Andy Cohen on Monday said he suspects there could have be something going on between Vanderpump Rules costars Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss as far back as last fall, during festivities at BravoCon in New York City in October.
The Bravo host-producer, 54, speculated on the timeframe of the affair - in which Sandoval, 39, cheated on longtime girlfriend Ariana Madix, 37 - on his Radio Andy show Monday on SiriusXM, as details of the fallout made headlines.
He noted that amid the 'reverberating' scandal, video captured at the event indicated that Madix - and Leviss - were watching Sandoval intently as he played with his band at the event in the Big Apple.
Cohen noted that the answers Leviss, 28, gave earlier this month on his show Watch What Happens Live, during a quiz sketch with with Scheana Shay, 37, provided an insight into the way she viewed the restauranteur-musician.
'We played a game called the BFF test,' Cohen said. 'I read a statement and both guests answer at the same time and we see if their answers match. I said, "Who's the cuter Tom: Sandoval or Schwartz?" And they both said Sandoval.'
The latest: Andy Cohen spilled on the bombshell affair between Vanderpump Rules costars Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss on his radio show on Monday
Cohen said that he did not expect Leviss' answer to be Sandoval, based on rumors of romance between her and Schwartz that circulated last year.
'I looked up and said to Raquel, "Oh you said Sandoval, hmm," and then we moved on,' Cohen said.
The answer even caught Shay off-guard, according to Cohen, as 'Scheana's antenna was up' following the revelation from Leviss.
'I'm going through my cards and … Scheana said to Raquel, "You know, I only picked Sandoval because I knew that you were gonna pick Schwartz,"' Cohen recalled. 'And Raquel said, "Well, Sandoval has abs," and kind of shrugged.
'So, you know, that was interesting. And again, I didn't think twice about it.'
Cohen said that he contacted Shay about the aforementioned discussion over the weekend as the cheating story went public.
'I DM'd Scheana over the weekend and I go, "What was that conversation that you guys had about that BFF test?"' he said. 'I thought it was odd.'
Cohen noted how Bravo should re-air that episode, and an episode of WWHL that featured Sandoval and Schwartz that aired last month, noting that 'there was some odd energy between' the business partners during the appearance.
Cohen noted that the answers Leviss (R) gave earlier this month on his show Watch What Happens Live, during a quiz sketch with with Scheana Shay provided an insight into the way she viewed the restauranteur-musician
Cohen said that answers Leviss gave to a quiz game favoring Sandoval raised his interest
Sandoval was seen playing a set at BravoCon October 15 in NYC. Cohen on Monday said video from he event indicated that Madix - and Leviss - were watching Sandoval intently onstage
'Schwartz was looking to Sandoval the entire time, almost for guidance on answers,' Cohen said. 'So the big question is: When did Schwartz find out about this?'
Sandoval said in an apology he released on Instagram Sunday that Schwartz was not in the know about the affair until recently, and disapproved of it once he knew the truth.
'Schwartz specifically only found out about this very recently, and most definitely did not condone my actions,' said Sandoval.
Amid the heat of the scandal, Sandoval asked viewers of the show to keep their anger over the situation aimed at him instead of his family, friends and business associates.
'Hey, I fully understand an deserve ur anger & disappointment towards me, but please leave Schwartz, my friends and family out of this situation,' he said. 'Also, Schwartz & Sandy's might have my name on it, but also there are 3 other partners and 20 employees, who especially rely on the restaurant for income for them and their families.'
He continued: 'Just like TomTom, I'm a small part of a much bigger thing. Please direct ur anger towards me and not them. They did nothing wrong. … I will be taking a step back & taking a hiatus out of respect for my employees & partners.'
In the wake of the affair going public, neither Leviss or Madix have commented on the events, and Madix has also deleted her Instagram account.
Sandoval and Madix were seen earlier this year at a premiere party for the show in LA
The former couple was pictured with Leviss at a Thanksgiving charity event in LA
!['Hey, I fully understand and deserve ur anger & disappointment towards me, but please leave [Tom] Schwartz, my friends, and family out of this situation…' he wrote](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/03/05/04/68347629-0-image-m-27_1677989629462.jpg)
Sandoval said in an apology he released on Instagram Sunday that Schwartz was not in the know about the affair until recently, and disapproved of it once he knew the truth
In another related twist to the situation, sources told People Monday that Bravo producers have been in contact with Sandoval ex Kristen Doute, 40, (pictured in 2021) about a potential return to the program
In another related twist to the situation, sources told People Monday that Bravo producers have been in contact with Sandoval ex Kristen Doute, 40, about a potential return to the program.
'Vanderpump Rules producers have approached Kristen to come back on the show to talk about' the situating involving Sandoval, Leviss and Madix,' a source told the outlet.
The source said that Doute has 'had her fair share of ups and downs with Sandoval over the years, but right now she's completely supporting Ariana.'
Doute was fired from the series in 2020 (along with Stassi Schroeder) amid a racism controversy involving former costar Faith Stowers.
'Kristen has put the show behind her, but she's considering it,' the insider told the magazine, noting that Doute will only speak on the issue with Madix's blessing.
'It'll depend if Ariana wants her to do it and is comfortable as that's the only way she would ever go back on the show,' the source said. 'It's a conversation she and Ariana are having right now. The girls have all been spending time with Ariana.'
Source : www.dailymail.co.uk
