Tom Schwartz has weathered his fair share of scandals while on Vanderpump Rules, so he has a few hard-earned tips for Amanda Batula and West Wilson ahead of the highly-anticipated Summer House season 10 reunion.
“My advice? Get your timelines right and just be honest,” Schwartz, 43, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, April 22, while promoting season 3 of The Valley.
Schwartz noted that “even if it hurts like hell, or makes the situation even worse,” telling the truth is the only way forward for West, 31, and Amanda, 34, who confirmed their romantic relationship in March after weeks of speculation despite Amanda’s recent split from estranged husband Kyle Cooke and her close friendship to West’s ex, Ciara Miller.
“If it comes out later or, like, people are sleuthing, they’re gonna get to the bottom of this,” Schwartz said, explaining that the truth always comes to light. “I would just be brutally honest and like and just acknowledge that you hurt other people.”
Schwartz confessed that he didn’t follow his own timeline rule when he was confronted at the Vanderpump Rules season 10 reunion about friend Tom Sandoval’s affair with costar Rachel “Raquel” Leviss.
After news broke in March 2023, that Sandoval, 43, and Leviss, 31, had been hooking up, Us confirmed that Sandoval and then-girlfriend Ariana Madix called it quits after nine years together.
At the reunion, which aired in spring 2023, Schwartz claimed that Sandoval told him about the affair in “late August” 2022, while Sandoval told host Andy Cohen he didn’t tell Schwartz anything until the following January.
“I really didn’t remember the timelines, like, I had some serious stuff going on in my life. I felt like my life was completely unraveling,” Schwartz told Us, seemingly referring to his 2022 divorce from Katie Maloney. “I’m sorry I didn’t remember the date which it first happened or like, anyways, but I maybe should have.”
Schwartz revealed that the Summer House stars should, “Do what Jesse [Solomon] did, talk to Paige [DeSorbo]. Consult Paige.” (Jesse, 32, revealed during the Tuesday, April 21, episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen that he’s been in contact with Paige and she gave him “advice” on how to handle the upcoming reunion.)
He mused, “I should have consulted Paige. That’s my advice to the old me. Just consult Paige.”
When it comes to the issue at hand, Schwartz explained that he knows Amanda and West are “good people” so they need to be honest with their castmates, especially Kyle and Ciara.
As Summer House fans know, West and Amanda shook the Bravoverse in March when they confirmed their romance. Their relationship came two months after Amanda and Kyle, 43, announced they had ended their four-year marriage.
In addition to Amanda’s past with Kyle, West’s dynamic with her longtime friend and their costar Ciara, 30, also complicated matters.
Following West and Ciara’s 2023 relationship, they had been working toward rebuilding their friendship. A source exclusively told Us on April 3 that they were hooking up as recently as “about three to four weeks ago,” adding that Ciara didn’t know about Amanda.
While West denied during the Monday, April 20, episode of his “Show Me Something” podcast that there was any “overlap” on his or Amanda’s part, fans are not convinced about the timeline.
“The cast is more than ready for the reunion to be over at this point, and the general vibe is a mix of frustration and curiosity,” a source exclusively told Us on Wednesday. “The common consensus is that they’re not convinced they will get the full truth from Amanda and West, no matter how many times the questions are asked.”
The insider noted that members of the cast feel like “parts of the story are still being held back or carefully spun” by the couple.
Amid the tension, Schwartz, who is friends with Kyle and Amanda, advised that she and West don’t hold back when they reunite on camera with their costars.
“It’s just the not being upfront about it [part] and like, the being secretive and stuff,” he told Us is making the situation even worse.
Schwartz admitted he probably needs to “stop talking” so he doesn’t “get in trouble,” but gave Amanda and West one more piece of advice.
“Just be honest, it’s so much easier,” he concluded.
Summer House airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can also see Schwartz on The Valley which airs on Bravo Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
