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Tom Schwartzis moving forward on his own amid the fallout from#Scandoval.
On Monday’s episode ofStars on Mars, the 40-year-oldVanderpump Rulesstar revealed he is stepping back from his friendship with business partnerTom Sandovalafter his “incredibly messed up” affair withRaquel Leviss.
“It seems each time I try to weigh in or talk about, ramble on about it, drivel on, I inevitably sound like I’m somehow justifying it or making excuses for it, and I’m not,” Schwartz shared. “There’s just no excuse for it.”
“Any sort of version of his side of the story has become obsolete because of the way he handled it. Ultimately, that’s his life. That is his life,” he added. “I did not have an affair. I am not him. It’s just so strange that I’ve been absolutely mired in this. It’s taken on almost a life of its own.”
Schwartz concluded that he is now “stepping away from it permanently."
During the episode, the reality star also opened up to his costarNatasha Leggeroabout the “torrid affair” between Sandoval and Leviss, adding, “It’s horrible and I feel complicit.”
“I didn’t cover for him, but I had his back,” he explained. “He came to me, confided in me that he was in love with someone else.”
“My friend had an affair that just happened to swipe the nation and it’s incredibly messed up but the thing is I’ve become mired in it,” he added. “That’s been a huge source of just angst in my life. I’ve been in this extended funk.”
On PodcastOne’sWhen Reality Hits with Jax and Brittanylast week, the TomTom bar co-owner revealed that he was“taking a break”from Sandoval.
“He made a big mess. And then you know, he left it for us to clean up back at the businesses,” he told hostsJax TaylorandBrittany Cartwright. “And it’s hard for me not to be resentful of him.”
The television personality added that he feels Sandoval “exploited me because, you know, I do love Tom and I took to heart everything he told me” about Madix, who he said “vehemently” denied her ex’s version of their split.
Schwartz added that his friend needs to “lose the ego,” adding, “he needs a change of heart, humility and to say ‘I’m sorry’ — not ‘I’m sorry, but…” (Both Sandoval and Levississued publicapologiesto Madix on Instagram back in March whennews of the affairbroke.)
Ralph Bavaro/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Paul Archuleta/Getty; Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Last month, Madix, 37, called out Schwartz during an appearance onWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenwhen hostAndy Cohenasked if Madix thought Schwartz was “covering” for her then-boyfriend’s affair with Leviss.
“I don’t think it was covering,” Madix replied. “I think it was actively participating in my downfall.”
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Vanderpump Rulescan be streamed on Peacock.
source: people.com
