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From employees to pals. Tom Sandoval<\/strong><\/a> and Billie Lee<\/strong> <\/a>first became friends after the\u00a0then-SUR hostess joined the cast of\u00a0Vanderpump Rules<\/i><\/a>.<\/p>\n While Sandoval has been a mainstay on the Bravo hit since its first season in 2013, Lee joined in 2018. During her debut year at SUR<\/a>, Lee \u2014 who was the show\u2019s first transgender cast member<\/a> \u2014 quickly hit it off with the TomTom founder and then-girlfriend Ariana Madix<\/strong><\/a>. The comedian even went on an on-camera date with Ariana\u2019s brother, Jeremy Madix<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI love Ariana, so it just really kind of scared me and I did get a little nervous before my date [with her brother],\u201d Lee exclusively told\u00a0Us Weekly\u00a0<\/i>in March 2018<\/a>. \u201cBut at the same time, I talked to Scheana [Shay]<\/strong> <\/a>and she\u2019s like, \u2018You know who he is; he\u2019s an amazing person. Don\u2019t let [Stassi Schroeder<\/strong> <\/a>and Katie Maloney<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s] negative perception of him affect you and this date tonight.\u2019 Lala\u00a0[Kent] and\u00a0Scheana really helped me that day, just putting me back into a positive situation because sometimes I think Stassi and them can be a little bit on the negative side.\u201d<\/p>\n The reality TV alum further gushed to\u00a0Us\u00a0<\/i>that her date with Ariana\u2019s brother was \u201camazing\u201d and they still \u201ckick it all the time.\u201d She added at the time: \u201cI\u2019ve said this from the start, I didn\u2019t wanna get into a serious relationship<\/a>. And I\u2019m a little older than him and I know he has some things to experience, so I didn\u2019t wanna jump into anything serious with him, but I do enjoy him.\u201d<\/p>\n Lee ultimately left\u00a0Vanderpump Rules\u00a0<\/i>after season 7<\/a> over claims that she had been bullied during her reality TV stint. Despite walking away from the show, she remained close with both Sandoval and Ariana.<\/p>\n However, things reached a turning point in March 2023 after news broke of Sandoval and the Lifetime actress\u2019 breakup<\/a>. (Their split came shortly after it was revealed that the Missouri native had a months-long secret affair<\/a> with costar Raquel Leviss<\/strong><\/a>.) Lee, for her part, wanted to be there for both friends \u2014 much to her former costars\u2019 dismay<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cTom and Ariana are my family. They have been there for me over the years<\/a> and I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today without them. It saddens me that people are so fixated on picking a side. Both are human and are both hurting in their own ways,\u201d she wrote via Instagram in April 2023. \u201cThere is a world where you can support and be there for both parties and that\u2019s the world I choose to live in.\u201d<\/p>\n Lee added at the time: \u201cThere is also no reason for this to continue to be so divisive.\u00a0Ariana is happy\u00a0and Tom is really working hard on himself. I\u2019ll continue to love and support them unconditionally.\u201d<\/p>\n That month, Lee was\u00a0spotted hanging out with Sandoval<\/a> one-on-one as Ariana unfollowed her on Instagram<\/a>. Shay \u2014 as a show of solidarity<\/a> for the Florida native \u2014 also tapped the unfollow button on Lee\u2019s profile.\u00a0The \u201cGood as Gold\u201d songstress even told Andy Cohen<\/strong> <\/a>during an April 2023 appearance on\u00a0Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen<\/a>\u00a0<\/i>that she thought Lee was \u201cshady\u201d<\/a> for her hangouts with Sandoval.<\/p>\n