Too late!
Rachel Lewis They’re doing a ton of damage control right now, but so far it hasn’t really worked out for him. According to a new source for ET on Wednesday, in the embattled Vanderpump Rules star has tried to make amends with his former bestie Ariana Madix after having an affair with his longtime girlfriend Tom Sandoval revealed. And yes, as expected, their attempts at reconciliation fell on deaf ears.
Related: Stassi Schroeder Weighs In On Tom & Rachel’s ‘Ugly’ Affair!
The reliable explained that before making a public statement, Raquel approached Ariana quietly:
“Before apologizing to Ariana, Raquel tried to contact Ariana personally. Raquel first reached out on Friday, March 3 after news of the relationship broke.
Keyword: “after.” After news of the affair spread. The reality star clearly had no intention of coming clean until she was caught. So why would Ariana want to hear from him NOW?? After he got caught??
The point is, Ariana didn’t leave her ex-boyfriend to read (which we’ll all know, all things considered). No, they actually responded! But there’s no way in hell these two are going back to their ways so quickly, the insider continued:
“Ariana responded to Raquel but wasn’t ready to apologize.”
But that didn’t stop Raquel from trying again!
“Raquel also tried to apologize on Wednesday before releasing the statement, but she didn’t hear from Ariana.”
Did he really expect Ariana to apologize so soon?! Oh my goodness. Take a hint, girl!
As we’ve covered, Ariana and Tom called it quits last week after she reportedly found NSFW content on Tom’s phone, unearthing the months-long relationship between the new lovebirds last week. Drama has shaken everything VPR gang, another insider told ET:
“The incident of Tom and Raquel has created a big divide in the group with almost everyone against Tom and Raquel. The group feels like Tom has gone through a mid-life crisis, by forming a band and sometimes acting. The girls rally around Ariana, but know in time he will be OK.
Everyone has come out of the woodwork to share their thoughts on the matter. He really likes Ariana, so he needs to convince her. Especially since Tom and Raquel have done the most while trying to save their reputations!
Related: Bam Margera Arrested For Allegedly Assaulting His Current Girlfriend
Before going silent, Leviss turned everything into a legal matter by sending a letter to his friends asking them to remove the intimate video of him that was distributed “unlawfully without the knowledge or consent of Raquel.” It was the video Ariana found on Tom’s phone that sparked the scandal. Raquel finally had her part in the mess on Wednesday by releasing a statement for ETsaid:
“I want to apologize for my actions and choices that are most important to Ariana, and to my friends and fans who invested in our relationship. There is no excuse, I am not a victim and I should have acted and I am very sorry for hurting Ariana.
That said, he tried to make himself look like the victim in all of this by adding:
“I thought about my choices, talked to a counselor and I learned about myself such as patterns of dependence and addiction to be and feel loved. I have been looking for emotional validation through unhealthy intimate connections without regard for myself as well-which, sometimes affects others and often prioritizing intimate connections over friends.I take steps to understand my behavior and make healthier choices.
Oh, he learned about? So good for him… He continued:
“Although I choose to be on a reality show that accepts the good and the bad, beyond my own actions, I have been physically attacked, lost friendships, received death threats and hate mail in addition to having my privacy violated.”
When all that sounds bad, it’s not exactly time to play the victim. Death threats for no reason, but after being caught sleeping with another woman? He must have known the consequences! And making it sound like he’s being treated unfairly because he “lost his friendship” is transparent.
Raquel concluded by referring to all the work that will be done to advance mental health, saying:
“I have started counseling to stop the cycle of unhealthy behavior, learn to set stronger emotional boundaries and learn to protect my mental health. I do not expect sympathy, understanding or forgiveness. Now I have to focus on my own health and well-being and when I striving to be a better person, I will prioritize my mental health and learn from my mistakes.
Meanwhile, Tom has also stepped up therapy sessions amid the controversy as both sides try to overcome this PR crisis. But the problem is far from over considering the whole saga is currently being filmed to be tacked to the end of season 10. So buckle up, Vanderpump fans This wild ride has just begun! Reaction, Perezcious readers? Do you think Raquel was too insensitive to reach out to Ariana during all of this??
[Image via Raquel Leviss/Instagram & Watch What Happens Live/YouTube]