Tom Sandoval Compares Vanderpump Rules Cheating Scandal to O.J. Simpson and George Floyd

Tom Sandoval has an eyebrow-raising comparison for Scandoval. 

Nearly a year after the Vanderpump Rules star imploded the Bravo universe thanks to his affair with costar Rachel "Raquel" Leviss, he is now comparing the media scrutiny to the 1995 O.J. Simpson trial and the 2020 murder of George Floyd. 

"I'm not a pop-culture historian really," he told New York Times Magazine in an interview published Feb. 20, "but I witnessed the O.J. Simpson thing and George Floyd and all these big things, which is really weird to compare this to that, I think, but do you think in a weird way it's a little bit the same?"

As he subsequently noted, "I feel like I got more hate than Danny Masterson." (The That ‘70s Show alum is currently serving 30 years to life in prison for rape.)

Sandoval didn't appear to backtrack any of his words—a publicist present during the interview added, "Sometimes he says too much and the following day he forgets what he says"—and he also appears to have no regrets about cheating on his girlfriend of nine years, Ariana Madix. 

"I did what I did because I was in an unhappy place in my life," he added. "I got caught up in my emotions and fully fell in love. Like, for real."

And as for how he left things with Leviss? Sandoval has some regrets there. 

"She never even gave me any closure," he added, noting the Rachel Goes Rogue podcast host hasn't returned his calls since June. "It was really hard. It still messes with me."

E! News has reached out to his rep for comment but hasn't heard back.

Following his latest remarks on Scandoval, costar Katie Maloney—who was previously married to his BFF Tom Schwartz—was quick to call him out on social media.

"The f--k?" she commented on a Feb. 20 Instagram. "Hey Tom Schwartz, you wanna come explain what he was really trying to say?" 

As for how the rest of the cast feels about Scandoval nearly one year later? Well, the aftermath is currently playing out on Vanderpump Rules season 11, airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. 

For a full breakdown on all the drama the cast as SUR-ved up this past year, keep reading.

Several days after Vanderpump Rules' explosive reunion concluded June 7, Ariana Madix jetted off to NYC for some early birthday celebrations with her new man Daniel Wai.

The couple, who first sparked romance rumors in April when they were spotted making out at Coachella, attended Governors Ball Music Festival together with friends before heading out to party the night away on June 11.

Madix's costars even gave their stamp of approval on her new boyfriend. 

"The way that I witnessed him treat her, I've honestly—not even in the beginning of her relationship with Tom—ever seen her light up the way she does when he gets around her, when she talks about him," Scheana Shay exclusively told E! News in May. "It's been really, really amazing to just see her so happy."

Lala Kent added, "Just the way that she talks about him, her energy is just completely different. I'm so happy for her, because as an outsider, I was watching her and her relationship, just really feeling for her."

After receiving criticism from both fans and his castmates for calling out Madix for wearing a T-shirt during sex, Tom Sandoval insisted his words were never intended to be a dig at his ex's physical appearance.

"I've never body-shamed Ariana—ever," he clarified on June 14. "I don't know if that was taken out of context. I think people added their own context to it."

Meanwhile, Sandoval continued to tour the country with his cover band Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras.

On the June 12 episode of Fox's reality show Stars on Mars, Sandoval's BFF Tom Schwartz revealed he wants to distance himself from his business partner's "incredibly messed up" affair.

"It seems each time I try to weigh in or talk about, ramble on about it, drivel on, I inevitably sound like I'm somehow justifying it or making excuses for it, and I'm not," he shared. "Any sort of version of his side of the story has become obsolete because of the way he handled it. Ultimately, that's his life. That is his life. I did not have an affair. I am not him. It's just so strange that I've been absolutely mired in this. It's taken on almost a life of its own. And after this, I'm stepping away from it permanently."

After revealing she was seeking mental health treatment in early April, Rachel "Raquel" Leviss remains in an undisclosed facility.

"She is a young woman that is and has been remorseful for her actions and has apologized repeatedly," a source close to Leviss told E! earlier this month. "Her treatment is helping her learn the basis of her decisions and to grow from her mistakes with the hope of making better choices and becoming a better person."

One day after the shocking season 10 finale concluded, Lala Kent admitted she regretted going in so hard on Raquel over her affair with Sandoval.

"I felt dirty," Kent told TMZ June 8. "After watching last night when she had finally had the breakdown—just as a human, because for me, it's a reality TV show—I feel like we're all, kind of, playing the same game. But when I watched that, I was like, 'Oh, we're maybe dealing with someone who maybe shouldn't be on this type of platform.'"

As Bravoholics saw on season 10, Madix and Katie Maloney are opening a new sandwich shop named Something About Her just a few doors down from SUR in West Hollywood.

In several Instagram Stories posted June 12, Maloney gave fans a tour inside the new eatery as she worked on finishing the final touches before it opens this summer. Maloney and Madix have also been selling Something About Her merchandise on their website.

On June 18, Maloney debuted a new short haircut inspired by "Torn" singer Natalie Imbruglia ahead of filming season 11.

In May, it was rumored Sandoval had moved on after he was photographed with Texas-based  influencer Karlee Hale. However, the reality star's rep firmly denied anything romantic was going on.

"They are not dating," his team told E! News in a statement. "She's a friend. He was performing in Austin and stayed a few extra days to enjoy the city."

"I'm enjoying myself and I would say I'm very happy right now," Ariana shared of Wai during a May 18 Today interview. "I met him at a wedding about 10 days after all of this. And in no way, shape or form did I go into that thinking anything."

She continued, "I have just been taking things very, very slow and really enjoying myself. And it's just really lovely to interact with someone who is just so nice and kind and lovely and caring."

James Kennedy and girlfriend Ally Lewber are going strong and the DJ continues to host his weekly "See You Next Tuesday" event at SUR.

Scheana Shay and Madix were honored to throw the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game in June.

"Thank you @padres for making my 7 year old dreams come true last night!" Shay shared on Instagram. "It was always a dream of mine to throw out the first pitch at a professional game when I grew up. Well, we did it!"

With some free time in between seasons, Kent enjoyed lots of quality time with her 2-year-old daughter Ocean. In mid-June, the mommy-daughter duo got away during a trip to Newport Beach, Calif.

"Made my heart so full watching O play where I used to play at her age," the reality star shared on Instagram. "Newport holds a special place in my heart. My dad would have us set up on this beach at 7 am & we'd stay until the sun went down. Ocean is making him proud. A beach bum just like her Poppy."

Kent, Maloney and Kristina Kelly reunited with former VPR co-star and longtime BFF Stassi Schroeder for a girls night out in June.

Maloney, the only childless member of the friend group, joked on Instagram, "They talked about heavy flows and leaky tits while I sipped on Pinot Noir. #momfriends."

The biggest transformation since season 10 ended? Shay's husband Broke Davies cut his long hair! The Aussie star debuted a shorter 'do before his birthday in June.

Scheana honored her other half on his special day. "Happy birthday to the husband who makes me happy!" the mom of Summer Moon, 2, wrote on Instagram June 15. "@brock__davies you are the most incredible father and partner to us. I love you so much it literally hurts. Thank you for being you honey. Cheers to many more!"

Madix got the last laugh after her ex made that shocking dig about wearing a shirt during sex. In June, she dropped her own merchandise with "'f--k me in this shirt" written across gray tees.

Madix also made headlines for poking fun at Sandoval's now-infamous white nail polish and making light of the comment he made about Madix never buying batteries in a June Duracell commercial.

Madix, who turned 38 on June 24, celebrated her first post-Scandoval birthday with Wai, Maloney, Shay and more close friends. The fitness coach even cooked a six-course meal for his lady.

Madix and Wai celebrated Independence Day 2023 dancing the day away with friends at Santa Monica hot-spot Elephante.

On July 6, Sandoval was spotted filming Vanderpump Rules for the first time since shooting on season 11 started in June.

The TomTom co-owner was all smiles as he dropped off a flower arrangement to Lisa Vanderpump at her now-closed West Hollywood restaurant Pump. Tom, dressed in jeans, a light blue sweater and sunglasses, was photographed arriving with the gift before Lisa left the former hot-spot as cameras rolled on the two.

After weeks of rumors, Madix and Dancing With the Stars judge Derek Hough announced on July 7 that she is joining season 32.

"That's right, say 'goodbye' to the drama and 'hello' to the dance floor," Hough said in the video before the two shouted in unison, "Let's dance!"

While both Sandoval and Leviss confirmed they were still in love during the June 7 reunion episode, he revealed in December that she had cut him out of her life for good.

"We were best friends," Sandoval lamented on the Dec. 7 episode of the Two T's in a Pod podcast. "It's heartbreaking to go through. I was fully in love with her. She's not just some hot girl. I was a model for 15 years, it's deeper than that."

On July 11, Peacock announced Madix will make a special guest appearance on season five of the dating competition Love Island USA. 

As VPR fans surely remember, Sandoval infamously criticized her for spending hours binging Love Island amid their breakup during season 10. Now, Madix is having the last laugh by entering the villa.

On July 11, the exes were both photographed filming season 11 of Vanderpump Rules at SUR, marking the first time the Bravo stars have been spotted at the same place since the explosive VPR season 10 reunion taping in March.

After SUR-ving up an unforgettable season of television, Vanderpump Rules was nominated for two 2023 Emmy Awards on July 12—one for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program and one for Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program.

"I actually did get goosebumps and cried," Lisa Vanderpump exclusively told E! News. "I just thought to actually be at that level, it's so unexpected if you go back 13 years—and I don't take it for granted at all."

Leviss checked out of a mental health facility in Wickenburg, Arizona after two months, sources told TMZ and Entertainment Tonight July 14. It's unclear if or when she'll reunite with the cast to film season 11 in the wake of her affair scandal.

On July 18, some of the cast jetted off to Lake Tahoe for their first season 11 cast trip since Scandoval.

In attendance for the summer vacation were Scheana Shay and husband Brock Davies, James Kennedy and girlfriend Ally Lewber, Tom Schwartz and Lala Kent.

Kent seemingly confirmed Sandoval's presence on the trip in a video in her IG Stories. "Everyone's in a couple—the Toms, Brock and Scheana, these little lovebirds," the Give Them Lala host told fans. "It's a good thing we got the MILF, and I'm OK with it."

In between filming seasons 10 and 11, Sandoval joined season two of Fox's intense competition show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test. He'll compete against fellow celebrity contestants Tyler Cameron, Savannah Chrisley, Blac Chyna, JoJo Siwa, Nick Viall, Brian Austin Green, Dez Bryant, Robert Horry, Erin Jackson, Bode Miller, Jack Osbourne, Tara Reid and Kelly Rizzo when season two premieres Sept. 25.

On Aug. 3, Lala Kent, Ally Lewber, Katie Maloney, Scheana Shay and Ariana Madix supported James Kennedy at a DJ-ing gig in Hollywood.

In August, Schwartz revealed a new platinum blond 'do in a photo snapped by a fan.

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.