Tom Sandoval is dropping lawsuit against Ariana Madix amid Rachel Leviss legal drama
The Scandoval is seemingly dying down.
"Vanderpump Rules" star Tom Sandoval filed a cross-complaint against ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix in Los Angeles on Tuesday for invasion of privacy, negligence and unauthorized computer access, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.
But in a surprise twist, Sandoval announced Thursday that he was dropping his lawsuit against Madix. Sandoval's lawsuit was in relation to his cheating scandal with Rachel "Raquel" Leviss, who is suing both of the exes for eavesdropping, revenge porn and an invasion of privacy.
In the TomTom co-owner's lawsuit, he alleged Madix, 39, "obtained access" to his phone on March 1, 2023, and "reviewed images, information, data, videos and/or communications" including FaceTime videos between Leviss, 29, and Sandoval, 41, without "authorization or permission."
Sandoval also alleged his ex "made copies" of the material and distributed it to "Leviss and third parties."
Us Weekly was the first to report Sandoval's lawsuit.
Tom Sandoval says he's dropping lawsuit against Ariana Madix
In a lengthy statement posted to Instagram on Thursday, Sandoval revealed he is dropping his cross-complaint against Madix.
"My attorney Matt Geragos, whose advice I trusted, called me about the cross-complaint in the lawsuit against myself and Ariana," Sandoval wrote. "He assured me that the action was customary and strictly preventative in these types of lawsuits and urged me to agree to it. The words 'new lawsuit' or 'suing' were not articulated to me."
USA TODAY has reached out to Geragos for comment.
In addition to terminating the lawsuit, Sandoval said he has since removed Geragos from his legal team.
"In no way am I suing Ariana. The action against Ariana brought on my behalf is being removed," Sandoval concluded. "I hold no ill will or vindictiveness toward Ariana. Now, by removing both the cross-complaint and the attorney who recommended it, I hope to get through this case quickly, so that Ariana and I can both finally MOVE ON with our lives."
Tom Sandoval lawsuit is 'abhorrent,' Ariana Madix's attorney says
In 2023, the Bravo reality show documented Madix discovering that Sandoval was cheating on her with their co-star, Leviss, after she found a video on his phone that revealed the affair. In the show, Madix described discovering a screen recording of Sandoval and Leviss on FaceTime.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Madix's attorney Jordan Susman said, "It is abhorrent that Tom Sandoval continues to torment Ms. Madix. From engaging in an illicit affair that shattered her home and stability, to months of emotional warfare and now this attempt to further shirk personal responsibility for the effects his actions have had on her and her emotional wellbeing."
"If he or his mistress had their way, it would be illegal for someone to discover their spouse or significant other was having an affair," Susman continued.
The attorney added that Sandoval "believes it necessary to continue torturing" the "Love Island: USA" host "in a vain effort to rehabilitate his image."
'Vanderpump Rules' star Rachel Leviss sues Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix for revenge porn: Reports
Sandoval's lawsuit rides the coattails of Leviss' filing against the exes in February.
Her complaint alleged there "is more to the story" and that she was "a victim of the predatory and dishonest behavior of an older man, who recorded sexually explicit videos of her without her knowledge or consent, which were then distributed, disseminated, and discussed publicly by a scorned woman seeking vengeance, catalyzing the scandal."
Leviss previously alleged on an episode of Bethenny Frankel's "Just B" podcast last year that she didn't know she was being recorded when she was on FaceTime with Sandoval. "I decided to be adventurous and look at the adult section on the TV, and Tom and I FaceTime a lot, so it turned into more of an intimate FaceTime," she said. "I expected to have privacy in that moment."
When Madix subsequently messaged her "two screen-recorded videos and a text that said, 'You're dead to me,'" this is "how I found out that I had been recorded without my consent," Leviss said.
'Vanderpump Rules' reunion finale: Raquel reveals she slept with Tom while Ariana attended funeral
The lawsuit came a week after Sandoval spoke out about the scandal in a lengthy New York Times Magazine profile, which suggested he may be the "most hated man in America."
In the interview, he maintained he did what he did "because I was in an unhappy place in my life," and he "got caught up in my emotions and fully fell in love."
Contributing: Brendan Morrow and Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tom Sandoval drops lawsuit against Ariana Madix amid revenge porn suit
