Raquel Leviss reveals whether she’ll ever return to ‘Vanderpump Rules’
Rachel “Raquel” Leviss has made it clear that she will not be returning to “Vanderpump Rules” for Season 11. Despite efforts from Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Sandoval, and Lala Kent to convince her otherwise, Leviss firmly stated on the “Just B” podcast with Bethenny Frankel that she has no interest in going back. Leviss explained that she refuses to subject herself to emotional abuse and does not want to compromise her self-respect. She also mentioned that she would not be able to share her full story and predicted that she would not receive a redemption arc if she were to return. Additionally, Leviss claimed that Bravo did not offer her equal pay compared to Sandoval and Ariana Madix, nor did they reimburse her for her mental health treatment expenses.
However, a source close to production clarified that the cast is paid by season, not based on individual storylines. Leviss revealed to Frankel that Vanderpump, Sandoval, and Kent each reached out to her separately to persuade her to come back, but she believes they have ulterior motives and prioritize their own narratives over her well-being. TheFantasyTimes confirmed Leviss’ departure from the show, and a source explained that she chose not to return due to her focus on her mental health journey and the potential for reopening past traumas by going back to the show. Leviss, who spent three months at a mental health facility following the explosive Season 10 reunion, is now looking forward to the future.
Leviss’ involvement with Sandoval, while he was in a long-term relationship with Madix, was exposed in March. The fallout from this affair was captured on camera during the filming of Season 10 and the subsequent reunion. Insiders shared that during her time in treatment, Leviss was negotiating with the network to secure a higher payment. Frankel supported Leviss in her pursuit of fair compensation, and there has been speculation that Leviss may join Frankel in her legal battle against NBCUniversal.
In their conversation, Leviss revealed to Frankel that Sandoval recorded an intimate FaceTime call without her consent, which ultimately led to Madix discovering their affair. Leviss also expressed frustration that she has not received any financial support from Sandoval while Bravo continues to profit from the show. Vanderpump, on the other hand, claims that Leviss was paid over $350,000 for Season 10.
Rachel “Raquel” Leviss is never, ever, ever getting back together with “Vanderpump Rules.”
Despite Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Sandoval and Lala Kent’s alleged efforts to convince Leviss to return to the reality show for Season 11, she told inquiring “Just B” podcast host Bethenny Frankel, “Hell no.”
“I refuse to not respect myself on that level where I would endure that emotional abuse any longer. I can’t do that to myself,” the former beauty pageant queen, 28, explained in Friday’s episode.
Leviss predicted she “wouldn’t get a redemption arc” and “wouldn’t be able to share all of [her] story,” which contributed to her decision to walk away.
She added that Bravo “refused” to give her “equal pay with Tom [Sandoval] and Ariana [Madix]” or “reimburse [her] for her [mental health] treatment expenses.”
However, a source close to production tells TheFantasyTimes that the cast is “paid by season — not by storylines.”
As for Vanderpump, Sandoval and Kent, Leviss told Frankel, 52, all three reached out to her separately to persuade her to make a comeback but that she was skeptical of their intentions.
“They have ulterior motives,” she claimed. “They don’t care about my well-being; they care about their narrative that they need to portray on this show.”
TheFantasyTimes confirmed Leviss’ exit from the series on Thursday, with a source telling Entertainment Tonight, “There was a possibility up until recently she’d be returning for the new season but ultimately decided against it.”
The source explained that the now-former Bravolebrity — who spent three months at a mental health facility following the explosive Season 10 reunion — “is focused on her mental health journey and knew going back to the show would open her up to trauma she’s been working on healing.”
The Arizona native is “looking forward to what the future holds for her,” the source added.
Leviss’ months-long affair with Sandoval, who was in a nine-year relationship with Madix at the time, was exposed in March.
Though filming for Season 10 had already wrapped, cameras quickly picked back up to capture the fallout of the shocking dalliance.
The cast then gathered mere weeks later to shoot the three-part reunion, during which the secret lovers got brutalized by their co-stars.
While Leviss was in treatment, insiders told TheFantasyTimes that she was “playing hardball” with the network in order to “get as much money as she possibly can.”
The sentiment was shared by Frankel, who previously urged “punching bag” Leviss to “get paid” as much as possible before returning to “Pump Rules.”
Meanwhile, it’s been speculated that Leviss has joined Frankel’s recently launched legal war against NBCUniversal.
Follow TheFantasyTimes’s coverage of ‘Scandoval‘
The “Real Housewives of New York City” alum accused NBC and Bravo of making “deliberate attempts” to “manufacture mental instability” by plying their talent with “alcohol while depriving them of food and sleep, as well as denying mental health treatment for those displaying obvious and alarming signs of mental deterioration.”
She also accused the networks of “distributing and/or condoning the distribution of non-consensual pornography,” going on to mention the “distribution of revenge porn” and the “covering up” of “sexual violence.”
Leviss alleged to Frankel during their three-part sit-down that Sandoval, 41, recorded the “intimate” FaceTime call that tipped off Madix, 38, of their illicit romance “without [her] consent.” Sandoval has not responded to the claim.
Leviss also alleged that she hasn’t “seen a single penny” from Scandoval while Bravo has been “running to the bank.”
Vanderpump, however, insists the brunette beauty actually walked away with over $350,000 for Season 10.
