Scheana Shay defends Lala Kent hugging Tom Sandoval amid ‘Pump Rules’ boycott threats
They’re not as good as gold. Scheana Shay is urging fans of “Vanderpump Rules” to watch the upcoming season before making assumptions about the cast’s relationship with co-star Tom Sandoval, who is known for cheating. A fan account posted a photo on Instagram of Lala Kent hugging Sandoval during a recent beach outing with the caption “No comment.” One disappointed viewer expressed their frustration, saying, “They’re losing us 👎🏼 and they’re gaslighting us, making us crazy with their commentary about Sandoval, and now we (the fans) look crazy while Lala is sleeping with the enemy 😡.” Another agreed, stating, “I feel like loyal fans of many years have been deceived. We have given them more money, more views, and more engagement than ever before because of how upset we were about the situation. It’s okay to forgive and work together, but this looks absolutely ridiculous.” Fans have criticized the “Vanderpump Rules” cast for seemingly forgiving Sandoval too quickly.
In response to the backlash, Shay, 38, commented, “All these people saying they won’t watch the season based on the photos that have been coming out… come on!” The “Good As Gold” singer added, “Why don’t you WATCH the show and see how these photos happened! No one knows what’s really going on in this group right now except us!” She emphasized, “Nothing is fake in this group, and people are definitely facing consequences for their actions.” However, Shay also responded to fans by saying, “No one knows what’s actually happening.”
Since filming for Season 11 began this summer, several behind-the-scenes pictures have leaked online, revealing the different dynamics within the friend group. In one instance, Shay and co-star Tom Schwartz received criticism for appearing too friendly with Sandoval, 41, during a cast trip to Lake Tahoe, California, despite his previous infidelity with Raquel Leviss. However, Shay clarified that forgiveness was not the case, stating, “Who said all is forgiven?… We are all here for Lisa Vanderpump.” Sandoval and Leviss had a months-long affair behind Ariana Madix’s back.
Madix, who was in a nearly 10-year relationship with Sandoval and lived with him, accompanied the Bravo stars on a trip to celebrate the opening of their former SUR boss’ new restaurant, Wolf. Kent, 32, also supported Shay’s perspective, saying on an Instagram Story, “It’s still mind-blowing that people don’t realize we’re still filming a show.”
Madix, whom fans may have expected to be upset with her best friend for taking a photo with her cheating ex, defended Shay and described her as “an amazing friend who took a photo with a fan for their birthday.” Madix has also defended her friends for spending time with her ex.
However, Shay’s behavior does not indicate a desire to reconcile with Sandoval. Paparazzi shots captured Madix and Sandoval filming for the new season of “Pump Rules” in the same location, but they deliberately kept their distance from each other. Leviss, on the other hand, has not returned to the show due to ongoing contract negotiations with Bravo and was recently seen at a massage spa in Arizona.
They’re not good as gold.
Scheana Shay wants “Vanderpump Rules” fans to tune in to the next season before they jump to conclusions about where the cast stands with co-star and infamous cheater Tom Sandoval.
A fan account shared a photo on Instagram Friday of Lala Kent giving the TomTom co-owner a hug during a recent beach outing and captioned it, “No comment.”
One disappointed viewer wrote, “Their [sic] losing us 👎🏼 and their [sic] gaslighting us, made us crazy with their [sic] commentating of Scandavol and now we (the fans) look crazy whilst here is Lala just sleeping with the enemy 😡.”
Another agreed, “I feel like fans, who’ve been loyal for years, have been played. We gave them more money, more views, more engagement then [sic] they ever had because of how distraught the situation was.
“It’s okay to forgive/be in the same space/have to work, but this looks absolutely ridiculous.”
Shay, 38, then chimed in, “All these people saying they aren’t gonna watch the season from photos that have been coming out… like come on!”
The “Good As Gold” singer added, “How about you WATCH the damn show and see HOW all these photos happened! NO one knows what’s actually happening in this group right now other than US!”
She then insisted, “Nothing is fake in this group and people are definitely paying for their actions.”
Since the cast has started filming again for Season 11 this summer, several behind-the-scenes pics have leaked online, showcasing the different dynamics between the friend group.
In one of the earlier sightings, Shay and co-star Tom Schwartz were slammed for appearing too chummy with Sandoval, 41, during a cast trip to Lake Tahoe, Calif., — despite him cheating on fan-favorite Ariana Madix with Raquel Leviss the season prior.
However, Shay quickly cleared up any speculation that she had forgiven the Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras frontman, “Who said all is forgiven?? … “We are all here for Lisa [Vanderpump].”
The Bravo stars reportedly flew out to the scenic city together to celebrate the opening of their former SUR boss’ latest restaurant, Wolf.
Kent, 32, then also backed Shay, saying via an Instagram Story, “It, like, still blows my mind that people don’t realize we’re still filming a show.”
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Madix, 38, whom perhaps fan expected to be peeved with her BFF for posing for a pic with her cheating ex, also defended Shay and said that the “Scheananigans with Scheana Shay” podcaster was “an amazing friend who took a photo with a fan for their birthday.”
However, Shay’s behavior has not made the Something About Her sandwich shop owner want to get any closer or reconcile with Sandoval.
Madix was seen in other paparazzi shots filming for the new season of “Pump Rules” in the same location as her ex-boyfriend, but the pair strategically kept their distance from one another.
Meanwhile, Leviss, 28, has not returned to the show amid “hardball” contract negotiations with Bravo and instead was seen hanging out at a massage spa in Arizona earlier this week.
