After Bravo’s announcement that the entire cast of “Vanderpump Rules” would be replaced for Season 12, Tom Sandoval shared his thoughts on his “past decisions.” On Saturday night, he took to Instagram to express his feelings, saying, “Where do I begin… I’m overwhelmed with so many emotions right now.” He included throwback photos featuring some of his fellow cast members, reflecting on the extraordinary circumstances that initially united them.
The 42-year-old reality star emphasized that the foundation of their successful Bravo show was based on “pure honest raw emotions… triumphs, struggles, and love that happen between a group of real friends and our relationships.” He noted that once filming began, things became real, and they never looked back, describing their journey as a roller coaster that fans have witnessed every step of the way.
Describing his emotions as “hard to put into words,” Sandoval acknowledged the challenges he faced over the years. He stated, “Some of my past decisions led to incredibly challenging times, from which I’ve learned valuable lessons and experienced personal growth.”
Despite the obstacles, he expressed gratitude for the experiences and cherished memories. While Sandoval did not provide specific details about the “past decisions” he referenced, many fans speculated in the comments that he was alluding to his tumultuous breakup with co-star Ariana Madix.
In March 2023, it was reported that Sandoval had cheated on Madix, 39, with their co-star Raquel Leviss, leading Madix to refuse filming with him afterward. An insider revealed to Page Six that Madix’s decision not to film with Sandoval “really pissed off everyone else.”
According to the source, the show needed a refresh with a cast that was engaged and ready to film together. “It was time to go back to the restaurants and have people that were working together, living together, and sleeping together,” they said.
On Tuesday, Bravo announced it had “no path forward” with its legacy cast members, which included Sandoval, Madix, Tom Schwartz, Scheana Shay, Lala Kent, Katie Maloney, and James Kennedy. When “Vanderpump Rules” premiered in 2013, most of the original cast worked at Lisa Vanderpump’s SUR restaurant. However, by the time Season 11 aired in 2023, none of the main cast members were employed there. Production for the new cast of “Vanderpump Rules” is set to begin next year.