Ariana Madix reacts to ex Tom Sandoval getting booed at BravoCon: 'It's to be expected'
Scandoval was center stage at BravoCon 2023 in Las Vegas Friday.
The cast of "Vanderpump Rules" reunited onstage for a panel. Some were met with applause, while Tom Sandoval entered to overwhelming boos.
"It's to be expected," Ariana Madix told People of the reaction her ex-boyfriend of nine years received.
In March, a scandal involving infidelity between Madix's ex and "VPR" co-star Sandoval, and Madix's former close friend, Rachel "Raquel" Leviss, rocked the Bravo cast. Leviss did not appear at BravoCon.
Sandoval took the crowd's anger toward him in stride, telling moderator Karamo Brown, "It feels good to be here in Vegas. It's BravoCon. It’s crazy. The fans are amazing."
When asked why he still chose to attend, the TomTom restaurant co-owner said, "I’d rather stand here and face it."
Brown also asked Madix what it was like filming Season 11, which will premiere in January, alongside her ex-boyfriend after the betrayal unfolded. "It was weird, it was difficult, and I’m glad it’s behind me," Madix said. "I knew I was going to have some very strong and ultimately negative feelings, but I think if anything, the last year has shown me I can do hard things."
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Their boss, SUR owner Lisa Vanderpump, chimed in and added, "I think one of the great things in this show is so many people identify with the situations and relationships. I'm so proud of Ariana and I think the audience will be, too, for turning it around and living her best life."
Vanderpump also addressed the crowd earlier in the panel to dispel any notion that she has favorites within the cast.
"I love them all individually, dearly. They have all screwed up at some point ? maybe not to this extent," she said. "I’ve seen them grow up, and I think the magic of this show is they’ve had these intense relationships with each since way before the show started ? and also with me. So I can’t judge them on one episode of their life."
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: BravoCon 2023: Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval address cheating scandal
