You can drag an issue for a long time, but it grows more toxic as the involvement of personalities grows- and this is what happened to the "Scandoval" issue.
Teddi Mellencamp believes that her former co-star on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” Lisa Vanderpump, organized the “Scandoval” issue. The 41-year-old native of Indiana discussed the continuing “Vanderpump Rules” scandal involving Raquel Leviss and Tom Sandoval’s affair with Tamra Judge and Melissa Gorga on the “Real Housewives of New Jersey star’s” “On Display” podcast on March 9.
Lisa probably paid Raquel to do this,” Mellencamp mused as the trio guessed what the 62-year-old restaurateur would say on March 8 on “Watch What Happens Live.” The podcast episode was recorded before the “Vanderpump” episode aired.
Mellencamp suggested that Andy Cohen invited the U.K. native to his Bravo talk program after a lengthy absence because nobody cared until now. The former “Celebrity Big Brother” contestant predicted Vanderpump would defend Sandoval after his breakup with ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix.
Mellencamp stated, “She’s going to make the same points that I’ve been making, such as, ‘Listen, Sandoval and Madix weren’t in a good place for a long time. His requirements weren’t addressed. Leviss and Sandoval fell in love. They were unable to help themselves.'”
Mellencamp and Vanderpump have a feud-filled history, and while the two began their time on “RHOBH” as friends, they fell out around season 9, which aired in 2019. When Dorit Kemsley adopted a puppy from Vanderpump Dogs, only to have the dog end up in a kill shelter, their friendship hit a bump. Vanderpump left the reality series following the ensuing turmoil. As for Mellencamp, she quit the show in September 2020.
Although Vanderpump did not defend Sandoval on “WWHL” as Mellencamp initially believed, the entrepreneur did support Madix during the incident. “I was speechless. No one saw it coming, including me. I have seen Ariana and worked with her on set. It is now an essential component of the plot. I would describe her as devastated,”
In the wake of the scandal, the TV personality had some harsh and direct words for Leviss. “I certainly did not recognize Raquel. She dipped her toe in Peter Madrigal’s Pond, dated Oliver Saunders, socialized with Tom Schwartz, and dated Scandoval,” she retorted, calling the model a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Mellencamp claimed that Andy Cohen asked Vanderpump to appear on his late-night talk program after such a lengthy absence because nobody cared until now.
The fitness entrepreneur also predicted that Vanderpump would defend Sandoval, who was in a nearly decade-long relationship with co-star Ariana Madix while secretly dating Leviss because she believes that Vanderpump always takes the men’s side.
The revelation shook the Bravoverse and beyond, prompting the return of cameras to capture the aftermath for the currently showing 10th season.