Stassi defends Sandoval against ‘vitriol’ from fans despite ‘disgusting’ affair

A change of heart? Stassi Schroeder weighs in on the ongoing backlash aimed at the former Vanderpump Rules Co-star Tom Sandoval in the aftermath of his affair with Rachel Leviss.

The Bravo alum, 34, spoke about the lasting impact of Scandoval on Wednesday, June 14’s episode of the Podcast ‘Call Her Daddy’explaining that she is not a fan of the way Sandoval, 40, has been treated online due to her own experience in the public eye.

“I’ve been in a position before where I’ve gotten so much hate,” she said. “I don’t like where we are, like, in society where, like, that’s how we punish people. … It’s like beheading people emotionally.”

Schroeder expressed her disgust at the extreme level of negativity spread through social media. “Who decides what the punishment should be? Like, who makes someone the authority on that? she wondered. “What makes this person on their computer the authority on what they think is enough hate for them to receive? I can’t get away with that. … I do not like it.”

The New Orleans native – who was an original member of the Pump rules cast before being fired from the show in 2020 – clarified that her feelings for Sandoval and his “disgusting behavior” have not changed, but she doesn’t always believe “the online vitriol” is warranted.

Sandoval has been the object of scorn from fans since news broke in March that he was splitting Ariana Madix after learning of his affair with Leviss, 28. The former couple were together for nearly a decade before calling it quits.

As details of the scandal continued to emerge, Bravo cameras picked up to capture new footage for an emotional season 10 finale. Madix confronted her now-ex at their shared home.

“I regret every moment I stood up for you, defended you, supported you,” she said on the May 17 episode. “You’re worth nothing and I want you to feel that deep in your soul. I want you to hear those words from the mouth of the woman who f–king stood beside you and loved you and was ready to build the rest of my life around you.

Fans and cast members alike quickly rallied around Madix after Sandoval’s affair. During part 3 of the amazing reunion special — which was taped just two weeks after the duo’s breakup hit the headlines — the Something About Her co-founder opened up about what public support has meant for her.

“My friends and my family, you and strangers — people I’ve never met — it’s honestly what kept me going,” she said in tears on the June 7 episode. “I had a week and a half where I didn’t eat. I’ve lost about eight pounds. I couldn’t do anything. I had someone with me every night because I felt like I had to babysit, honestly.

After watching the dramatic ending to Season 10, Schroeder confessed that she felt her “talents were wasted” by no longer being part of the cast. “This was when I really, really could have given it [Sandoval] and was like, ‘I always knew!’” she teased on the podcast.

The Get rid of my head author did not often come face to face with Sandoval throughout their time Pump rules. “I felt like he was always so loved, and I would even say to my producers, ‘When will he get the edit that I think the rest of us see?'” she said. “Why does he keep getting away with just being this guy who just wants to give people stuff and ‘help people, man’. That’s not what I see.”

Schroeder explained that she always had her suspicions about TomTom’s co-owner. “I see someone who is constantly blaming others for things and bringing up things from the past and just constantly deviating,” she continued. “If the rest of us look bad, then he looks good. And I’ve always had that feeling.”

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When it comes to the aftermath of Scandoval, the Next level base author pointed out how “dark” it is that the show’s ratings have consistently improved as Madix and Sandoval’s relationship has crumbled. “The success of the show is directly related to how badly the cast hurt each other, and that feels weird,” she said. “It’s dark. … It’s damn dark.