Ariana Madix Opens Up About Her Breakup with Tom Sandoval: A Raw and Honest Reflection - lulu

   

Ariana Madix isn’t looking back — at least not when it comes to her relationship with Tom Sandoval.

The Vanderpump Rules alum addressed the topic in a recent interview with People magazine, insisting she no longer thinks about her highly publicized breakup, which received the portmanteau treatment. When asked if she thinks about the drama today, she noted, “I don’t.”

She went to add, “I hate that name too” about the buzzy term used to describe her and Tom’s split. “That word has never come out of my mouth. Even when someone said it to me in regards to something I was wearing, I never said it back.”

The latter comment was a reference to Ariana’s “revenge dress,” gorgeous Mônot design she wore to the Vanderpump Rules Season 10 reunion. She spoke about the look during her May 2023 appearance on TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, just several months after she and Tom called it quits.

“My revenge dress that I wore on the reunion … I had options that I was working with my friend Emily Men, who is an incredible stylist," she said. "And then when all of this happened (her breakup), it was like, ‘Nope, scrap all of those. We’re going back to the drawing board. We need something absolutely incredible.’ And she found that dress, and she’s great at what she does.” 

Tom issues statement after Ariana breakup: "I was selfish"

A split of Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval.

Ariana confirmed her breakup with Tom in March 2023, after discovering he was having an affair with one of their castmates. Tom addressed the situation several days later, admitting he “made mistakes.”

“I was selfish, and made reckless decisions that hurt somebody I love,” he wrote in an Instagram statement. “No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly. I can only imagine how devastating this has been for Ariana and everyone around us. I feel really horrible about that. My biggest regret is that I dishonored Ariana. I never meant to disappoint so many people, including our loving families and friends.”

Despite their tumultuous split, Ariana and Tom didn’t give up on love, as evidenced by their committed relationships. Ariana is now dating NYC-based fitness trainer Daniel Wai, while Tom is with model Victoria Lee Robinson. 

Have Ariana and Tom sold their Valley home?

A split of Tom Sandoval at WWHL and Ariana Madix at an OUT event

So, where do Ariana and Tom stand today? Well, according to the latter, they’re no longer on speaking terms and only communicate through Ariana’s lawyer. Tom made the claim during the March 5 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where he also shared an update on his and Ariana’s $2 million Valley home.

“We have not,” Tom said when asked if the property had sold. “It’s been a lot of work. I’ve been doing a lot of the heavy lifting, it’s the way that it’s just been. It takes a while, there’s a lot of stuff.”

Read Tom’s heartfelt tribute to Victoria and his mom, Terri Green.