.”
Zaya also shared the best beauty advice she’s ever received from stepmom Union.
“The lesson has changed over time, but more recently, it’s that beauty is in yourself. It’s about being you and expressing yourself the way you want to,” the teenage style star explained.
“[She] tries to teach me that beauty standards are arbitrary and that they don’t mean anything. They don’t matter any more; what people thought was the standard is not. And just that being myself is the best technique out there.”
Those pointers seem to have served Zaya well thus far; in recent months, she’s scored campaign for Tiffany & Co. and Puma, and was even dressed by Rodarte for her winter formal in January.
But Zaya was quick to note that growing up trans in the spotlight has come with “highs and lows.”
“A lot of attention equals a lot more hate, a lot of transphobia, and [there is] a lot of pressure on me, but I’m also able to reach more people. The positives of having such an inclusive platform completely outweigh all of the negativity online, which my support system has enabled me to filter out,” she told Dazed.
“It has allowed me to let in the positivity and distribute it to all of the trans people in the world who need a voice and give them a platform to get inspired to live with themselves without being afraid.”
Zaya was granted a legal name and gender change in February, following attempts by her biological mother (and Wade’s ex-wife), Siohvaughn Funches, to block the move.
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And the model said she deeply appreciates having Wade and Union’s backing — which has included everything from supportive statements to color-coordinated red carpet looks — as she navigates her life in the public eye.
“They are such a giant support system and have always been there for me. No matter what happens, I feel strongest when I’m with them,” she shared.
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Stassie Karanikolaou knows how to make a splash on social media.
The content creator, who launched a swimwear line with Cupshe on Wednesday, tells Page Six Style her “always-changing” aesthetic currently includes “a lot of relaxed street style looks that still have a sexy appeal” — plus plenty of equally eye-catching bikinis, of course.
“When it comes to clothing, I always aim for whatever accentuates my favorite parts of my body,” says the star, who’s racked up 11 million followers (and counting) on Instagram.
But while she’s no stranger to head-turning style statements — whether lounging in a bikini or twinning with BFF Kylie Jenner — Karanikolaou’s confidence-boosting advice also comes down to something beyond fashion finds.
“Confidence isn’t always easy, no matter the body type,” she says. “Confidence so much of the time has to come from within, and definitely involves mental health and happiness.”
Cupshe x Stassie Oasis Wrap Halter Cheeky One Piece Swimsuit ($34)
It’s a message that’s especially important during beach season, as “trying on swimwear also isn’t always the easiest thing,” she says, adding, “thankfully, there’s so many different styles and cover-ups with swimwear that can help you feel more confident.”
Luckily, fans will find plenty to pick from in her 42-piece Oasis collaboration with Cupshe, which includes everything from sheer sarongs to shoreside-ready cover-ups — like the Paradise Crochet Backless Cover-Up Dress ($34) and Abstract Abalone Cover-Up Mini Dress ($20) — in sizes XS to XL.
Plus, while Karanikolaou tells us she personally loves “string bikinis the most, since they’re so versatile and adjustable” — such as the Tunneled Top & Extra Cheeky String Bikini Set ($30), which also comes in a classic triangle top option ($30) — her line also includes plenty of monokinis and cutout maillots, like the Underwire Tie One-Piece Swimsuit ($34).
Cupshe x Stassie Crystal Waters Underwire Top & V-Cut Hipster Bikini Set ($34)
And when it comes time to show off styles on the beach — or on Instagram — the content creator has plenty of tips up her (sheer ruffled) sleeve too.
“I’ve been using an older digital camera lately to take my photos, and it’s made all the difference,” she says. “Even when it’s sunny outside, using flash really brightens the photos and I love how the photo itself varies from the normal hi-res of an iPhone.”
In addition to turning on the flash before flashing a smile, Karanikolaou also makes sure to bring her beach-shoot essentials, including lip balm with SPF and tanning oil.
“I still use tanning oil on my body to achieve a sun-kissed, bronzy tan, although I know this is a bit frowned upon, especially by my dermatologist!” she jokes.
Cupshe x Stassie Wild Weekend Cross Back Cover-Up Dress ($26)
At least she doubles up on sun protection elsewhere.
“I always wear sunscreen on my face, but I also always wear a hat to cover it from the sun to avoid premature aging,” Karanikolaou says.
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When it comes to everyday clothing essentials, however, don’t expect to see her trying everything under the sun.
“I think that we all look back and cringe at several trends that we have all partaken in … too many to count,” she says.
“Like skinny jeans, which are also apparently now coming back again.”
