Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney Laugh About ‘Feral Energy’ at BravoCon, Say Tom Sandoval Boos Were ‘Expected’ (Exclusive)

Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney tell it like it is.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE on the BravoCon 2023 red carpet, the two weighed in on all the drama that came from Vanderpump Rules record, including constant booing for theirs VPR Costar and Madix’s ex, Tom Sandoval.

“BravoCon always brings this kind of…” Madix, 38, said as her voice trailed off, before Maloney, 36, chimed in with, “Feral energy!”

Maloney continued, “People are going wild, it’s crazy.”

“There’s always a crossover of shows and panel dramas,” Madix said as Maloney noted, “And people are stirring the pot. I don’t know what it is — it’s a collective toxic energy that everyone already has in their shows that’s coming together.”

Tom Sandoval can’t get his words out at BravoCon 2023 because fans are booing him all the time Vanderpump Rules Panel

Madix jokingly added, “That’s what makes BravoCon so much fun!”

Asked what they thought of fans booing Sandoval, the two felt their actions were justified. “That’s to be expected,” Madix said.

Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix at the ‘Vanderpump Rules’ panel.

Nicole Weingart/Bravo via Getty

Friday’s panel featured Madix, Sandoval and Maloney as well as the rest of their team VPR costars including Ally Lewber, James Kennedy, Lala Kent, Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Schwartz, Scheana Shay and Brock Davies.

The reunion comes eight months after Madix and Sandoval, 41, split after nine years of dating following news of the TomTom co-owner’s months-long affair with their friend and VPR actress Rachel “Raquel” Leviss (who was not present at Friday’s panel).

Immediately after the at-bat, tensions rose as Sandoval was booed by the crowd and could barely get his words out as he tried to speak. “It feels good to be here in Vegas. It’s BravoCon,” he said as the crowd erupted in boos.

Vanderpump Rules‘ Tom Schwartz Says He Will Support Tom Sandoval ‘Til Death Do Us Part’ After Fallout Rumors

Vanderpump, 63, quickly jumped in and tried to control the crowd, saying of the scandal that rocked the show: “I love them all individually, so much. They’ve all screwed up at some point — maybe not to this extent. I’ve seen them grow up and I think that the magic of this show is that they had intense relationships with each of them long before the show started — and with me, too. So I can’t judge them by one episode.”

“This season has been extremely difficult for Tom and Ariana … but for me as a mother figure and matriarch and their mentor … [I] try to facilitate some cohesion,” she added. “This is Vanderpump Rules. It’s not Little House on the Prairie.”

From left: Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz at the ‘Vanderpump Rules’ panel at BravoCon 2023.

Bryan Steffy/Bravo via Getty

When asked what filming season 11 was like, Madix offered her perspective, telling host Karam Brown, “It was weird, it was hard, and I’m glad it’s behind me.”

“I knew it was going to be hard, I knew it was going to be weird,” she added later. “I knew I was going to have some very strong and extremely negative feelings, but I think last year showed me that I can do hard things, but we did it.”

Later, during a fan Q&A, Sandoval was asked if he had any regrets about the way things turned out with Madix. He admitted his missteps, saying: “Yes, of course I would have done things differently. I can’t change what happened.”

Tom Sandoval and James Kennedy Engage in a Shirtless Push-Up Contest at BravoCon — Find Out Who Won!

Madix was also asked if she’s ever received a genuine apology from her ex, to which she said: “No, any apology is withdrawn after what’s been said, so no.”

Sandoval continued to be booed by the crowd, prompting Davies to come to his defense at one point and insist they were “friends.” Kent also stood up for him, explaining: “In a weird, weird way, I don’t know if it’s respect, but with everyone really hating on Tom, he was still going out, still doing shows, sitting in front of you.” everyone was booed. If I were him, I’d tell you to fuck off.”

When asked why he chose to show up at BravoCon and brave the heat instead of running away, Sandoval insisted, “I’d rather stand here and face it.”

From left: Ally Lewber, James Kennedy, Lala Kent at the ‘Vanderpump Rules’ panel at BravoCon 2023.

Nicole Weingart/Bravo via Getty

For more information on PEOPLE’s BravoCon, click here.

Before the shooting of the 11th season Individual AF cocktails said the author The New York Times in May that she refused to participate with Sandoval in front of the camera.

“I don’t have anything to say to either of them,” Madix said of Sandoval and Leviss, 29. “Our show is very real and it follows a real group of friends, and neither of them are in a group of friends, so good luck.”

As for Sandoval, he revealed to PEOPLE in September how long he thinks the public will hate him for his encounter with Leviss.

“I would say it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better and don’t think for a second, ‘Oh, give it a week, give it a couple weeks, whatever,'” Sandoval said at the time. “No, these things stay with you for a while. I’m in this for the long haul. I know.”

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Vanderpump Rules can be streamed on Peacock.

BravoCon 2023 continues through Sunday, November 5 at the Caesars Forum in Las Vegas.

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Source: HIS Education