Read her full statement:
“First of all I want to apologize for my actions and my choices to Ariana, and to my friends and the fans who are so invested in our relationship. There is no excuse, I am not a victim and I have to own my actions, and I deeply regret hurting Ariana.
I reflect on my choices, talk to a counselor, and I learn things about myself, such as my patterns of codependency and addiction to being and feeling loved. I have sought emotional validation through intimate connections that are not healthy without regard for my own well-being, sometimes negatively affecting others, and often prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships. I take steps to understand my behavior and make healthier choices.
Although I chose to be on a reality show and accept the good and bad that comes with it, beyond my own actions I have been physically assaulted, lost friendships, received death threats and hate mail in addition to having my privacy violated.
I have begun counseling to end my cycle of unhealthy behaviors, learn to set stronger emotional boundaries, and learn to protect my mental health. I don’t expect sympathy, understanding or forgiveness. Right now I need to focus on my own health and well-being, and as I strive to be a better person going forward, I will prioritize my mental health and learn from my mistakes.” – Rachel Leviss
Leviss’ statement comes after she sent legal letters to Sandoval and her Vanderpump rules teammates about the situation. The 28-year-old reality star’s letters followed People‘s reporting that Madix learned of the alleged affair by discovering an NSFW video of Leviss on Sandoval’s phone.
ET obtained a copy of the letter Leviss’ legal team sent to Sandoval, which read in part: “We understand that sometime recently you and Ms. Leviss engaged in an intimate exchange on Facetime that you recorded without the permission of Ms. Leviss. Leviss. California is what is known as a “two-party consent” state, and therefore such recording is illegal in California and could potentially subject you to both civil and criminal penalties. Further, please note that any distribution of this recording would constitute a violation of several California laws.”
The letter also instructed Sandoval to delete the video and inform Leviss’ legal team of people who have seen the video.
Meanwhile, a source told ET that Leviss’ letters aren’t meant as a legal attack on the cast, but rather her way of “making them aware of the seriousness and to further stop the video from going out.”
News of Sandoval and Leviss’ alleged affair first broke earlier this month, with a source telling ET that there have been “too many instances where Ariana felt that Tom disrespected her and she finally ended things.”
“Tom and Raquel’s incident has created a big rift in the group with almost everyone against Tom and Raquel,” another source told ET. “The group feels that Tom has been going through a sort of mid-life crisis, with the creation of his band and acting at times. The girls rally around Ariana, but know in time that she will be okay.”
Sandoval publicly responded to the drama soon after, calling it “a very personal thing” in an Instagram post.
“I fully understand and deserve your anger and disappointment towards me, but please Schwartz leave my friends and family out of this situation,” Sandoval wrote, referring to his best friend and business partner, Tom Schwartz. “Schwartz specifically only found out about this very recently, and absolutely did not condone my actions.”
Early Wednesday morning, Sandoval shared another personal message on his Instagram account, starting his statement by apologizing to “everyone I’ve hurt.”
He then focused his apology on Madix, writing: “Most of all I want to apologize to Ariana. I made mistakes, I was selfish and made reckless decisions that hurt someone I love. No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly .”
In the meantime Vanderpump rules has resumed production with plans to include the breakup and its fallout in Season 10, a source told ET. That split, another source told ET, is for good, as neither Madix nor Sandoval want to get back together.
“Ariana has no plans to get back with Tom after what he did to her, and Tom is ready to move on,” the source said. “Ariana is heartbroken and feels betrayed, something she won’t be able to get over for a long time.”
Reporting by Anthony Dominic.
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