May 17, 2024 • 42 mins
Rachel responds to all of the chatter about her during the first part of the Vanderpump Rules reunion.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is Rachel gos Rope. Hello everyone, welcome back to
another episode of Rachel goes Rope. This is your host
Rachel Savannah Levis, and today we are talking about the reunion,
part one, So let's get into it. I have my
producers here asking me some questions so that we can
(00:27):
get this conversation started.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
So even in the teaser that they put out, your
name was all over that. There was a whole lot
of discussion even about this podcast and about some of
the choices that you've made not going on this season,
but yet you're still being talked about at the reunion.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Hearing your name being brought up.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
How did that feel kind of expected from my name
to be brought up. It's almost like you kind of
have to laugh at it at this point, because, oh man,
they just have an issue with me commenting on my
experience when I speak. They don't want me to have
(01:09):
a voice. I think we've said it before on this podcast.
It's just a little bit hypocritical when the cast is
talking about me on this season and I talked about
my experience and name names and they have an issue
with it. So it's just the same old thing. And
(01:30):
I think after this season, I don't think that I'll
be a topic of conversation. So we're almost there.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So Lisa specifically was after she thought that you would
come back this season, and she said, and I quote,
all of her actions were so kind of unpredictable.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I didn't really know.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
But all of this nonsense on a podcast and her
denigrating everyone, it's absolutely ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
I think it's absolutely ridiculous that Lisa things I'm denigrating everyone.
I'm definitely not with anything. They're denigrating me, talking about
me every single week and just painting me in the
worst possible light, even though I'm not even there to
defend myself. But yeah, I have gone row. I'm actually
(02:17):
like figuring out what is the healthiest option for me.
So I've said it before and I'll say it again.
Going back to Vanderpump Rules would jeopardize my mental wellbeing,
and I after watching this whole season play out, I'm
happy that I didn't go back. I think it would
(02:37):
have been really bad for my mental wellbeing. And this
is the season that they got to have, and unfortunately,
like it wasn't that spectacular from my point of view. Anyway,
my opinion, no I'm not gonna let myself enter into
(02:57):
that arena again and be dog piled on and be
humiliated and harassed and bullied and talked down to the
way that I have been in the past for things
that were for smaller things, if that makes sense. And
this is like this center the nucleus of vander Pump
(03:20):
right now. But I think it's also like, if you
really wanted me to come back, then show some compassion
for the network. Support your cast members when they're asking
for help. You know, if I was supported in the
way that I felt like I deserve to be, then
maybe there would have been a world where I did
(03:42):
come back. But then I also would have had to
ensure that we would have productive conversations and not just
like you know, dog piling and gas lighting by Sheena
and all that negativity. I guess it's a tough ask,
you know. I had an ask, and I wasn't met
(04:03):
where I wanted to be met, and so I had
to walk away.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So Tom was asked if he knew anything about you
wanting to come back, and he said that he encouraged
you to take time away from everyone, including him, and
come to your decision that way. You've kind of talked
about how things went down in previous episodes. How did
it feel hearing him say that.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Oh my gosh, it's infuriating and I don't mean to smile,
But why do you can say that is so infuriating
because then, like a few seconds later, he's calling me
a coward. But if you listen to him, like he's
he's constantly contradicting himself in the way that he's putting
up this front like he's being supportive and he wants
(04:47):
the best for me and he wants me to like
take some space to figure things out for myself. Yet
if I do take some space and figure things out
for myself, not only in myself, fish, but if I
choose to not come back, then I'm also a coward.
So do you see how infuriating that can be? And
(05:10):
how do you handle that? It's like you just have
to laugh it off because this person is showing you
time and time again the type of person that they are.
And I want to believe that he has good intentions
and that he could be a supportive person, but deep
down he has ulterior motives and he really just wanted
(05:33):
me back because it would make him look better and
he would have more support.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
So on one hand, you have Tom calling you a coward.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
On the other hand, you have Laala kind of sticking
up for you and saying that you know, she didn't
know if she could do what you did last year
showing up to the reunion. She says that time heals
and had you come back, that you probably would have
had a really productive conversation. But then on the other hand,
she's like, but I still stand by everything that I
said at the reunion last year. So what is your
(06:03):
take on Whatlala was saying at the reunion and where
is your relationship with her today because she kind of
seems like the only one that's at least had your
back in small ways.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Yeah, it's very interesting to see how this has played out,
and my feelings towards Lala have changed a little bit
since we first started recording this podcast, and since the
moment that I got that voice memo from her back,
you know, months and months ago last summer. At first,
(06:34):
I really thought that she wanted me to come back
to the show and that was the only intention for
sending me that voice memo. But as I'm seeing her
really connect to the different parts of being in an abusive,
narcissistic relationship. There's like a common thread there, and I
(06:57):
think she really does get it because she's experience firsthand.
And it's validating in a way to have that representation
on vander Pump Rules when I'm not there. So hearing
her stick up for me once again and just validate
that I was very courageous to come back for the
(07:20):
reunion last year, it is validating. I think also she
walks a fine line between being supportive of me and also,
like how she said, she stands behind what she said
last year at the reunion. I think she's also aware
that everyone else in the room is anti Rachel, so
(07:41):
she's choosing her words carefully. But if you listen to
what she actually has to say, you can tell that
she's pretty supportive, which is a good feeling.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
So where would you see your relationship with her is today?
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Well, I don't have a relationship with her because I
don't text her or call her or reach out to
her at all, So we don't have a relationship, but
I don't have hard feelings against her. I do think
that maybe Lala and I could have a constructive conversation
to move forward. I'm not sure that we would hang
(08:17):
out and become friends, but I do think we have
a common ground from both reality TV and bad past relationships.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
And so she kind of was the main one taking
a lot of time talking at the reunion.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
She was interjecting on a lot of places.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
She even said something really interesting at the end of
the episode where she said that the rules of the
game regarding filming have changed this season. Do you think
everything she's saying during this reunion is genuine or do
you think she's just trying to keep a job.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
That's a great question. I think a large part of
Lala's motivation is to ensure that she does have job
secured in this entertainment industry.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
I just want to know if you find her words genuine.
She also does kind of give the energy that she's
the only person being really honest and saying what's really
in her brain.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
So it's hard to.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Tell if she is being honest to a fault or
if she is doing these things with an ulterior motive
as to like keep the show going or keep a job.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
So which side do you kind of fall on with that?
Speaker 1 (09:23):
I think that both can be true. I think that
she can be honest to fault and actually like say
what she's thinking, because she tends to do that right.
And she also wants to ensure that she has a
job longevity with being a cast member on Vandrpump Rules.
(09:44):
For Lalla, I think she's doing her best to balance
reality TV and the producer's needs while she's evolving as
a person. It's a lot of pressure, which I understand.
I think both things can be true. And I suspect
(10:05):
that she'll probably transfer over to the Valley and I
think that would do the Valley well.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
She has come out to say that she's not said
she didn't buy her house in the Valley so she could.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Be on the show.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
You Okay, that could be true too. She didn't buy
her house in the Valley to be on the show,
but that doesn't mean that she's not going to be
on the show. We'll see.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
So Lala does have a moment where one of the
big moments where she really stuck up for you was
talking about the grooming. She really clarified to Tom what
grooming was and he kind of robuts what she says
by saying that he was very impressionable when you took
off all your clothes and jumped in his pool.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Geez, oh my god.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Okay, yeah, that may be true, although I didn't take
off all of my clothes. But I'm talking about the
moments leading up to that point. There was intention behind
the way that Tom really gave me undivided attention to
(11:15):
want to know my situation and what was happening in
my reality. Things were a little bit blurry, and it
was a gradual thing that took place where I started
feeling more attracted to him. And we're talking about grooming.
(11:39):
We're talking about the events that led up to the
moment that Tom is bringing up at the reunion, you know,
me getting in the pool and us kissing. Also, if
you haven't listened to this podcast, definitely go back after
finishing our recording. Here. It's chapter thirteen and it's with
(12:01):
your bish therapist and she breaks down grooming so well.
And I'm not saying that Tom groomed me to be
like Tom's victim. I can take responsibility for my part
in that too, because I was in a place where
I was seeking validation from somebody and I felt safe
(12:23):
around Tom and I enjoyed my time with him, and
you know, like I wasn't someone who necessarily fell victim
to him, but there is a big age gap. He
also was aware of my situation and knew that I
(12:45):
was very vulnerable and come on, like Tom is a
manipulative person. Like hands down, we can all see it.
So there's a term that psychologists use for what happened
between Tom and I, and it's called grooming. And then
(13:07):
also another little note with the grooming thing that I
didn't mention with your bish therapist, but I kind of
wish that I did. I think there's also this element
that the show itself brings in to play. I think
vander Pump Rules itself groomed me to be okay with
(13:31):
this type of behavior because it's been modeled for me
time and time again with previous relationships on the show
from the very beginning. And like I'm not a fan either.
I know a lot of people think that I'm like
a huge fangirl and just that's why I was on
the show. That's not the case anyway. I don't need
to defend myself. My point is that we see Jack's
(13:56):
cheating on Stassy, we see Tom cheating on Kristen with Arianna,
we see Laala and James have a thing, and then
you know Laala telling me on camera that they had
a thing. We see Laala going down on Arianna, and
it's very messy and complicated and blurry, and it's also
(14:21):
like these things are a scepted basically as the norm.
And this is not to excuse my behavior at all,
but it definitely was a factor in all of this
my decision making. It's something that has been normalized on
(14:42):
this show.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
I mean, there's no way that you could have predicted
how big this scandal got, But you're saying that this
behavior was kind of normalized. Did you think that if
you were ever found out it was kind of going
to be treated the same way any other cheating situation
on the show had been treated. You didn't even really
think that it would have blown up.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Correct, Yes, I thought that if Tom and I got
found out or like we came clean, that it would
have been treated the way that cheating has always been
treated on this show. All of the past cheating behaviors
were not only accepted, but they were encouraged for many
seasons with each cast member and made good TV to
(15:24):
be consumed by the viewers, which kept the viewers coming
back Scandival just insanity the scale that it's imploded to,
and I don't think anyone could have predicted that.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Definitely not.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
You were saying that you take responsibility for your part
in Scandabal. You admit that Schwartz during the reunion basically
called you out and called you conniving, called you ruthless.
Last year, Schwartz was doubling down on not knowing about
the affair. This year, now he's coming at you, calling
you conniving in ruthless. Do you think it's because you
(16:01):
kind of outed his role in all the things.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
I think that Schwartz is Tom's mouthpiece. I think that
Schwartz spends so much time with Tom that he hears
Tom talk about me in a certain way, and without
a doubt, Tom has been the one saying that I
am conniving and I'm ruthless. I don't think that Schwartz
(16:26):
actually thinks that, because when Schwartz and I were all
hanging out together, it wasn't ideal, and Schwartz did have
an issue with it, and Schwartz did try to talk
some sense into Sandival, but Sandival also didn't uphold Schwartz's
boundaries with not hanging out at his apartment. So to
(16:51):
hear Schwartz say that I was conniving and ruthless.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
It's just like, come on, Schwartz, you are not a
victim in this, that you were just as conniving, if
not more so, and ruthless in your pursuit for pleasure.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Wow, uh, okay, I don't think that I'm more conniving
than Tom Sandoval. And yeah, maybe I was a little
bit ruthless with my pursuit of pleasure. Yeah, okay, I
can own that, sure, But I feel like Schwartz is
spinning it like it was all me and I was
(17:32):
the mastermind behind it all, and that Tom gets off
scott free, and that's just obviously not the case. I
(17:54):
think at the end of that victim ruthless comment, Tom
said it was fifty to fifty. I hear the way
that Tom has spoken about the situation before, and he
portrays it as you know, I was the one that
seduced him, and I'm the one that is responsible for it,
(18:17):
which is definitely not the case. And Tom was the
one that was in the relationship. He had the responsibility
to end that relationship with Arianna if he didn't want
to be in that anymore, if he wasn't happy in
that anymore. He had support to do that and still
failed to do that. I believe that Tom had the
(18:39):
responsibility to break up with her, So I don't think
that it is fifty to fifty.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
At the end of the exchange to Katy says that
you haven't taken responsibility.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
What do you guys mean that it be to take responsibility?
I really don't know. I take responsibility for my part
in the fair. I totally do. I can see how
it's messed up, and I apologize to Arianna and the
people that I hurt, because it wasn't just Ariana either.
(19:11):
It was our friends who trusted me and trusted Tom,
and that wasn't cool to be deceiving. And Arianna trusted
me to be honest with her, and I had a
responsibility to respect our friendship and I failed to do that.
I take responsibility with that. I am sorry. I'm doing
(19:35):
everything in my power not to put myself in that
position again and to really prioritize my female friendships. And
I've gone away to figure out what led me here.
I have really done a deep dive with therapists on
this whole scanbal situation. I'm doing this podcast to share
(19:57):
those things with you guys, because I feel like it
will help other people who maybe don't have access to
therapy or want to know more have that curiosity as to, like,
you know, my thought process behind it and how that
can relate to themselves. So I really feel like I
(20:18):
have done everything in my power to take responsibility and
to take accountability. I haven't denied anything, and I am
upholding my values and I'm prioritizing my mental health and
that's really all I can do.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
And so you've spoken about this before and you said
that's a lawsuit that you are bringing upon Oreana and Tom.
Is just that you know, it's something that you believe
you're doing to uphold your values and to prioritize yourself.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
This is also a part of me upholding my boundaries.
A boundary has been violated by Tom for filming me
without asking my permission first, and if he would have asked,
I would have freaking said hell no. And then not
only that, but like the boundary had been violated because
(21:11):
Tom recorded me without me knowing, but then Arianna was
the one that sent it to me, and that's a
boundary violation as well. This is an action I'm taking
to uphold my boundaries and to show other people that
this isn't okay.
Speaker 5 (21:32):
Well, I want your opinion on Sheena kind of speaking
up for Ariana, because it's kind of it's almost like
a role reversal of what happened last year where they
were asking Sheena about her lawsuit, she couldn't speak on it,
and then Tom kind of spoke and interjected and caused
a whole issue there.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Now this time, Sheen is the.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
One that's speaking up because they can't speak on it.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
What was your take on that.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
I think it's interesting because in this reunion as well,
like I'm not there to be represented in the conversation either.
I remember last year when they're asking Sheena about the
restraining order that was put in place, they only asked
Sheena about that, and they didn't ask me about it
(22:18):
when I was on stage. So watching this back, obviously
I know that you know, I'm not there to answer
any questions, but it is interesting to see that Sheena
is the one as a representative for Ariana saying it's
ridiculous of course she can't comment on it, and then
(22:40):
also Tom spinning it like, oh, well, you know, I
understand if she just wanted to press charges against me,
but doing it against Ariana is despicable or whatever. He said.
It became a big deal because first of all, you
don't take a video like that without somebody knowing, and
(23:03):
then you don't leave it on your phone for your
girlfriend to find. And then also the way it blew up,
Arianna went straight to production to tell them about it.
TMZ reported on it and this video, and there was
a target on me, like people were out to take
me down. And I knew that this video had a
(23:25):
high probability of being circulated, so that was absolutely terrifying.
And I, oh my gosh, if that video got out,
I would have still gone to the meadows because I
would have been an even worse place, But like, imagine
(23:46):
the additional trauma on top of that what I was
already going through. I think I would have been there
for like six months.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Well, he then said that you don't have a soul.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
I'm not going around on my podcast saying that these
people don't have souls. It's a new low, and I
think it's more reflective of who Tom is as a person.
And honestly, it's really hard for me to even comment
(24:18):
on it right now, because I just know that that's
not true at all, so it's hard for me to
like get into some sort of feeling about it.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
Do you also think, Rachel, that it's too tiered? So
on one hand, there's these individual people talking about individual feelings,
but at the end of the day, they're still on
a reality show. They're making sound bites and also sort
of redirecting the narrative. So when the fans are saying,
what's going on with the show and it's not great
and it's boring, well, they bring you into the picture
(24:50):
and they bad mouth you.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
How do you feel about that?
Speaker 6 (24:54):
Do you feel that part of them is actually saying
it or part of it is production value and direction
of the narrative because it brings up news.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
That's a great question that I kind of forgot to
think about, because, as we all know, Tom does prioritize
the show. This is not his first rodeo. He knows
what he's doing, he knows that production needs certain sound bites,
and it does change the trajectory of how people view me.
(25:24):
I guess in a way if I'm not there to
represent myself. So, yeah, that is interesting, A really good
point that I think we do need to take into consideration.
It's not that exciting of a show, and the cast
seems to get all rolled up about tearing me down.
(25:46):
But yeah, it seems like it's calculated what Tom is
saying about me to present me in a way that
would in turn support him being a better looking person.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
At the end of this whole conversation about you, James
apologizes to the group for introducing you to everyone that
kind of say, well, you're the one that brought her
in here, and he's like, sorry, guys, and they end
by saying, that's the apology, we all need it.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
What does that feel like to see?
Speaker 1 (26:18):
It's just like one big, huge eye roll. It's like
the blame game. It's like, well, it's your fault, Well
it's your fault. Oh, it's James's fault for even bringing
her here. I think sometimes when I watch this show,
I disassociate a little bit because it is painful to
watch and when I saw that, and also like when
(26:41):
I see James, it's like I've had to work through
a lot of emotions through that relationship. Seeing James's whole
arc this season and how he has so much support,
which is fine, it's fine, but I don't think it's
(27:02):
earned based off of the things that he has done.
And so when I see that and like the cast
all like laughing and bonding over, Oh, that was the
apology we needed, It's like it kind of makes you
go insane a little bit, because you know, I've been apologizing,
(27:24):
I've been taking accountability. This has been my you know,
my soul's journey through this experience of really trying to
overcome my social anxiety and like seeing the show as
an opportunity to do that, and then overcoming some of
(27:45):
these codependency tendencies with James and overcoming that relationship and
then following my heart and where did it lead me?
Straight to Tom Sandoval? And meanwhile, all of this is
being filmed. I'm in my twenties, and we're all supposed
to make mistakes in our twenties and learn from it,
(28:09):
and I feel like I've done exactly that. Yeah, I
think it's just hard to watch scenes like that.
Speaker 6 (28:16):
It seems to me when you talk about the experience
with James versus the experience with Tom, that you actually
get more choked up and emotional about James, and I
sense more anger towards Tom, and it's like you're over it,
You're past it. Is that accurate? How would you interpret
or explain that totally?
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Yeah, I feel a lot more anger towards the Tom situation,
and part of that is like anger towards myself for
allowing myself to be in that position with my relationship
with James. Looking back on that, I just feel a
lot of pain, a lot of what I thought to
(28:57):
be as self sacrifice because I saw the potential of
who this person could be and I also lung onto
the good moments and disassociated from the atrocious moments. Yeah,
(29:18):
there's a lot of pain and trauma with that. And
I think it also like makes sense as to why
I wasn't okay after that relationship, and it makes sense
how I ended up with Tom. With the relationship with
(29:39):
Tom too, it was like so fun and like overjoyous
and like, yeah, I didn't feel so good about it
when I was hanging out with a group with Ariana
or like I didn't feel good about it when I
wasn't with Tom, but then when I was with him,
it was like I able to fully escape and to
(30:02):
feel okay. All that to say, yeah, there's a lot
more anger towards Tom, especially the way that he's handling it,
like no accountability, it seems like, and he just wants
to put all the blame on me, which infuriates me.
And then with James, it's like, I guess some resentment
(30:22):
because I know how shitty of a partner he's been,
and I felt like I had a step into like
a motherly role with him. I think there's frustration and resentment,
especially the way that the show's portraying him this season,
and like seeing his little hero arc. It's gross to
(30:45):
me when a part of you is hanging on to
a relationship even though you're the one breaking up with
the person. It does feel painful when that person moves
on so incredibly quickly, like they only needed a few
weeks to grieve, and then they're onto the next. It
(31:05):
does something where you think, like, oh, did you not
really love me? Were you not really in this relationship?
All of those thoughts go through your head and or
for me anyway, you know, and it's painful.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
So how hard is it to watch the reunion back
this year compared to last year? Would you say it's
harder or easier not being there? But that also means
that you didn't have the chance to respond and defend
yourself this year.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
It was definitely harder last year watching the reunion than
it is this year, even though I'm not there to
defend myself. You know, that's kind of like the name
of the game at this point or at the end
of the season, and I haven't been there the entire
time to defend myself. I also know how reunions go,
(32:10):
kind of know what to expect at this point, and
I also know that my voice isn't in the collective
of vander Pump rules. You know. It is difficult in
that way, but it's also like I have this podcast
to be able to have a voice. I feel secure
in myself just knowing that I'm able to at least
(32:35):
have a voice.
Speaker 6 (32:36):
So how do you feel about what Lala said towards Katie,
Because for so long Katie's been positioning herself as a
no bs kind of girl. She says you bullied her,
and you know she's ride or die for Ariana at
the end of the day, Lala called her out for
complaining about Ariana and not being true to herself and
(32:56):
maybe playing to the cameras. How does that make you feel.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Yeah, Okay, So I had to rewatch that scene twice
because I was confused at first. I was like, what
are they arguing about? And it's kind of like one
of those nuanced things where you have to take into
consideration the show and the rules of the show and
putting on a facade or front for a means to
(33:25):
an end, which I think every single cast member has done.
So Yeah, it's interesting because I think, you know, Lala
wouldn't just make something up about Haiti complaining about Arianna,
and I think that Lala felt abandoned by Katie, especially
(33:46):
after they were so close the year prior for season ten.
I think Lala was just pointing out that, like, it's
convenient that Ariana is the it girl and she is,
you know, the fan favorite, and it's very easy to
(34:09):
kind of like flip flop into who is the fan
favorite and to be close to them for longevity of
your own fan base and the longevity of the show.
But they also own a sandwich shop together, so I
think there's like genuine connection there too. Yeah, it seems
(34:30):
like there may be a little bit of manipulation with
not being fully honest with how you feel about certain person.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Katie did just post something.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
Okay, I'll read this, Katy posted on her Instagram story.
I'm someone who has suffered from imposter syndrome for as
long as I have known myself, Hence why I was
apprehensive about opening the sandwich shop on my own. So
when Ariana was going going through not only a world
of hurt, but also getting some amazing opportunities that changed
(35:06):
a lot of things during a pivotal time, I was
extremely sensitive to what she was going through, but also
very supportive. I was also dealing with immense insecurity about
what I could take on and simply didn't want to
put that on her. I had an emotional response that
didn't feel appropriate bringing to her front door. So I
(35:29):
went where I felt safe or where I thought was safe,
until I could find the appropriate conversation was to have
with Ariana, which of course I did, and we have
had plenty sense. Okay, Okay, here we go. It's so
funny because, like this show, social media is playing another
(35:54):
aspect in reality TV these days, especially vander Pump Rules.
Because you know, Katie was able to think about it
and come up with a response, and I think her
response seems to be genuine, and it's a little shady
because she's basically saying, like, I trusted Laala to keep
(36:15):
this in the volt and to keep this between us
and Lala went against Katie's expectation of friendship to bring
it to the forefront for the show, which also supports
the argument that Lala, you know, she prioritizes the show
a lot. Interesting. Interesting, What do you guys think?
Speaker 6 (36:38):
A lot of fan feedback is that Katie just went
and got a pr rep to write a statement for her,
which is quite funny because that's what she always says
about you. But the fans are all writing that she
needed to go get help for a statement.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Oh, she did seem very uncomfortable watching the reunion, kind
of like she had these feelings but she didn't want
to target Ariana, so she did take them elsewhere. And
when you can find I feel like everyone's vented to
a friend in like a moment of weakness, and it
doesn't necessarily reflect on how you feel about that person.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
You just need to vent to someone.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Yeah, so it did feel like that, But yeah, I
think it's complicated when the person that you're venting to
feels like you're on their side. And then you're filming
a show later and act completely differently. So there's layers
I think to it.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Definitely, Yeah, definitely layers. I think it's also interesting how
I'm no Tom Tom fan, but to Tom and Tom's defense,
not once have they talked down to the girls for
the sandwich shop not opening on time and haven't made
(37:50):
it like a big deal because they personally know how
difficult it is to open up a bar or you know,
a restaurant, whereas other people haven't been so kind to
them about it. And then to Ariana's defense too, she
did say, like, I've always been supportive of that, which
(38:12):
she has been.
Speaker 6 (38:13):
So what about the actual sandwich shop itself too? They
said it was going to be open by the time
the premiere aired, and everybody's still spinning the question is
it or isn't it? What's real, what's not? Is it
a sham? Is it a storyline? And it's not open?
Now again, when they said it was going to be open,
what do you think.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
If it was a sham? I don't think that they
would be announcing that it was going to be open
because they would know that people would be disappointed and
they would get a lot of crap for it, So
I don't know. I don't think it's a sham. But
the projected opening of Something About Her is now May
(38:53):
twenty second. May twenty second is only about a week
host the reunion airing, so they're not that far off.
But I mean, don't announce that they're gonna be open
by the time it airs if you're not, because I
feel like people will just be like, all right, oh
(39:16):
quack and I order sandwich and people will be disappointed,
like I suspect they are now. I'm not reading the comments,
so I don't know.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
But yeah, to kind of wrap things up, I feel
like there was a little bit of tension between the cast,
clearly in the moment where like Lisa was talking about
the sandwich shop with Arianna and Katie, there was definitely
tension there between the girls and Lisa. Do you think
this is a sign that the cast is kind of unraveling?
What do you think about the future of this cast?
Speaker 1 (39:44):
I think tension is like the show's middle name, and
if there isn't tension, then it isn't doing well. So
I think that I don't know, like is the show
gonna come back or not? That is the question everybody's minds,
and I think it's the right move if they really
(40:05):
are pausing it, to let the cast process this traumatic
event for everybody, because it has been NonStop and there
really hasn't been any downtime to take a beat and
process it. And I think they also are like, all right,
(40:28):
what is the next season going to be, because what
are our storylines and what is the new drama because
we're not going to keep harping on this. If Rachel
isn't coming back, then there's no reason to keep talking
about it because we've kind of beat the dead horse already.
I think it's smart to let the cast live and
(40:50):
create some drama in the real world to bring back
for the next season if they are going to continue
vander Pump Rules. But I predict that Laala and Sheena
are going to transfer over to the Valley because the
Valley has been picked up for another season and it
(41:10):
just makes sense the way that they bought homes in
the Valley and they have babies and they're friends, but
the cast over there, so it seems like a pretty
seamless transition. I don't think that James and Ali will
be in the Valley. I honestly think that this would
be a great place for vander pump Rolls to end
(41:35):
because it's had a good run. I don't know, I
think yeah, and I'm hesitant to say anything because you know,
I get picked apart, but whatever, I think the fans
are starting to see how contrived the show can be
(41:55):
and that this friend group is not actually a friend group.
They are cast members who have a job first and
foremost and will do anything to secure their payday. But
regardless if this is the last season or if it's not,
(42:17):
I wish the cast all the best. I really truly
do hope that they find healing in this because it
has been traumatic and I think that the show really
does kind of emotionally stunt an individual. So I think
we all have some catching up to do on adulting
(42:40):
in life. Thank you so much for listening to Rachel
Goes Rogue. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for exclusive
video content at Rachel gos Rogue Podcast
This is Rachel gos Rope. Hello everyone, welcome back to
another episode of Rachel goes Rope. This is your host
Rachel Savannah Levis, and today we are talking about the reunion,
part one, So let's get into it. I have my
producers here asking me some questions so that we can
(00:27):
get this conversation started.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
So even in the teaser that they put out, your
name was all over that. There was a whole lot
of discussion even about this podcast and about some of
the choices that you've made not going on this season,
but yet you're still being talked about at the reunion.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Hearing your name being brought up.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
How did that feel kind of expected from my name
to be brought up. It's almost like you kind of
have to laugh at it at this point, because, oh man,
they just have an issue with me commenting on my
experience when I speak. They don't want me to have
(01:09):
a voice. I think we've said it before on this podcast.
It's just a little bit hypocritical when the cast is
talking about me on this season and I talked about
my experience and name names and they have an issue
with it. So it's just the same old thing. And
(01:30):
I think after this season, I don't think that I'll
be a topic of conversation. So we're almost there.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So Lisa specifically was after she thought that you would
come back this season, and she said, and I quote,
all of her actions were so kind of unpredictable.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I didn't really know.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
But all of this nonsense on a podcast and her
denigrating everyone, it's absolutely ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
I think it's absolutely ridiculous that Lisa things I'm denigrating everyone.
I'm definitely not with anything. They're denigrating me, talking about
me every single week and just painting me in the
worst possible light, even though I'm not even there to
defend myself. But yeah, I have gone row. I'm actually
(02:17):
like figuring out what is the healthiest option for me.
So I've said it before and I'll say it again.
Going back to Vanderpump Rules would jeopardize my mental wellbeing,
and I after watching this whole season play out, I'm
happy that I didn't go back. I think it would
(02:37):
have been really bad for my mental wellbeing. And this
is the season that they got to have, and unfortunately,
like it wasn't that spectacular from my point of view. Anyway,
my opinion, no I'm not gonna let myself enter into
(02:57):
that arena again and be dog piled on and be
humiliated and harassed and bullied and talked down to the
way that I have been in the past for things
that were for smaller things, if that makes sense. And
this is like this center the nucleus of vander Pump
(03:20):
right now. But I think it's also like, if you
really wanted me to come back, then show some compassion
for the network. Support your cast members when they're asking
for help. You know, if I was supported in the
way that I felt like I deserve to be, then
maybe there would have been a world where I did
(03:42):
come back. But then I also would have had to
ensure that we would have productive conversations and not just
like you know, dog piling and gas lighting by Sheena
and all that negativity. I guess it's a tough ask,
you know. I had an ask, and I wasn't met
(04:03):
where I wanted to be met, and so I had
to walk away.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So Tom was asked if he knew anything about you
wanting to come back, and he said that he encouraged
you to take time away from everyone, including him, and
come to your decision that way. You've kind of talked
about how things went down in previous episodes. How did
it feel hearing him say that.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Oh my gosh, it's infuriating and I don't mean to smile,
But why do you can say that is so infuriating
because then, like a few seconds later, he's calling me
a coward. But if you listen to him, like he's
he's constantly contradicting himself in the way that he's putting
up this front like he's being supportive and he wants
(04:47):
the best for me and he wants me to like
take some space to figure things out for myself. Yet
if I do take some space and figure things out
for myself, not only in myself, fish, but if I
choose to not come back, then I'm also a coward.
So do you see how infuriating that can be? And
(05:10):
how do you handle that? It's like you just have
to laugh it off because this person is showing you
time and time again the type of person that they are.
And I want to believe that he has good intentions
and that he could be a supportive person, but deep
down he has ulterior motives and he really just wanted
(05:33):
me back because it would make him look better and
he would have more support.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
So on one hand, you have Tom calling you a coward.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
On the other hand, you have Laala kind of sticking
up for you and saying that you know, she didn't
know if she could do what you did last year
showing up to the reunion. She says that time heals
and had you come back, that you probably would have
had a really productive conversation. But then on the other hand,
she's like, but I still stand by everything that I
said at the reunion last year. So what is your
(06:03):
take on Whatlala was saying at the reunion and where
is your relationship with her today because she kind of
seems like the only one that's at least had your
back in small ways.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Yeah, it's very interesting to see how this has played out,
and my feelings towards Lala have changed a little bit
since we first started recording this podcast, and since the
moment that I got that voice memo from her back,
you know, months and months ago last summer. At first,
(06:34):
I really thought that she wanted me to come back
to the show and that was the only intention for
sending me that voice memo. But as I'm seeing her
really connect to the different parts of being in an abusive,
narcissistic relationship. There's like a common thread there, and I
(06:57):
think she really does get it because she's experience firsthand.
And it's validating in a way to have that representation
on vander Pump Rules when I'm not there. So hearing
her stick up for me once again and just validate
that I was very courageous to come back for the
(07:20):
reunion last year, it is validating. I think also she
walks a fine line between being supportive of me and also,
like how she said, she stands behind what she said
last year at the reunion. I think she's also aware
that everyone else in the room is anti Rachel, so
(07:41):
she's choosing her words carefully. But if you listen to
what she actually has to say, you can tell that
she's pretty supportive, which is a good feeling.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
So where would you see your relationship with her is today?
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Well, I don't have a relationship with her because I
don't text her or call her or reach out to
her at all, So we don't have a relationship, but
I don't have hard feelings against her. I do think
that maybe Lala and I could have a constructive conversation
to move forward. I'm not sure that we would hang
(08:17):
out and become friends, but I do think we have
a common ground from both reality TV and bad past relationships.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
And so she kind of was the main one taking
a lot of time talking at the reunion.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
She was interjecting on a lot of places.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
She even said something really interesting at the end of
the episode where she said that the rules of the
game regarding filming have changed this season. Do you think
everything she's saying during this reunion is genuine or do
you think she's just trying to keep a job.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
That's a great question. I think a large part of
Lala's motivation is to ensure that she does have job
secured in this entertainment industry.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
I just want to know if you find her words genuine.
She also does kind of give the energy that she's
the only person being really honest and saying what's really
in her brain.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
So it's hard to.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Tell if she is being honest to a fault or
if she is doing these things with an ulterior motive
as to like keep the show going or keep a job.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
So which side do you kind of fall on with that?
Speaker 1 (09:23):
I think that both can be true. I think that
she can be honest to fault and actually like say
what she's thinking, because she tends to do that right.
And she also wants to ensure that she has a
job longevity with being a cast member on Vandrpump Rules.
(09:44):
For Lalla, I think she's doing her best to balance
reality TV and the producer's needs while she's evolving as
a person. It's a lot of pressure, which I understand.
I think both things can be true. And I suspect
(10:05):
that she'll probably transfer over to the Valley and I
think that would do the Valley well.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
She has come out to say that she's not said
she didn't buy her house in the Valley so she could.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Be on the show.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
You Okay, that could be true too. She didn't buy
her house in the Valley to be on the show,
but that doesn't mean that she's not going to be
on the show. We'll see.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
So Lala does have a moment where one of the
big moments where she really stuck up for you was
talking about the grooming. She really clarified to Tom what
grooming was and he kind of robuts what she says
by saying that he was very impressionable when you took
off all your clothes and jumped in his pool.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Geez, oh my god.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Okay, yeah, that may be true, although I didn't take
off all of my clothes. But I'm talking about the
moments leading up to that point. There was intention behind
the way that Tom really gave me undivided attention to
(11:15):
want to know my situation and what was happening in
my reality. Things were a little bit blurry, and it
was a gradual thing that took place where I started
feeling more attracted to him. And we're talking about grooming.
(11:39):
We're talking about the events that led up to the
moment that Tom is bringing up at the reunion, you know,
me getting in the pool and us kissing. Also, if
you haven't listened to this podcast, definitely go back after
finishing our recording. Here. It's chapter thirteen and it's with
(12:01):
your bish therapist and she breaks down grooming so well.
And I'm not saying that Tom groomed me to be
like Tom's victim. I can take responsibility for my part
in that too, because I was in a place where
I was seeking validation from somebody and I felt safe
(12:23):
around Tom and I enjoyed my time with him, and
you know, like I wasn't someone who necessarily fell victim
to him, but there is a big age gap. He
also was aware of my situation and knew that I
(12:45):
was very vulnerable and come on, like Tom is a
manipulative person. Like hands down, we can all see it.
So there's a term that psychologists use for what happened
between Tom and I, and it's called grooming. And then
(13:07):
also another little note with the grooming thing that I
didn't mention with your bish therapist, but I kind of
wish that I did. I think there's also this element
that the show itself brings in to play. I think
vander Pump Rules itself groomed me to be okay with
(13:31):
this type of behavior because it's been modeled for me
time and time again with previous relationships on the show
from the very beginning. And like I'm not a fan either.
I know a lot of people think that I'm like
a huge fangirl and just that's why I was on
the show. That's not the case anyway. I don't need
to defend myself. My point is that we see Jack's
(13:56):
cheating on Stassy, we see Tom cheating on Kristen with Arianna,
we see Laala and James have a thing, and then
you know Laala telling me on camera that they had
a thing. We see Laala going down on Arianna, and
it's very messy and complicated and blurry, and it's also
(14:21):
like these things are a scepted basically as the norm.
And this is not to excuse my behavior at all,
but it definitely was a factor in all of this
my decision making. It's something that has been normalized on
(14:42):
this show.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
I mean, there's no way that you could have predicted
how big this scandal got, But you're saying that this
behavior was kind of normalized. Did you think that if
you were ever found out it was kind of going
to be treated the same way any other cheating situation
on the show had been treated. You didn't even really
think that it would have blown up.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Correct, Yes, I thought that if Tom and I got
found out or like we came clean, that it would
have been treated the way that cheating has always been
treated on this show. All of the past cheating behaviors
were not only accepted, but they were encouraged for many
seasons with each cast member and made good TV to
(15:24):
be consumed by the viewers, which kept the viewers coming
back Scandival just insanity the scale that it's imploded to,
and I don't think anyone could have predicted that.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Definitely not.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
You were saying that you take responsibility for your part
in Scandabal. You admit that Schwartz during the reunion basically
called you out and called you conniving, called you ruthless.
Last year, Schwartz was doubling down on not knowing about
the affair. This year, now he's coming at you, calling
you conniving in ruthless. Do you think it's because you
(16:01):
kind of outed his role in all the things.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
I think that Schwartz is Tom's mouthpiece. I think that
Schwartz spends so much time with Tom that he hears
Tom talk about me in a certain way, and without
a doubt, Tom has been the one saying that I
am conniving and I'm ruthless. I don't think that Schwartz
(16:26):
actually thinks that, because when Schwartz and I were all
hanging out together, it wasn't ideal, and Schwartz did have
an issue with it, and Schwartz did try to talk
some sense into Sandival, but Sandival also didn't uphold Schwartz's
boundaries with not hanging out at his apartment. So to
(16:51):
hear Schwartz say that I was conniving and ruthless.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
It's just like, come on, Schwartz, you are not a
victim in this, that you were just as conniving, if
not more so, and ruthless in your pursuit for pleasure.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Wow, uh, okay, I don't think that I'm more conniving
than Tom Sandoval. And yeah, maybe I was a little
bit ruthless with my pursuit of pleasure. Yeah, okay, I
can own that, sure, But I feel like Schwartz is
spinning it like it was all me and I was
(17:32):
the mastermind behind it all, and that Tom gets off
scott free, and that's just obviously not the case. I
(17:54):
think at the end of that victim ruthless comment, Tom
said it was fifty to fifty. I hear the way
that Tom has spoken about the situation before, and he
portrays it as you know, I was the one that
seduced him, and I'm the one that is responsible for it,
(18:17):
which is definitely not the case. And Tom was the
one that was in the relationship. He had the responsibility
to end that relationship with Arianna if he didn't want
to be in that anymore, if he wasn't happy in
that anymore. He had support to do that and still
failed to do that. I believe that Tom had the
(18:39):
responsibility to break up with her, So I don't think
that it is fifty to fifty.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
At the end of the exchange to Katy says that
you haven't taken responsibility.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
What do you guys mean that it be to take responsibility?
I really don't know. I take responsibility for my part
in the fair. I totally do. I can see how
it's messed up, and I apologize to Arianna and the
people that I hurt, because it wasn't just Ariana either.
(19:11):
It was our friends who trusted me and trusted Tom,
and that wasn't cool to be deceiving. And Arianna trusted
me to be honest with her, and I had a
responsibility to respect our friendship and I failed to do that.
I take responsibility with that. I am sorry. I'm doing
(19:35):
everything in my power not to put myself in that
position again and to really prioritize my female friendships. And
I've gone away to figure out what led me here.
I have really done a deep dive with therapists on
this whole scanbal situation. I'm doing this podcast to share
(19:57):
those things with you guys, because I feel like it
will help other people who maybe don't have access to
therapy or want to know more have that curiosity as to, like,
you know, my thought process behind it and how that
can relate to themselves. So I really feel like I
(20:18):
have done everything in my power to take responsibility and
to take accountability. I haven't denied anything, and I am
upholding my values and I'm prioritizing my mental health and
that's really all I can do.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
And so you've spoken about this before and you said
that's a lawsuit that you are bringing upon Oreana and Tom.
Is just that you know, it's something that you believe
you're doing to uphold your values and to prioritize yourself.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
This is also a part of me upholding my boundaries.
A boundary has been violated by Tom for filming me
without asking my permission first, and if he would have asked,
I would have freaking said hell no. And then not
only that, but like the boundary had been violated because
(21:11):
Tom recorded me without me knowing, but then Arianna was
the one that sent it to me, and that's a
boundary violation as well. This is an action I'm taking
to uphold my boundaries and to show other people that
this isn't okay.
Speaker 5 (21:32):
Well, I want your opinion on Sheena kind of speaking
up for Ariana, because it's kind of it's almost like
a role reversal of what happened last year where they
were asking Sheena about her lawsuit, she couldn't speak on it,
and then Tom kind of spoke and interjected and caused
a whole issue there.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Now this time, Sheen is the.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
One that's speaking up because they can't speak on it.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
What was your take on that.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
I think it's interesting because in this reunion as well,
like I'm not there to be represented in the conversation either.
I remember last year when they're asking Sheena about the
restraining order that was put in place, they only asked
Sheena about that, and they didn't ask me about it
(22:18):
when I was on stage. So watching this back, obviously
I know that you know, I'm not there to answer
any questions, but it is interesting to see that Sheena
is the one as a representative for Ariana saying it's
ridiculous of course she can't comment on it, and then
(22:40):
also Tom spinning it like, oh, well, you know, I
understand if she just wanted to press charges against me,
but doing it against Ariana is despicable or whatever. He said.
It became a big deal because first of all, you
don't take a video like that without somebody knowing, and
(23:03):
then you don't leave it on your phone for your
girlfriend to find. And then also the way it blew up,
Arianna went straight to production to tell them about it.
TMZ reported on it and this video, and there was
a target on me, like people were out to take
me down. And I knew that this video had a
(23:25):
high probability of being circulated, so that was absolutely terrifying.
And I, oh my gosh, if that video got out,
I would have still gone to the meadows because I
would have been an even worse place, But like, imagine
(23:46):
the additional trauma on top of that what I was
already going through. I think I would have been there
for like six months.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
Well, he then said that you don't have a soul.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
I'm not going around on my podcast saying that these
people don't have souls. It's a new low, and I
think it's more reflective of who Tom is as a person.
And honestly, it's really hard for me to even comment
(24:18):
on it right now, because I just know that that's
not true at all, so it's hard for me to
like get into some sort of feeling about it.
Speaker 6 (24:29):
Do you also think, Rachel, that it's too tiered? So
on one hand, there's these individual people talking about individual feelings,
but at the end of the day, they're still on
a reality show. They're making sound bites and also sort
of redirecting the narrative. So when the fans are saying,
what's going on with the show and it's not great
and it's boring, well, they bring you into the picture
(24:50):
and they bad mouth you.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
How do you feel about that?
Speaker 6 (24:54):
Do you feel that part of them is actually saying
it or part of it is production value and direction
of the narrative because it brings up news.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
That's a great question that I kind of forgot to
think about, because, as we all know, Tom does prioritize
the show. This is not his first rodeo. He knows
what he's doing, he knows that production needs certain sound bites,
and it does change the trajectory of how people view me.
(25:24):
I guess in a way if I'm not there to
represent myself. So, yeah, that is interesting, A really good
point that I think we do need to take into consideration.
It's not that exciting of a show, and the cast
seems to get all rolled up about tearing me down.
(25:46):
But yeah, it seems like it's calculated what Tom is
saying about me to present me in a way that
would in turn support him being a better looking person.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
At the end of this whole conversation about you, James
apologizes to the group for introducing you to everyone that
kind of say, well, you're the one that brought her
in here, and he's like, sorry, guys, and they end
by saying, that's the apology, we all need it.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
What does that feel like to see?
Speaker 1 (26:18):
It's just like one big, huge eye roll. It's like
the blame game. It's like, well, it's your fault, Well
it's your fault. Oh, it's James's fault for even bringing
her here. I think sometimes when I watch this show,
I disassociate a little bit because it is painful to
watch and when I saw that, and also like when
(26:41):
I see James, it's like I've had to work through
a lot of emotions through that relationship. Seeing James's whole
arc this season and how he has so much support,
which is fine, it's fine, but I don't think it's
(27:02):
earned based off of the things that he has done.
And so when I see that and like the cast
all like laughing and bonding over, Oh, that was the
apology we needed, It's like it kind of makes you
go insane a little bit, because you know, I've been apologizing,
(27:24):
I've been taking accountability. This has been my you know,
my soul's journey through this experience of really trying to
overcome my social anxiety and like seeing the show as
an opportunity to do that, and then overcoming some of
(27:45):
these codependency tendencies with James and overcoming that relationship and
then following my heart and where did it lead me?
Straight to Tom Sandoval? And meanwhile, all of this is
being filmed. I'm in my twenties, and we're all supposed
to make mistakes in our twenties and learn from it,
(28:09):
and I feel like I've done exactly that. Yeah, I
think it's just hard to watch scenes like that.
Speaker 6 (28:16):
It seems to me when you talk about the experience
with James versus the experience with Tom, that you actually
get more choked up and emotional about James, and I
sense more anger towards Tom, and it's like you're over it,
You're past it. Is that accurate? How would you interpret
or explain that totally?
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Yeah, I feel a lot more anger towards the Tom situation,
and part of that is like anger towards myself for
allowing myself to be in that position with my relationship
with James. Looking back on that, I just feel a
lot of pain, a lot of what I thought to
(28:57):
be as self sacrifice because I saw the potential of
who this person could be and I also lung onto
the good moments and disassociated from the atrocious moments. Yeah,
(29:18):
there's a lot of pain and trauma with that. And
I think it also like makes sense as to why
I wasn't okay after that relationship, and it makes sense
how I ended up with Tom. With the relationship with
(29:39):
Tom too, it was like so fun and like overjoyous
and like, yeah, I didn't feel so good about it
when I was hanging out with a group with Ariana
or like I didn't feel good about it when I
wasn't with Tom, but then when I was with him,
it was like I able to fully escape and to
(30:02):
feel okay. All that to say, yeah, there's a lot
more anger towards Tom, especially the way that he's handling it,
like no accountability, it seems like, and he just wants
to put all the blame on me, which infuriates me.
And then with James, it's like, I guess some resentment
(30:22):
because I know how shitty of a partner he's been,
and I felt like I had a step into like
a motherly role with him. I think there's frustration and resentment,
especially the way that the show's portraying him this season,
and like seeing his little hero arc. It's gross to
(30:45):
me when a part of you is hanging on to
a relationship even though you're the one breaking up with
the person. It does feel painful when that person moves
on so incredibly quickly, like they only needed a few
weeks to grieve, and then they're onto the next. It
(31:05):
does something where you think, like, oh, did you not
really love me? Were you not really in this relationship?
All of those thoughts go through your head and or
for me anyway, you know, and it's painful.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
So how hard is it to watch the reunion back
this year compared to last year? Would you say it's
harder or easier not being there? But that also means
that you didn't have the chance to respond and defend
yourself this year.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
It was definitely harder last year watching the reunion than
it is this year, even though I'm not there to
defend myself. You know, that's kind of like the name
of the game at this point or at the end
of the season, and I haven't been there the entire
time to defend myself. I also know how reunions go,
(32:10):
kind of know what to expect at this point, and
I also know that my voice isn't in the collective
of vander Pump rules. You know. It is difficult in
that way, but it's also like I have this podcast
to be able to have a voice. I feel secure
in myself just knowing that I'm able to at least
(32:35):
have a voice.
Speaker 6 (32:36):
So how do you feel about what Lala said towards Katie,
Because for so long Katie's been positioning herself as a
no bs kind of girl. She says you bullied her,
and you know she's ride or die for Ariana at
the end of the day, Lala called her out for
complaining about Ariana and not being true to herself and
(32:56):
maybe playing to the cameras. How does that make you feel.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
Yeah, Okay, So I had to rewatch that scene twice
because I was confused at first. I was like, what
are they arguing about? And it's kind of like one
of those nuanced things where you have to take into
consideration the show and the rules of the show and
putting on a facade or front for a means to
(33:25):
an end, which I think every single cast member has done.
So Yeah, it's interesting because I think, you know, Lala
wouldn't just make something up about Haiti complaining about Arianna,
and I think that Lala felt abandoned by Katie, especially
(33:46):
after they were so close the year prior for season ten.
I think Lala was just pointing out that, like, it's
convenient that Ariana is the it girl and she is,
you know, the fan favorite, and it's very easy to
(34:09):
kind of like flip flop into who is the fan
favorite and to be close to them for longevity of
your own fan base and the longevity of the show.
But they also own a sandwich shop together, so I
think there's like genuine connection there too. Yeah, it seems
(34:30):
like there may be a little bit of manipulation with
not being fully honest with how you feel about certain person.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Katie did just post something.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
Okay, I'll read this, Katy posted on her Instagram story.
I'm someone who has suffered from imposter syndrome for as
long as I have known myself, Hence why I was
apprehensive about opening the sandwich shop on my own. So
when Ariana was going going through not only a world
of hurt, but also getting some amazing opportunities that changed
(35:06):
a lot of things during a pivotal time, I was
extremely sensitive to what she was going through, but also
very supportive. I was also dealing with immense insecurity about
what I could take on and simply didn't want to
put that on her. I had an emotional response that
didn't feel appropriate bringing to her front door. So I
(35:29):
went where I felt safe or where I thought was safe,
until I could find the appropriate conversation was to have
with Ariana, which of course I did, and we have
had plenty sense. Okay, Okay, here we go. It's so
funny because, like this show, social media is playing another
(35:54):
aspect in reality TV these days, especially vander Pump Rules.
Because you know, Katie was able to think about it
and come up with a response, and I think her
response seems to be genuine, and it's a little shady
because she's basically saying, like, I trusted Laala to keep
(36:15):
this in the volt and to keep this between us
and Lala went against Katie's expectation of friendship to bring
it to the forefront for the show, which also supports
the argument that Lala, you know, she prioritizes the show
a lot. Interesting. Interesting, What do you guys think?
Speaker 6 (36:38):
A lot of fan feedback is that Katie just went
and got a pr rep to write a statement for her,
which is quite funny because that's what she always says
about you. But the fans are all writing that she
needed to go get help for a statement.
Speaker 2 (36:49):
Oh, she did seem very uncomfortable watching the reunion, kind
of like she had these feelings but she didn't want
to target Ariana, so she did take them elsewhere. And
when you can find I feel like everyone's vented to
a friend in like a moment of weakness, and it
doesn't necessarily reflect on how you feel about that person.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
You just need to vent to someone.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Yeah, so it did feel like that, But yeah, I
think it's complicated when the person that you're venting to
feels like you're on their side. And then you're filming
a show later and act completely differently. So there's layers
I think to it.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Definitely, Yeah, definitely layers. I think it's also interesting how
I'm no Tom Tom fan, but to Tom and Tom's defense,
not once have they talked down to the girls for
the sandwich shop not opening on time and haven't made
(37:50):
it like a big deal because they personally know how
difficult it is to open up a bar or you know,
a restaurant, whereas other people haven't been so kind to
them about it. And then to Ariana's defense too, she
did say, like, I've always been supportive of that, which
(38:12):
she has been.
Speaker 6 (38:13):
So what about the actual sandwich shop itself too? They
said it was going to be open by the time
the premiere aired, and everybody's still spinning the question is
it or isn't it? What's real, what's not? Is it
a sham? Is it a storyline? And it's not open?
Now again, when they said it was going to be open,
what do you think.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
If it was a sham? I don't think that they
would be announcing that it was going to be open
because they would know that people would be disappointed and
they would get a lot of crap for it, So
I don't know. I don't think it's a sham. But
the projected opening of Something About Her is now May
(38:53):
twenty second. May twenty second is only about a week
host the reunion airing, so they're not that far off.
But I mean, don't announce that they're gonna be open
by the time it airs if you're not, because I
feel like people will just be like, all right, oh
(39:16):
quack and I order sandwich and people will be disappointed,
like I suspect they are now. I'm not reading the comments,
so I don't know.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
But yeah, to kind of wrap things up, I feel
like there was a little bit of tension between the cast,
clearly in the moment where like Lisa was talking about
the sandwich shop with Arianna and Katie, there was definitely
tension there between the girls and Lisa. Do you think
this is a sign that the cast is kind of unraveling?
What do you think about the future of this cast?
Speaker 1 (39:44):
I think tension is like the show's middle name, and
if there isn't tension, then it isn't doing well. So
I think that I don't know, like is the show
gonna come back or not? That is the question everybody's minds,
and I think it's the right move if they really
(40:05):
are pausing it, to let the cast process this traumatic
event for everybody, because it has been NonStop and there
really hasn't been any downtime to take a beat and
process it. And I think they also are like, all right,
(40:28):
what is the next season going to be, because what
are our storylines and what is the new drama because
we're not going to keep harping on this. If Rachel
isn't coming back, then there's no reason to keep talking
about it because we've kind of beat the dead horse already.
I think it's smart to let the cast live and
(40:50):
create some drama in the real world to bring back
for the next season if they are going to continue
vander Pump Rules. But I predict that Laala and Sheena
are going to transfer over to the Valley because the
Valley has been picked up for another season and it
(41:10):
just makes sense the way that they bought homes in
the Valley and they have babies and they're friends, but
the cast over there, so it seems like a pretty
seamless transition. I don't think that James and Ali will
be in the Valley. I honestly think that this would
be a great place for vander pump Rolls to end
(41:35):
because it's had a good run. I don't know, I
think yeah, and I'm hesitant to say anything because you know,
I get picked apart, but whatever, I think the fans
are starting to see how contrived the show can be
(41:55):
and that this friend group is not actually a friend group.
They are cast members who have a job first and
foremost and will do anything to secure their payday. But
regardless if this is the last season or if it's not,
(42:17):
I wish the cast all the best. I really truly
do hope that they find healing in this because it
has been traumatic and I think that the show really
does kind of emotionally stunt an individual. So I think
we all have some catching up to do on adulting
(42:40):
in life. Thank you so much for listening to Rachel
Goes Rogue. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for exclusive
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