'I was selfish': Raquel Leviss breaks silence on Tom Sandoval cheating drama, apologizes to Ariana Madix
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA: Amid the cheating scandal which has garnered a lot of attention in the media, Raquel Leviss broke apologized to Ariana Madix, 37, following her affair with Tom Sandoval, 39, and broke her silence about her relationship with 'Vanderpump Rules' co-star. In her statement on Wednesday, March 8, Leviss said, "I want to apologize for my actions and my choices, foremost to Ariana and to my friends and the fans so invested in our relationships."
"There is no excuse. I am not a victim, and I must own my actions, and I deeply regret hurting Ariana," said Leviss. The 28-year-old blamed the affair on her "addiction" to love and said, "I am reflecting on my choices, speaking to a counselor and I am learning things about myself such as my patterns of codependency and addiction to being and feeling loved," according to her statement to Entertainment Tonight.
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Leviss claimed to receive death threats
In her apology statement, Raquel Leviss went on to explain her attempt to take healthier decisions for herself. "I have sought emotional validation through intimate connections that are not healthy without regard for my own well-being, sometimes negatively affecting others and often prioritizing the intimate connection over my friendships. I am taking steps to understand my behavior and make healthier choices," she said.
The 'Vanderpump Rules' actress accused her co-stars of spreading a sexually explicit video recently and since the news of the cheating scandal broke, she has been "physically assaulted, lost friendships, received death threats and hate emails in addition to having had my privacy violated," claimed Leviss.
She further added, "I have begun counseling to end my unhealthy behavioral cycle, learn to set stronger emotional boundaries, and learn to protect my mental health," and concluded by saying, "I don’t expect sympathy, understanding, or forgiveness. Right now I must focus on my own health and well-being, and as I strive to be a better person moving forward, I will prioritize my mental health and learn from my mistakes."
'I made mistakes'
Leviss' apology came just hours after Sandoval issued a statement to apologize to his now ex-girlfriend Madix. In a post shared on Instagram on Wednesday, Sandoval wrote, "I want to apologize to Ariana. I made mistakes, I was selfish, and made reckless decisions that hurt somebody I love. No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly."
"I can only imagine how devastating this has been for Ariana and everyone around us. … My biggest regret is that I dishonored Ariana," he added. During Sandoval's relationship with Madix for nearly 10 years, he and Leviss allegedly had a months-long "full-blown" affair. The duo who were "communicating inappropriately for months", now wants to be "together", according to Page Six. On March 1, just hours after Madix cheered for Sandoval's cover band, she found out about their affair and was left "heartbroken," reported the news outlet.