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BREAKING RULES
VANDERPUMP Rules star Tom Sandoval has blindsided producers after he went around the show to discuss his affair on Howie Mandel's podcast, a souce told The U.S. Sun.
For the first time since his affair went public, Tom, 39, answered questions about the scandal on the podcast Howie Mandel Does Stuff.
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The interview was conducted by Howie, 67, and his daughter Jackelyn Shultz, 39, who admitted she is a huge fan of Vanderpump Rules.
After the interview went public earlier today, The U.S. Sun exclusively spoke to an insider about the impact Tom's interview had on show producers.
Production had no idea Tom would be speaking out about the affair, and it's caused several issues for the show, according to the insider.
“They [Vanderpump Rules producers] had no clue he was doing this, of course not. They never would have allowed it," said the insider.
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"They’re putting so much time and energy into making sure the rest of the season is better than any other season and hyping up the reunion.
"So, him pulling this b***h move is basically producers’ worst-case scenario.”
The producers found out about the interview when Howie announced it earlier in the week, "and they’ve been freaking out and basically scrambling since," said the source.
"They have no idea what he is going to reveal so they’re watching it in shock along with the fans."
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The source claims the producers are "so f**king p**sed" because everyone on the show has become "family" since filming started, "and him doing this is a big ‘f**k you’ to all of them.”
At this time, it's unclear what kind of repercussions Tom will face for taking this interview, but the insider claims: "No one on the cast would be shocked or upset if he was fired."
Tom's first interview after the scandal went viral was supposed to be with Bravo hero Andy Cohen at the VPR reunion.
A fan tweeted at Andy, "We need Howie Mandel on WWHL after that horrific interview to explain himself."
To which Andy savagely replied: "Or not."
A rep for Tom told The U.S. Sun: "Producers and the network were not in any way blindsided and fully aware of Tom doing the podcast."
A Bravo spokesperson said: "Sandoval did give the network a heads up that he was going on Howie's podcast."
THE INTERVIEW
Tom's interview with Howie and his daughter started with a lot of small talk and discussion about his band, Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras.
Then, Howie decided he had enough of the pleasantries and said: "So, I'm gonna be totally honest. I don't follow it. What's been going on?"
The former game show host then asked Tom if he's seen Tom Schwartz's interview from Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live.
Tom admitted that he didn't watch it, but he did hear what was said by the other Tom which he claims "had a lot of accuracies."
"I'm finally getting time to start reflecting on the situation because I never thought I would get myself in a situation like this. Never dreamed it, ever," said Tom.
He goes on to say that his relationship with now ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix, 37, felt more like being "best friends" or "roommates" instead of a couple.
"The relationship was just lacking the intimacy, the connection," he said.
He continued: "We wanted to make sure and keep the optics up that we were a solid powerful couple because it was part of our brand."
DON'T BLAME RAQUEL
The U.S. Sun had an exclusive interview with Tiger Woods' ex-mistress Rachel Uchitel after she slammed VPR fans for "vilifying" Raquel Leviss, 28, after the affair.
Rachel spoke to The U.S. Sun about her new podcast Miss Understood, with Thursday's guest, country music legend Jana Kramer, and how they tackled "Scandoval."
Rachel gave her take on the cheating scandal in light of her own alleged affair with Tiger Woods, which catapulted her into the spotlight 14 years ago.
She told The U.S. Sun: "I don’t sympathize with Raquel, but I get what she is feeling.
"I know what it feels like to have the whole world discussing you as a villain and people being triggered by her actions. I am not dismissing what she did by any means. And our situations are different.
"But I am shocked after how far we have come in 14 years that people are still taking their issues out on the woman."
"That people feel so entitled to be angry. Letting women get beat up, get shunned," the mother of one added.
She also said she believes that, despite the public backlash, there is a silver lining to Raquel's situation.
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"They live in a reality TV show world and shouldn’t have done this unless they didn’t expect to be caught, but let’s be realistic, their ratings are up.
"Their paychecks are going to be up and they are more in demand than they ever were. This is a silver lining."
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