VPR: As Sandoval Confesses the Depths of His Mental Health Struggle, His Costars Focus on His ‘Villain Energy’

Tom Sandoval faces a new reality after his affair with Rachel “Raquel” Leviss is exposed and his friends side with his breakup with ex Ariana Madix.

On Tuesday in the episode Vanderpump RulesLisa Vanderpump expressed concern for the Schwartz & Sandy co-owner’s mental health after he confided in her that he had suicidal thoughts at the height of Scandal.

The SUR owner told Scheana Shay and Lala Kent that Sandoval, 41, is in a “very dark place” amid the public outcry over his affair. But the ladies stopped giving him their sympathy when Scheana said her ex-friend was “dipping into this villainous energy.”

“My conversation with Sandoval last night could not have been more frustrating,” she said of the conversation during which she called him a narcissist, which Sandoval denied. “He doesn’t take responsibility for anything he’s done, so Lisa says he’s depressed [when] I didn’t see that. I just saw him project.”

Tom Sandoval attends the 2024 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO at the Honda Center on January 13, 2024 in Anaheim, California.

Elyse Jankowski/Getty

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However, Lisa, 63, insisted Sandoval is “a shadow of his former self” as he tries to move on with his life after the scandal.

“I don’t want to see anyone go down the road of that kind of depression where you feel like the whole world is against you… There’s only so much one person can take before they snap,” she said. “I don’t want to be in a position where we have regrets.”

The issue hit close to home for Lisa as her own brother Mark died by suicide in April 2018.

“I never thought that suicide would touch my life,” she said about her brother’s death. “When I look back at my brother who says he was depressed, that’s a real trigger for me because he was depressed and where is he now? Tom Sandoval is not the type of person to say he’s had suicidal thoughts unless he means it. ”

Lisa Vanderpump and Tom Sandoval at the “Vanderpump Rules” Season 10 Reunion.

Nicole Weingart/Bravo via Getty

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Scheana, 38, and Lala, 33, found themselves at a crossroads as Lisa encouraged them to forgive Sandoval, but worried it would come at the cost of “losing Ariana.” “Ariana made it very clear,” Scheana said in the confessional. “Anyone who chooses to stay friends with Tom Sandoval is basically dead to her, but at the same time, if someone is really fighting at this level, how do I keep coming for them?”

Meanwhile, Sandoval told his friend Billie Lee that the scandal caused him to be “really stressed, depressed, [and] overwhelmed.” He added that he now feels like an “outsider” with his group of friends, adding, “I feel like Andy Dufresne when he first comes to Shawshank.”

“I wish I could get back the part that reminds me of my old life. It always seems to be the people closest to you who hurt you the most,” he shared.

Tom Sandoval and Billie Lee at the National OOTD x Stassi Schroeder Day at Pump on June 30, 2018 in West Hollywood, California.

Lester Cohen/WireImage

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Later in their conversation, Sandoval admitted that he “came close a few times” to ending his life. He added: »When you get into that mood. I had to really snap out of it. There were all kinds of feelings in my head – pain, anger, sadness, depression, [and] gloom. I lost all my friends and I felt like maybe the best way to show that I was sorry and something that everyone wanted was for me to leave.”

“I just want to be happy again. I don’t feel like I’m allowed to get there,” he added as Billie told him she would get there in time.

At James Kennedy’s pool party, Ariana was quick to dismiss Scheana’s concerns about her ex’s mental health, saying, “I can understand that maybe he had some thoughts and feelings, but it’s like those thoughts and those feelings are based on a situation that he created, in which he didn’t care about other people’s mental health. I know I’m a bitch for saying this, but like, I’m just kind of embarrassed.”

She added that Sandoval is “a scary fucking person who I don’t trust a word that comes out of his mouth because he keeps changing and everything seems like manipulation to me.”

Ariana Madix and Scheana Shay.

Scheana/Instagram

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However, Tom Schwartz still held out hope that Sandoval could redeem himself with the group. Schwartz encouraged Sandoval to “leave his ego behind” before their trip to Lake Tahoe, where Lisa was opening her new restaurant Wolf by Vanderpump. But Sandoval still pointed the finger at Scheana and Lala for using the affair to their advantage, including podcast content and merchandise.

“Lala and Scheana showed the whole nation how to treat us,” he claimed. “People followed suit.”

“This energy will not serve you well,” Schwartz countered. “You have to let your guard down a bit. I’m not saying you have to let people walk all over you and abuse you.”

“I’m concerned about his ‘they don’t know what they’ve done to me’ tone,” he added. “I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but I don’t think that’s going to be productive.”

Despite the conversation, Schwartz maintained a positive outlook on their upcoming trip, saying in the confessional, “I’m optimistic about this trip to Tahoe, but do I expect it to miraculously clear everyone’s memory? No, of course not. But I hope it opens the door a little bit.”

He then tried to reassure Sandoval, telling him, “I think people are at a place where they’re willing to talk without necessarily coming after you.”

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Vanderpump Rules airs Tuesdays at 8:00 PM ET/PT on Bravo.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Line at 741741 or going to 988lifeline.org.

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Source: HIS Education