The next chapter of Scandoval has begun; Raquel Leviss has filed a lawsuit against her former costars – and it’s ugly!
The bombshell dropped on Thursday, February 29: Rachel “Raquel” Leviss filed a complaint against her former lover Tom Sandoval AND his ex Ariana Madix for, among other things, revenge porn and wiretapping.
In short, Raquel claims that BOTH Tom and Ariana have treated her unfairly, and she’s going to fight this tooth and nail.
Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss and Tom Schwartz attend the Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras performance at Hotel Cafe on November 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. ((Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images))
Raquel’s Lawsuit: Trial Date Set
According to Deadlinea judge ruled that Rachel’s lawsuit against her former Vanderpump Rules co-stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix are moving forward with the lawsuit, despite Tom and Ariana’s efforts to have the case dismissed.
The case is expected to go to trial on November 3, 2025.
Why is Raquel suing Tom and Ariana after the scandal?
According to multiple sources who have seen the documents, a complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court confirms that Raquel is suing Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix for the following:
Revenge porn, wiretapping, intentionally causing emotional distress and invasion of privacy, all stemming from her affair with Tom.
The lawsuit alleges that there is “more to the story” than what people know and follow on the reality show, Vanderpump Rules.
“What was lost in the mix was that Leviss was the victim of the predatory and dishonest behavior of an older man, who recorded sexually explicit videos of her without her knowledge or consent, which were then distributed, disseminated and publicly discussed by a scorned woman seeking revenge, fueling the scandal,” the complaint said.
When Judge Daniel Crowley announced the trial date, he explained why he agreed the case could proceed.
“Madix’s conduct is not covered by the anti-SLAPP law because the alleged conduct was illegal under the law,” Judge Crowley wrote in his order.
Tom Sandoval to fly solo in Vegas 2023. ((Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images))
The revenge porn in question in scandal case
If you’ve been following Scandoval, you basically know all about the sexually explicit video of Raquel and Tom that was discussed.
This is the video that prompted Ariana Madix, Tom’s then girlfriend of nine years, to learn about his affair with Raquel. She accidentally saw the video on his phone, which alerted her to the relationship.
In the lawsuit, Raquel alleges that Scandoval “instantly went viral and was the subject of extraordinary press coverage, even in the mainstream media.”
Ariana Madix and Raquel Leviss together at Jingle Ball 2018. ((Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images,))
“‘Scandoval’ breathed new life into a previously struggling series, sending its ratings to unprecedented heights and making its cast members mega-celebrities,” the lawsuit reads. “Through a narrative deliberately stoked by Bravo, Evolution and the cast, Leviss became an object of public scorn and ridicule.”
“Leviss was misled by Bravo and Evolution into believing she was contractually barred from reporting her abuse,” the lawsuit continues. “As a result, she suffered in silence as Bravo and Evolution watched their ratings skyrocket, and the rest of the cast enjoyed unprecedented levels of public recognition and professional opportunities.”
Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval attend the MTV Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED 2022 at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. The broadcast is scheduled for June 5, 2022. ((Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for MTV))
Tom “secretly recorded pornographic videos” of Raquel
But this infamous video apparently isn’t the only one Tom had in his collection, much to Raquel’s chagrin.
In the lawsuit, she also describes an incident in which she claims that on March 4, 2023, she “confronted Sandoval because he had secretly recorded pornographic videos of her and stored them unprotected on his phone.”
The incident is said to have left Tom “shaken” and she insists he “refused to leave Leviss’ apartment despite her requests.”
According to her story, she was “forced to have her sister and brother-in-law pick her up and drive her home.”
Ariana spoke about the famous video on Bethenny Frankel’s podcast.
“I decided to be adventurous and watch the adult section on TV, and Tom and I FaceTimed a lot, so it became a bit more of an intimate FaceTime. I expected to have privacy at that point, so that happened.”
So much for that.
Raquel Leviss visits CLD Pre-Coachella House on April 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. ((Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for CLD PR))
Raquel’s reputation destroyed
When the new season of Vanderpump Rules When Raquel launched in 2024, she was noticeably absent.
It was reported that she would not return due to a dispute over her salary, but there is more to it.
“Humiliated and vilified for public consumption, Leviss remains a shadow of her former self, with limited career opportunities and a ruined reputation,” the lawsuit says, alleging that what happened has left her unable to find work.
Recently, she has created opportunities for herself by starting her own podcast called “Rachel Goes Rogue” and modeling during New York Fashion Week.
However, it is certainly not the fame she enjoyed before the series scandal.
