Tom Schwartz says Tom Sandoval is “a piece of s–t” for cheating on his longtime girlfriend, Ariana Madix, with Raquel Leviss.
The “Vanderpump Rules” star, who runs multiple restaurants with Sandoval, said in his first interview post-“Scandoval” that his embattled co-star understood the severity of his actions.
“He’s OK, I think. Relatively speaking. I mean, he has a sense of profound sadness, rightfully so. I think he feels like a piece of s–t, and to some extent, maybe he is,” Schwartz, 40, told TMZ while jetting out of LAX in a hoodie and baseball cap Saturday.
“But he knows he f–ked up. The whole thing is just really sad.”
Schwartz went on to say that the story was almost stranger than fiction. He claimed he hasn’t spoken to Leviss, 28, since her affair with Sandoval, 40, became an international news story.
However, Schwartz did voice his concern for Madix, 37, who had been dating Sandoval for almost a decade before she found evidence of her now-ex cheating on her with Leviss.
“Luckily, Ariana has a really good support system, and she’s with her friends,” Schwartz told the outlet.
“I’m not sure where she is. I hope she’s living a good life, just indulging. I hope she goes on a living spree. I’m just hoping this whole thing blows over, you know?”
The Bravolebrity also refused to confirm whether he knew about the secret tryst, which allegedly lasted seven months.
“You’ll see it play out on the show,” he teased, albeit previously denying that he made out with Leviss in an attempt to distract from her affair with his friend.
“No, that’s not true. Unless I was a pawn in the game,” he added. “It’s f–king complicated. That’s the understatement of the year.”
Schwartz also noted that he’s concerned about how the scandal will affect the businesses he co-owns with Sandoval, TomTom Restaurant & Bar and Schwartz & Sandy’s Lounge.
“I think Tom’s OK. Really, I’m just sad about the negative impact it’s having on our business, but I think cooler heads will prevail,” he said. “And I’m just gonna keep on keeping on.”
Schwartz speaking out comes shortly after Madix dumped her longtime beau after finding out he had been cheating on her with the former beauty pageant queen since at least July 2022.
As previously reported, Madix was watching her ex’s cover band, Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras, perform in West Hollywood, Calif., on March 1 when she stumbled upon a sexually explicit video of Leviss on his phone.
Both Leviss and Sandoval have since apologized for their entanglement, and Page Six can confirm that the Bravo cameras have been rolling on the fallout for the show’s ongoing 10th season.