Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix were as surprised as the rest of the world when they heard the news that Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright were leaving “Vanderpump Rules.”
“I mean, it was definitely something that we found out via Instagram,” Madix told Page Six on Monday while promoting her and Sandoval’s partnership with Gardenuity. “I think along with everyone else, we were not expecting that. I think we’re still kind of processing all of that and just thinking about what the future is going to be like.”
Last week, Taylor, 41, and Cartwright, 31, announced that they were exiting the Bravo series after eight and four seasons, respectively. Sandoval, 37, and Madix, 35, have appeared on the show for eight and seven seasons, respectively.
“Yeah, it definitely changes things,” Sandoval told us. “And obviously, you know, like everyone else, we’re just gonna have to wait and see what happens. With everything closed down too, you know, everything’s still up in the air.”
While it is unknown when the show will start rolling again, a source close to production told us that “it has not been determined when ‘Vanderpump Rules’ will return, but they hope to begin production once restaurants in Los Angeles can safely reopen.”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued an emergency order last week that directed all city residents to stay home amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
But, the “Fancy AF Cocktails” authors told us that they are both ready to return to the series once production is in full swing again.
In the meantime, Sandoval and Madix are excited to connect with fans virtually via a Zoom holiday party on Thursday, Dec. 10. Tickets to attend are $10 and part of the proceeds from the Gardenuity kit (available for purchase separately) will go toward the James Beard Foundation campaign Open for Good to help restaurants and restaurant workers.