Tom Sandoval has issued an apology regarding some of the statements he made in a recent profile by The New York Times Magazine comparing the public reaction to his “Scandoval” affair to that of other monumental historical events such as the O.J. Simpson trial and the murder of George Floyd.
The article–- aptly titled “How Tom Sandoval Became the Most Hated Man in America”–- was published this week, though it was conducted by journalist Irina Aleksander “late last year.”
Despite having someone from his “publicity team” (i.e. a 23-year-old named Rylie, who has reportedly been a fan of Vanderpump Rules since middle school) on standby during the interview, Sandoval proceeded to give an undoubtedly terrible response when asked why he believed his affair with Rachel Leviss “got so big.”
“I’m not a pop-culture historian really, but I witnessed the O.J. Simpson thing and [the coverage of] George Floyd[‘s murder] and all these big things, which is really weird to compare it to that, I think, but do you think in weird way it’s a little bit the same?” Sandoval stated.
Sandoval’s comment was met with a wave of criticism on social media, leading the former bartender to eventually post an apology on his Instagram Story.
“My intentions behind the comments I made in New York Times Magazine were to explain the level of national media attention my affair received,” he posted Tuesday. “The comparison was inappropriate and ignorant. I am incredibly sorry and embarrassed.”
Sandoval’s apology appeared to do very little for many on social media who took to the comment section of one of his recent posts to sound off on the issue.
“That comparison is CRAZY!!! Tell us what you really think, huh?” one comment read. “Shocked but not surprised about your comparison.”
“Had to turn off your comments in other posts huh? Absolutely delusional for you to compare yourself to an innocent Black man that was unjustly murdered,” another wrote. “There better be repercussions for this bc dude you ain’t it (not that you ever were)!!!”
“Don’t think we’ll be seeing him after this season,” another person commented. “He just put the nail in the coffin.”
Sandoval’s interview comments were covered by many Bravo fan pages on social media, including @bravowhileblack, who later revealed that Sandoval blocked them on Instagram after he issued his apology.
Sandoval’s actions were called out by not only @bravowhileblack, but also a number of those who follow the page.
“Why did you block @bravowhileblack during black history month!” one person asked, with another echoing, “Why did you block @bravowhileblack tho?? Like right after you apologized for your George Floyd comment you went and blocked their page and their personal account. That’s wild. Block me too.”
Sandoval’s comment about George Floyd and O.J. Simpson isn’t the only ones in his NYT Magazine profile that raised eyebrows. As The Ashley previously reported, Sandoval also claimed in the interview that, on the night his ex Ariana Madix found out he was having an affair with Rachel, she got into a physical fight with him.
“She beat my a**,” Sandoval said of Ariana, adding that the alleged altercation happened in a back alley behind TomTom, the bar the Sandoval had been at with Ariana on the night of March 1, 2023.
According to Sandoval, Ariana— who was Sandoval’s girlfriend for nine years before the affair was discovered— split his lip open during the alleged altercation. In addition, she allegedly ripped his chain necklace off.
Click here to read some of the other claims Sandoval made in his profile with The New York Times Magazine.
(Photos: Bravo; Instagram)
Soooo fucking ignorant and rude to compare himself or his situation to either man. Yea OJ was guilty but plenty of people died behind his actions. And George Floyd? HOW DARE YOU!!! They killed that man in front and treated him inhumanely. Not even remotely close.
I hope this is the last we will hear from this asshat! Always blaming others, not taking a single ounce of responsibility for his actions. Cannot stomach even seeing his stupid face not to mention hearing his voice or words. Cancel, cancel, cancel him forever! And he can take Rachel/Raquel with him! Two peas in a pod.
Omg I am so embarrassed for him.