\n<\/p>\n
Tom Sandoval<\/strong> <\/a>confirmed that he\u2019s part of the cast for Vanderpump Rules<\/a><\/em> season 11 \u2014 but he wouldn\u2019t say whether he\u2019s spoken to Raquel Leviss<\/strong><\/a> since production started<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m filming right now,\u201d the reality star, 41, told Backgrid<\/a> cameras in West Hollywood on Thursday, July 6. When asked whether he was in touch with Raquel, 28, Sandoval replied, \u201cI can\u2019t comment on that.\u201d<\/p>\n He did, however, promise fans that the new episodes would be worth watching. \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be interesting no matter what,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt always is.\u201d<\/p>\n Sandoval went on to claim that he and BFF Tom Schwartz<\/strong><\/a> are \u201ccool\u201d after rumors of tension between the pair in the aftermath of Scandoval. \u201cI just saw him today,\u201d Sandoval said. (The business owners were seen filming<\/a> what appeared to be a tense conversation at TomTom on Thursday.)<\/p>\n Last month, Schwartz, 40, hinted that the duo\u2019s friendship<\/a> was on the rocks after Sandoval got caught having an affair with Raquel while he was still dating longtime girlfriend Ariana Madix<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cHe made a big mess and he left it for us to clean up back at [TomTom and Schwartz & Sandy\u2019s],\u201d Schwartz told Jax Taylor<\/strong><\/a> and Brittany Cartwright<\/strong><\/a> during a June 7 episode of the couple\u2019s \u201cWhen Reality Hits with Jax and Brittany\u201d podcast. \u201cIt\u2019s hard for me not to be resentful of him, I\u2019m definitely taking a break from Tom right now. I haven\u2019t seen him in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n When news of Raquel and Sandoval\u2019s affair broke in March, Schwartz initially showed support for his business partner, but he told Jax, 43, and Brittany, 34, that he felt \u201cused\u201d and \u201cexploited\u201d by Sandoval in the aftermath of the drama.<\/p>\n \u201cI do love Tom. I took to heart everything he told me about Ariana,\u201d Schwartz recalled. \u201cNow that I\u2019ve heard her side of the story \u2026 she [has] vehemently denied all this stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n During a now-infamous interview with Howie Mandel<\/strong><\/a>, Sandoval claimed that he tried to break up with Ariana, 38, multiple times before the affair became public, but Ariana refused to accept the split. She later denied those claims during the Pump Rules<\/em> reunion and in an interview on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen<\/em>.<\/p>\n Ariana also slammed Schwartz for his involvement in the situation, telling Andy Cohen<\/strong><\/a> she thought her friend was \u201cactively participating in\u201d her \u201cdownfall.\u201d<\/p>\n Schwartz, for his part, later admitted that he felt \u201ccomplicit\u201d<\/a> in the affair because he didn\u2019t tell anyone what he knew about Sandoval and Raquel. \u201cIt\u2019s become a huge source of just angst in my life. I\u2019ve been in this extended funk,\u201d he explained during a June episode of Stars on Mars<\/em><\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s horrible and I feel complicit because I didn\u2019t cover for him, but I had his back. He came to me and confided in me that he was in love with someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n He went on to say that he was \u201cstepping away\u201d from the drama \u201cpermanently\u201d going forward. \u201cAny sort of version of [Sandoval\u2019s] side of the story has become obsolete because of the way he handled it,\u201d Schwartz continued. \u201cAnd ultimately, that\u2019s his life. I did not have an affair. I am not him. And it\u2019s just so strange that I\u2019ve been absolutely mired in this.\u201d<\/p>\n Vanderpump Rules<\/em> also stars Lala Kent<\/strong><\/a>, James Kennedy<\/strong><\/a>, Scheana Shay<\/strong><\/a>, Katie Maloney<\/strong><\/a> and Lisa Vanderpump<\/strong><\/a>. Last month, an insider exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em><\/a> that \u201cnothing has been decided yet<\/a>\u201d regarding Raquel\u2019s potential return<\/a> to the series. \u201cIt\u2019s all still up in the air,\u201d the source explained. \u201cBoth sides are hoping they can work something out so that Raquel gets the treatment she needs, and she\u2019s still able to be included in the show.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n