Pump Rules’ Ariana Madix says fans will turn on her during season 11

Vanderpump Rules‘ Ariana Madix received an outpouring of support when her ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval had an affair with their costar Raquel Leviss – but she knows public opinion can change at any time.

In response to an Instagram user’s recent prediction that Pump rules viewers will “hate Ariana” and “develop a soft spot for Tom” during season 11, Ariana, 38, wrote back“I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if the audience swings that way.”

Fans got their first glimpse at how Ariana and Sandoval’s dynamic has changed during a teaser for season 11 that dropped earlier this month. (The highly anticipated new installment will premiere in January 2024.)

“Ruin ​​my life, my house and then try to kill my damn dog. My lawyer is going to have to deal with you,” Ariana shouted at Sandoval, 41, in the trailer.

After the clip premiered at BravoCon, Ariana spoke exclusively We weekly that the accusation that Sandoval tried to kill her dog was based on him continuing his “reckless, careless conduct.”

Elsewhere in the clip, the exes – who called it quits in March after nine years of dating in the wake of the scandal – tried to enjoy a beach outing with their costars. James Kennedy literally drew a line in the sand and told the group, “That’s Ariana’s side, Sandoval’s side here. Don’t cross the line.”

Although the Pump rules cast reunites to film the new episodes, not everyone in the group is friends with Sandoval. Lala Kent explained where she stands on the restaurateur after defending him from a jeering crowd at the restaurateur’s Vanderpump Rules BravoCon panel earlier this month.

Related: Everything Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss have said about their affair

Want to start the conversation? After Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss’ affair came to light, their Vanderpump Rules costars have spoken at length about the drama. Us Weekly confirmed in March 2023 that Sandoval and Ariana Madix called it quits after nine years together due to his infidelity. Immediately after the news broke, current Madix members and former castmates were in attendance […]

“I know Ariana knows me and sometimes I have to remind her, ‘Even though I say these things, it doesn’t mean I’m going to invite her [Sandoval] to Christmas dinner,” Lala, 33, explained during the Monday, November 13, episode of her Amazon Live show.

She continued, “It doesn’t mean I’m checking on him. Like you’re my friend. I will always be honest with you and I will always support you.’”

Lala added that fans will have to tune in to see how the cast dealt with the fallout from the affair. “This season is going to look very different. And I think everyone is very raw and confused,” she said.

While Sandoval will face music during season 11, Raquel, 29, decided not to return to the Bravo reality series. She opened up about her choice during a performance in August Bethenny Frankel‘ReWives’ podcast.

“I know other people in the cast are more important than me. So I don’t even think I would get a redemption arc, to be honest,” Raquel said. “I also know that I couldn’t share my whole story. Whatever I share is condensed to a maximum of five minutes.”

Raquel also said she was “asking for equal pay as Tom and Ariana” and reimbursement for her time in a mental health treatment facility following the scandal. “They refused to pay me the same amount,” she claimed. Frankel, 53, said Raquel made less money than her interns.

Lisa Vanderpump then shot down the claims, telling TMZ that Raquel made $361,000 on season 10 of Pump rules.

“When [Raquel] was at the facility, her team texted and emailed us. We wanted to make sure she was in a good place first and I went and did a one-on-one with her,” Lisa, 63, told the outlet in August. “She was talking about it [returning]. Her team reached out. But in the end I think she decided not to do that.”