Is the World Ready to Forgive Tom Sandoval? 'I Want to Move On,' He Says

It’s the sentence you never thought you’d read — Tom Sandoval just appeared on a reality show and remained Faithful throughout. The show was The Traitors, filmed over a few weeks in a Scottish castle, rather than the decade of his life documented on Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules, but redemption arc-wise, it still counts. And even the people whose fury led to Sandoval being dubbed ‘The Most Hated Man in America’ by The New York Times last year had to grudgingly admit it must take guts to continue signing up for TV gigs. The kicker? Many of them actually enjoyed seeing Sandoval back on their screens.

Vanderpump Rules viewers were stunned in March 2023 — almost exactly two years ago — when fan favorite Ariana Madix discovered that Sandoval, her boyfriend of nine years, had been cheating on her for months with friend and castmate Rachel “Raquel” Leviss. The fallout of this betrayal was so intense it became widely known as Scandoval and reached places and people that events from the Bravoverse usually do not get to… as far as the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Everyone had an opinion on Scandoval and none of it was good for the man at the center of it. As support for Madix, 39, soared and exciting job offers poured in, her ex found himself shunned by friends, a hate target online and in a darker emotional place than he’d ever imagined he could get to. Schwartz and Sandy’s, the bar he opened with friend and costar Tom Schwartz in November 2022, was bombarded with negative reviews and eventually shuttered. Things with Leviss didn’t end well either, with the former pageant queen, 30, eventually accusing Sandoval, 42, of manipulation and love bombing.

It would have been understandable if the whole experience had so wounded Sandoval that he disappeared from public life. Instead, he signed on to the Fox bootcamp competition series Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, which aired in the fall of 2023. And now, two years on, his stint on Peacock’s Emmy-winning The Traitors is largely seen as a success. He charmed audiences, who praised him for embracing the spirit of the game and bringing humor to the show, even if sometimes unintentionally.

“I quite like Tom Sandoval,” wrote one viewer on Reddit. “I know he has a lot of hate…but I appreciate him at face value and think he brings a lot of comedy to the show.” Others praised him as “entertaining,” “hilarious” and “the best part” of the series. Reality TV blogs theorized that he was winning fans back; Collider published an article titled, “I Really Hate to Say This, But Tom Sandoval Is the Star of Traitors Season 3.” His costar Dylan Efron told Cosmopolitan, “[Tom’s] such a unique person. Very, very low self-awareness, very high confidence. But I love that he’s authentically himself. In a world where everyone’s afraid to be themselves, he is Tom Sandoval.”

The truth is, Sandoval has apologized, taken accountability and made an effort to change. When asked if he’s still sorry, he tells Us Weekly, “Of course I’m sorry. Very much so.” He’s put in the work to better himself (therapy, guided meditation), is in a committed relationship with model Victoria Lee Robinson, 32, and feels as though he’s repented enough. “Whether people agree with me or not, that’s on them. But it has been an extremely rough backlash, and I understand [where they are coming from],” Sandoval says, admitting that there are still days when internet trolls can get under his skin. “Obviously, I want people to move on. Ariana has moved on, I’ve moved on, we’re all moving on.” So, is the world finally ready to forgive him?

Why sign on for The Traitors?

It looked like so much fun. There’s physical [and] mental challenge, building relationships and trust with people. I was so excited to play the game.

Were you worried about how other contestants would react to you?

I assumed people would know who I am and about me. Yes, I was worried.

How did you expect the public to react?

I knew I’d get a lot of mixed reactions. [But] when I was filming it, I knew I worked really hard and contributed, so I’d be considered a strong player, at least when it comes to the challenges.

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Traitors is a game built on lying and deception. Did it make you reflect on your past?

A little bit. I was adamant that I did not want to be a Traitor. If [host] Alan [Cumming] would’ve picked me to be a Traitor, I would have left.

We need to talk about the viral moment when you said women are better cheaters instead of Traitors…

I was sleep-deprived, fighting sickness, and I didn’t even realize I said that. It just came out, and I never wanted to hide and run away so bad in my life.

Some of your castmates were tough on you. Do you feel like they were being unfriendly to appease the public?

Definitely. Initially, I wasn’t as liked as [much as] I was in the later episodes, so there were people leaning into that. I felt like Chrishell [Stause] took an opportunity to ride those coattails of the scandal, to get those big Ariana fans and ‘I hate Tom Sandoval’ fans behind her. She goes, “You’re coming after me because I’m friends with Ariana.” I’m like, “Girl, you took a picture with her six years ago on the red carpet, you follow her on Instagram.’” [Laughs] She was also not the only person at the castle that followed Ariana.

Do you feel like reality stars are judged more harshly than others when it comes to controversy?

Of course. Your real life is getting played out on TV, and because people are let into that part of your life, they feel like they deserve to know everything at all times. It’s much different than musicians or actors, where they lead a much more private life.

How does it feel now that the public has seen a different side of you?

It really feels great. I knew that, like, what do I want to say? [Laughs] [I knew] being in a more positive, fun, gaming environment would get people to see me in a different light because it’s less about starting up drama and more just about playing the game and the funny antics that come with that and the campiness of it all. Vanderpump Rules is a much different environment and it obviously evolved as we went on from season to season and our lives changed. It was, at times, a very toxic environment.

Do you think Traitors helped put Scandoval behind you?

That’s really what I want. It’s been two years; I want to move on from that and continue with my life.

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Is it a relief that now there may only be about two people who still consider you ‘The Most Hated Man in America’?

[Laughs] Two people. What do you mean, two people? [Laughs]

Well, are you happy that the public is moving away from that sentiment?

Yeah, of course. I want to leave that stuff in the past. I’m sure there’s still people out there who hold on to that — I know there are — but the hate has died down for sure. Whether they’re laughing with me [or] laughing at me, at least they’re laughing, and that’s what I love.

What do you think Ariana makes of you winning back favor with the public?

I haven’t really thought about it. But I’m sure, because you know, she’s moved on, [that] she doesn’t really have [many] thoughts about it.

You two still own a home together. What’s the status of selling that?

It’s been a process. It’s definitely in the works, and I’m looking forward to moving on and closing — like, really fully closing — that chapter. It’s closed in my life, but this is the only thing that’s sort of [still] there.

Do you think you’ll always be tied to Scandoval?

I can’t predict the future, but I want to move on. I feel like Traitors has really helped people see me in a different light. It’s been amazing, and I’m excited for people to see all the things that I’m gonna do in the future and for all of us collectively to move on.

Have you learned to ignore any online trolling, or does it get under your skin?

It depends on the day. My girlfriend, Victoria, gets a lot of stuff that’s unfair to her, which I feel really bad about. The only thing she’s guilty of is loving me. I wish people would leave her alone. Save it for me!

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How’s it going with Victoria?

I’ve been extremely happy in [our] relationship. We work very well, we have similar goals, and it feels like we could really grow together. I feel so fortunate and lucky to have her in my life. She’s been my rock and stuck by me.

How do you make sure she feels secure in your relationship?

I definitely understand, [given] my past, that I have to work hard, and I do. I’m not the same person that I used to be. I don’t do the same things I used to do. It’s important for her to feel secure and loved. I’ve also calmed down when it comes to going out. I don’t want to put myself in situations that, you know, don’t look appropriate. It’s tough too because people try to pull s—, [so] I just avoid those situations altogether.

What else are you doing differently?

I’ve been in therapy and developing much better habits. I still do a lot of guided meditation and I’m taking a different direction in my life. We stay at home a lot more, which I’m loving. I’m so much healthier. We work out together, go on hikes. My day-to-day is so much different than it used to be.

Vanderpump Rules is getting an overhaul with a new cast. Could we see you with some of your previous costars on The Valley spinoff?

Who knows? I feel like the answer will present itself at the time, and then I’ll make the best decision that fits me and where I’m at in my life. Or where Victoria and I are in our lives because going on a show like that would inevitably involve her as well. I’ve really enjoyed not having to put my entire life out there at all times and answer questions about everything that I’ve done. Like, oh, you gotta talk about last night and this day, and what you ate for breakfast and what you’re having for lunch. It feels nice to have that privacy, and we both have really enjoyed that.

Would you say you’re fully in your redemption era now?

I think that’s more of a public perception, but I’m enjoying my new chapter in life and what comes into the future.

If you could go back in time, would you have done anything differently?

Of course. [Laughs] Everything.

For more on Sandoval, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.