Ariana Madix Opens Up About Receiving the Villain Edit on ‘Vanderpump Rules
Ariana Madix Opens Up About Receiving the Villain Edit on ‘Vanderpump Rules’
Fans of Vanderpump Rules may be in for a surprise if they ask Ariana Madix about her experience watching the latest season.
“You only know what you film so obviously things that are being said amongst other people when I’m not there — I don’t know what they’re talking about,” Ariana, 38, shared on Sunday, April 21, while supporting her Single AF Cocktails book at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. “I felt like I was filming a season that felt very different than what I’m watching just in terms of the relationships. ‘We’re the Spice Girls’ and then it’s like, no.”
In the latest developments on the Vanderpump Rules scene, tensions continue to rise as Ariana finds herself grappling with the fallout of her partner Tom Sandoval’s affair with her close friend and co-star, Raquel “Rachel” Leviss. Despite the upheaval in her personal life, Ariana has decided to continue her involvement in the show’s upcoming season.
However, Ariana hopes for unwavering support from her circle of friends, including Lala Kent and Scheana Shay, are met with disappointment as they appear to be making efforts to mend their relationships with Sandoval.
“I think something that is important and part of any reality show is they always want to have conversation,” Ariana said while speaking on the University of Southern California campus in a two-piece Showpo outfit and Quay sunglasses. “They don’t want the audience to be on one side or the other so they will always try to even the playing field. They’ve always done that. They always will. I knew going into that they were going to do everything they could to even the playing field.”
As the season unfolds, the focus seems to be shifting towards Sandoval’s role in the ongoing drama. Ariana hinted at his reluctance to engage in a redemption arc, indicating a possible source of tension as events progress.
When questioned about the possibility of being portrayed as the villain on the show, Ariana humorously acknowledged the audience’s concerns, suggesting that such expectations were not unfounded.
In recent episodes, viewers witnessed Ariana’s castmates opting to film alongside Sandoval, while Ariana herself has drawn a clear line, choosing to maintain distance and only engage with her ex when absolutely necessary.
Ariana’s lack of sympathy towards Sandoval’s reported suicidal thoughts post-affair raised eyebrows among viewers. Reflecting on the situation, she remarked, “those thoughts and those feelings are based on a situation that he created in which he didn’t give a f— about anybody else’s mental health.”
Considering the events that transpired, Ariana pondered whether the season’s trajectory would have been different had producers taken a longer hiatus following Scandoval’s revelation.
“I understand why they did that,” she said after cameras picked up two months after the explosive season 10 reunion. “When it comes to trauma response — fight, flight or freeze — I’m a freezer so you literally see me frozen in my room with everything I own, putting things in boxes, trying to clean out my closet but I’m literally frozen. For me personally, just as an individual, I think for me, it would have been better for me [to wait to film].”
As new episodes unfold, the former Dancing With the Stars contestant finds herself contemplating her future. Following a triumphant stint on Broadway portraying Roxie Hart in Chicago, Ariana expressed her desire to make a comeback to the stage.
The future Love Island USA host assured attendees at the Festival of Books that her West Hollywood sandwich shop, Something About Her, will soon welcome customers. As for Ariana’s potential return for another season of Vanderpump Rules, fans will have to stay tuned.
“I think ultimately it would have to make sense for me,” she stated. “Our show has always thrived when it’s at its most authentic and real, and I have to be able to show up and be genuine for it to make sense for me. So that’s the question I’d be asking myself going into it.”
Vanderpump Rules airs on Bravo, Tuesdays, at 8 p.m. ET.
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Nancy Zhāng is an Entertainment Blogger for All About The Tea. Nancy covers hot topics, recaps and celeb news. She loves to multi-task as a writer and a private chef. She received a B.S. in Mass Communications from LSU. Nancy’s married and the proud mom of 2 German Shepherds.