Tom Sandoval Can't Get a Word in at BravoCon 2023 as Fans Boo Him Throughout Vanderpump Rules Panel

“I’d rather stand here and face it,” the ‘Vanderpump Rules’ star said after the audience called her out for cheating on Ariana Madix, his co-star and now ex-girlfriend of nine years.

Tom Sandoval took over the race at BravoCon 2023.

Sandoval reunited with his ex, Ariana Madix, as well as his Vanderpump Rules actors Ally Lewber, James Kennedy, Lala Kent, Katie Maloney, Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Schwartz, Scheana Shay and Brock Davies for the BravoCon panel show on Friday in Las Vegas.

The reunion comes eight months after Madix, 38, 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, 63, was quick to engage in crowd control and said 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 the magic of this series 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.”

From left: Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz at BravoCon 2023.

Bryan Steffy/Bravo via Getty

All About Cheating Drama ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Starring Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix & Raquel Leviss

“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.”

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.”

Kennedy (31) then joked: “Honestly, going into this season, I kept thinking, ‘If Ariana can do it, so can I.'” to which Madix replied, “That’s how I feel about Britney. If Britney Spears can do it, so can I.”

Tom Schwartz says he’s ‘forever’ separating from Tom Sandoval after ‘incredibly messy’ affair

At one point, Brown asked Sandoval about his relationship with Schwartz, 41. Over boos from the crowd, Sandoval said, “Obviously it’s gotten better. He’s been through a tough time because of me and dealt with a lot of residual negativity. And I really appreciate you sticking with me, man.”

“For better or for worse, ’til death do us part,” Schwartz replied, later noting that their TomTom restaurant was “booming.”

From left: Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix at BravoCon 2023.

Nicole Weingart/Bravo via Getty

Kennedy also had a memorable experience on the panel — at one point, he challenged Sandoval to a push-up contest (Kennedy won) and later ran off stage mid-conversation to go to the bathroom. When asked about the experience of filming Season 11, Kennedy called it “one of the hardest years.”

“There were times when I just wanted to turn around and say something I’d probably regret,” he explained, claiming he was taking a “more mature path” this season, which he promised would be “one of the craziest yet.”

“I say when James Kennedy is the voice of reason on the show…” Vanderpump joked afterward.

This led Sandoval to agree with Kennedy’s comments, noting that his struggles in Season 11 made him “appreciate” when his fellow cast members were previously “on the periphery.”

“This season I saw for the first time what other people had to deal with,” he said. “You start to recognize the little things, someone who greets you, smiles at you on the street…recognizes your humanity.”

From left: Ally Lewber, James Kennedy and Lala Kent at BravoCon 2023.

Nicole Weingart/Bravo via Getty

Later during the panel, Brown couldn’t resist asking the other stars about the Scandoval drama. Specifically, Lewber was asked when she sensed something was wrong last season after seeing Leviss and Sandoval together at The Abbey.

“I thought the night at The Abbey was weird because Ariana was like, ‘I want to spend more time with Tom, he’s out all the time,'” Lewber recalled. “So that was the moment I thought, ‘Ding, ding, ding!’ He actively chose not to be with Ariana.”

Vanderpump also briefly reflected on Season 10, saying of the explosive reunion, “It was a s— show. It was a mess, and I was kind of in the middle of it. Everyone was throwing their emotions at me and whatever is a lot.”

Tom Sandoval Says He’s Ready to Take Public Hate ‘For the Long Run’ After His Affair (Exclusive)

From left: Tom Schwartz, Scheana Shay and Brock Davies at BravoCon 2023.

Nicole Weingart/Bravo via Getty

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.”

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 while everyone really hates Tom, he’s still going out, he’s still doing shows, he’s sitting in front of you all booed.” If I were him, I’d tell you to fuck off.”

Lala Kent at BravoCon 2023.

Bryan Steffy/Bravo via Getty

Tom Sandoval reveals he’s ‘a little nervous’ about appearing alongside ex Ariana Madix at BravoCon 2023.

When asked why he decided to show up at BravoCon and stick with the race instead of running, Sandoval insisted, “I’d rather stand here and face it. I don’t know what you’re doing.”

Friday’s panel also featured a new brand teaser for VPR season 11, which returns in January. After the clip premiered, Vanderpump told the crowd, “This season is really turning reality into reality.” Several cast members described the upcoming season as “sad.”

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

In one of the final moments of the panel, Vanderpump praised Madix for the way she handled the fallout from the scandal. “I’m so proud of Ariana for turning it around and living her best fucking life.”

Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix. Amanda Edwards/Getty Ariana Madix: ‘I Don’t Know How I Can Trust Anyone Anymore’ After Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss Affair (Exclusive)

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