‘Vanderpump Rules’ Season 10 Moments That Didn’t Age Well Ahead of Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss’ Affair

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

'Vanderpump Rules' Season 10 Moments That Didn't Age Well Ahead of Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss' Affair

In a different light. Vanderpump Rules viewers were thrown for a loop when the show's focus on Raquel Leviss' potential romance with Tom Schwartz was overshadowed by news of her offscreen affair with Tom Sandoval. Before the cast started filming season 10 during summer 2022, Katie Maloney and Schwartz announced their split after more than a decade together. As cameras started rolling, Us Weekly confirmed that the bar owner hooked up with Raquel at Scheana Shay and Brock Davies' wedding in July 2022, upsetting Katie as she asked her ex-husband not to date within their friend group. Raquel and Schwartz's potential connection was on everyone's mind as new episodes of the Bravo show dropped. In March 2023, however, things took a turn when Sandoval and Ariana Madix parted ways after nearly ten years of dating. "They were having problems for a while," a source revealed to Us, adding that things "only came to a breaking point" when Ariana found out that her then-boyfriend was unfaithful with Raquel. Shortly after the news made headlines, the Florida native's brother, Jeremy Madix, slammed the Vanderpump Rules costars. “It’s funny to watch people social climb and be soooooooo fake that they’re willing to s—t on people that are supposed to be their ‘best friend’ (a term that gets thrown around very often around here) all just to come up or have some sort of story line,” he commented on James Kennedy’s Instagram post. “This lifestyle and this group is beyond toxic and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. … Toms a try hard having a midlife crisis with his cringy band and Raquel has faked her way to the top trying to make something of her life willing to step on whoever to get there starting with James. Sell out type lame s—t. Let’s all remember that Raquel was a fan of the show before all of this. Does anyone pay attention?” [jwplayer W6xvLRPa-zhNYySv2] Sandoval, for his part, took to social media to issue an apology to Ariana, writing via Instagram, "I want to first and foremost apologize to everyone I've hurt through this process. Most of all, I want to apologize to Ariana. I made mistakes, I was selfish and made reckless decisions that hurt somebody I love. No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly." He added: "I can only imagine how devastating this has been for Ariana and everyone around us. I feel really horrible about that. My biggest regret is that I dishonored Ariana. I never meant to disappoint so many people, including our loving families and friends." That same month, viewers started to analyze scenes from season 10 of Vanderpump Rules that appeared to age badly due to the drama. In a scene between Lala Kent and Raquel, which was filmed in July 2022, the beauty mogul questioned her coworker's interest in unavailable men. "It is strange to me though because Raquel had zero interest in Oliver [Saunders] until I said [I was interested]," Lala said in a confessional. "Now she's treating it like a pageant and she's in competition mode with me." Scroll on for every Vanderpump Rules scene that didn't age well amid the affair scandal:

Credit: Gregory Pace/Shutterstock; Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Learning From Sandoval

During a February 2023 episode, Raquel opened up about the advice she got from Sandoval about creating a "boundary" with James. 

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Wrecking Her Costars' Relationships

In a conversation with Charli Burnett, Raquel was warned that she would be branded a "home wrecker" for going after Schwartz. "How am I a home wrecker? There's no home to wreck," the beauty pageant contestant said in the March 2023 episode, which aired shortly before news of her affair with Sandoval broke.

Credit: MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Ariana's Conversations With Raquel About Her Love Life

After Raquel revealed she tried to hook up with Schwartz, Ariana pointed out that she didn't know her friend "had it in her" to make a move. "I don't know who I am these days," Raquel told Ariana and Katie during a March 2023 episode.

Later, the Fancy AF Cocktails author reflected on Raquel's new confidence.

"I could not believe what you told Katie last night. That you asked Schwartz if he wanted to make out. I was like, 'Am I about to be mad at Raquel for the first time?'" Ariana shared. "We've been encouraging Raquel to get out there and make mistakes. Go crazy. But then when she says that she asked Schwartz to make out it's like, 'OK but not like that.'

Credit: Bravo (2)

Questioning Her Interest in James

While discussing James' past with Raquel, the professional DJ's mother threw shade at his ex-fiancée. 

"A family member didn't drag you to Pump to go meet a DJ. That to me is not organic," she told James' girlfriend Ally Lewber in a March 2023 episode, noting that she didn't trust the way Raquel and her son first met.

Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock

Tom and Ariana's Domestic Life

In a March 2023 episode, Sandoval said he was "sad" about his then-girlfriend "leaving" him to go on a girls' trip. The businessman later reflected on his bond with Ariana when they were forced to say goodbye to her dog Charlotte.

"Ariana has never had much interest in bearing children but if she could have given birth to Charlotte, she would have. We obviously knew that this day was coming but now that it is here, I am very concerned about how this is going to affect Ariana," he admitted. "I just need to be there in any way I can. She's my girl."

Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Seeing a Different Side to Raquel

"I feel like I'm the only one who isn't falling for Raquel's sweet and innocent act," Kristina Kelly told cameras while discussing Raquel's crush on Schwartz. "People walk around treating her like a little baby but that's an insult to babies."

Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo

Taking Responsibility for Her Actions

After Lisa Vanderpump found out about Raquel's interest in Schwartz, she called out the SUR waitress' decisions, saying in a March 2023 episode, "Take some responsibility in that. You were actually thinking that was a good idea."

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Competing for the Same Man

During a March 2023 scene, Raquel admitted she was apprehensive about flirting with Garcelle Beauvais' son Oliver because of his connection with Lala.

"He's very cute. Obviously, I feel like you two have some attraction for each other. I feel awkward doing anything if I know you're interested in him too," the California native told her costar. "If he's interested in you then I don't want to take him from you."

In response, the Give Them Lala author questioned Raquel's intentions. "It is strange to me though because Raquel had zero interest in Oliver until I said [I was interested]," Lala said in a confessional. "Now she's treating it like a pageant and she's in competition mode with me."

Credit: Stephanie Augello/Shutterstock

Not Trusting Raquel With Their Men

In a sneak peek clip of a March 2023 episode, Lala said she would "never trust" Raquel around her man. "Thank God you don't have a man," Raquel quipped back, which surprised Lala, Katie and Kristina at the time.

Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

The Necklace Cameo

In a March 2023 episode, eagle-eyed fans noticed Sandoval wearing a lightning bolt earring and necklace. The jewelry sighting came amid rumors that Sandoval and Raquel wore the matching accessories as a way to publicly show their feelings for each other.

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Discussing Infidelity

During an argument with Lala, Raquel called out her costar for cheating, saying, "Honestly if anyone needs to be on edge about you being with their man — you slept with James while we were together. But then I shouldn't trust you around my man because you are the one who slept with my man. I don't respect that you slept with James while we were together."

She added: "You slept with a married man. If you break it down. People were calling you a mistress, why do you think that is? He was married."

Credit: Nicole Weingart/Bravo

Katie's Insight

"I am starting to see a pattern in Raquel. It seems like she is only interested in men that her friends are either married to or interested in. That's a big red flag for me," the Something About Her cofounder shared in a March 2023 episode.

In another scene, Katie warned Lala and Kristina Kelly to "hide" their boyfriends from Raquel.

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Listening to Her Problems

During a March 2023 episode, Sandoval listened intently when Raquel addressed her issues with Lala after crashing boys' night. "I was being young and fun and single living my life and these girls literally set me up to make me seem like I am only chasing after guys they are interested in," she told the Missouri native. "Lala goes, 'Honestly Raquel, I am really concerned about you right now and I would never trust you around my man. And I said, 'It's a good thing you don't have one.'"

Later in the episode, Raquel told James that she spoke with Sandoval about a pool party.

Credit: Casey Durkin/Bravo

On Her Side

In a March 2023 episode, Sandoval took Raquel's side amid her argument with Lala. "I can't unsee the f—king bully that you were to her. For no reason except to flex your f—king power," he told the beauty mogul. "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."

Credit: Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Defending Her Friend

"It is very difficult for me to wrap my mind around the idea that Raquel is fighting people and being crazy," Ariana said in a confessional, referring to the August 2022 girls' trip. "I would think that Katie, Lala and Kristina gave the mean girl treatment to Raquel like they have given to other people in the past."