Tom Sandoval has given his public response to the recent Vanderpump Rules cast shakeup.
In a lengthy and emotional Instagram post, Sandoval, 42, responded to the Tuesday, November 26, announcement that the popular Bravo reality show would return for Season 12 with a brand new cast.
The reality star wrote that he was “overwhelmed with so many emotions,” alongside a carousel of throwback photos from his 11 seasons on the show, including cast pics, behind-the-scenes snaps and photos of Sandoval’s many costumes throughout the series.
“The unbelievable series of events that brought this group together still blows my mind to this day,” wrote Sandoval in his Saturday, November 30, post, referring to how some of the main cast members met each other while working as servers at SUR.
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“From a random meeting with Jax while modeling in Miami, to responding to a Craigslist ad for another Tom looking for a roommate,” he continued. “Who would’ve thought that a stop along the way while chasing our dreams would turn into the cultural phenomenon that is Vanderpump Rules.”
He added they “were unaware as to the effect this show would have on our lives.”
“The foundation of Vanderpump Rules was built on pure honest raw emotions,” wrote the musician and restaurateur, who was the subject of the show’s arguably biggest scandal, known as Scandoval. During Season 10, viewers watched the public breakup of Sandoval and his then long-time-girlfriend Ariana Madix after it was revealed he had been having an affair with fellow cast member Rachel “Raquel” Leviss.
Sandoval further described the last 11 seasons of VPR as a “roller coaster ride.”
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After thanking those involved in the show, he took a moment to write a word to the show’s dedicated fan base.
“Most importantly, to each and every fan, THANK YOU ALL for believing [in] us and being part of this 12 year journey,” he wrote. “It’s hard to put into words what I’m feeling right now. As in life, so much has happened over the years.”
While Sandoval did not directly address the drama of Seasons 10 and 11, he did make some allusions.
“Some of my past decisions led to incredibly challenging times, from which I’ve learned valuable lessons and experienced personal growth,” he wrote. “Despite the difficulties, I’m filled with gratitude for the learning experience and forever grateful for all of the memories.”
While no new cast members have been announced for the next season, a press release from Bravo stated that Vanderpump Rules season 12 will consist of “a new group of close-knit SURvers who are as complicatedly involved with one another as their iconic predecessors.”
