Tom Sandoval is ‘crushed’ by ex Rachel Leviss’ revenge porn lawsuit and thought that they would spend ‘forever’ together – as insiders claim he will likely pay her off to avoid a ‘huge mess’ in court after causing ‘irreversible trauma’

Tom Sandoval has been ‘crushed’ by Rachel Leviss’ ‘absolutely shocking’ revenge porn lawsuit, according to insiders, who claim he believed his former Vanderpump Rules costar was ‘the one he would spend forever with.’

Leviss, 29, last week filed to sue both Sandoval and his ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix for revenge porn, eavesdropping, invasion of privacy and inflicting emotional distress following last year’s ‘Scandoval’ drama – which saw the reality star exposed for cheating on Madix with Leviss.

In the lawsuit, Leviss – formerly known as Racquel – accuses Sandoval of ‘secretly recording their private communications and… capturing sexually explicit footage… without her knowledge or consent.’ She also claims Madix ‘distributed, disseminated, shared, and publicized the illicit videos intentionally’ after finding them on Sandoval’s phone.

Insiders claim the aspiring musician, 40, was unaware of the toll his actions had taken on Leviss and that he hopes to settle outside of court in a bid to avoid a ‘huge mess.’  

Vanderpump Rules star Tom Sandoval has reportedly been left ‘crushed’ by Rachel Leviss’ revenge porn lawsuit

Leviss is suing Sandoval and Ariana Madix for revenge porn, eavesdropping, invasion of privacy and inflicting emotional distress following last year’s ‘Scandoval’ drama

‘Tom is so crushed right now by this lawsuit,’ a network insider exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com. 

‘None of them ever realized that this would take the toll on Rachel that it did.’

The insider insisted that Sandoval only ever had genuine intentions towards Leviss during their six-month fling, which played out on season 10 last year.

‘Tom honestly thought that he and Rachel would ride off into the sunset together,’ they said. ‘He was obsessed with her. 

‘He loved her so much and was so sure that she was the one he would spend forever with. For her to turn around and sue him is so absolutely shocking.’

They continued: ‘She is demanding a jury trial. This would suck everyone into court and create a huge mess, so she will likely be paid off privately so that it does not get there.

‘At the time, they all let their human emotions get the best of them and were not thinking about the ramification to their careers. 

‘Things were said on air to Rachel that would never be okay, such as Katie [Maloney] saying she wanted to light her on fire. Scheana [Shay] attacking Rachel and causing bodily harm is documented.’

Sandoval was not aware of the toll his actions took on Rachel (pictured), according to a source  

Leviss – formerly known as Racquel – is claiming Sandoval recorded conversations and sexually explicit videos of her without her consent 

The insider continued: ‘She was painted as the villain and yes, Rachel was in negotiations to return for season 11 and could have returned if she wanted to. She chose to not do so to protect her mental health.

‘Instead, she sued the two people that she believed, through documented and sometimes filmed evidence, are responsible for inflicting irreversible trauma on her.’

The source claimed that the ‘network and show treated her with respect’ and that she ‘had a good relationship with production.’ 

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Sandoval, Madix, and Leviss for comment. 

Bravo, NBCUniversal, Andy Cohen, and producers who work on Vanderpump Rules are not named in the lawsuit, but are mentioned frequently.

The lawsuit, which spans 19-pages, was filed by Leviss on February 29 at the Los Angeles Superior Court. 

‘Plaintiff Rachel Leviss is a former cast member on Vanderpump Rules, a reality television show produced by Evolution Media (“Evolution”) and broadcast by Bravo Media (“Bravo”), an asset of NBCUniversal (“NBC”) (together with Bravo, “Bravo”). This case arises from a scandal of epic proportions starting in March 2023,’ it reads. 

‘Stemming from an affair between Leviss and another cast member, Tom Sandoval, “Scandoval”—as it came to be known—went instantly viral and was the subject of extraordinary press coverage, even in the mainstream media. “Scandoval” injected new life into a previously faltering series, causing its viewership to explode to unseen levels and making its cast members mega-celebrities. Due to a narrative deliberately fomented by Bravo, Evolution, and the cast, Leviss became an object of public scorn and ridicule.’

It states that Leviss ‘repeatedly acknowledged that her actions were morally objectionable and deeply hurtful to Madix,’ before adding that Leviss is ‘a victim of the predatory and dishonest behavior of an older man, who recorded sexually explicit videos of her without her knowledge or consent, which were then distributed, disseminated, and discussed publicly by a scorned woman seeking vengeance, catalyzing the scandal.’ 

The documents claim Leviss checked herself into a mental health facility for three months while Bravo, Evolution, and the cast ‘milked the interest her excoriation had peaked.’

Sandoval may have the pay a hefty price for his actions as a source claimed to DailyMail.com: ‘[Leviss] will likely be paid off privately’

The fallout  of the affair was captured on camera and both Leviss and Sandoval were heavily shamed by viewers and their costars 

The lawsuit also claims she was ‘misled by Bravo and Evolution into believing that she was contractually barred from speaking out about her mistreatment’ which ultimately meant she ‘suffered in silence’ as viewership exploded, and the ‘rest of the cast enjoyed unseen levels of public recognition and professional opportunity.’ 

It claims a ‘humiliated and villainized’ Leviss remains ‘a shell of her former self’ and that her career has suffered. 

Leviss’ affair with Sandoval marked the end of his nine-year relationship with Madix. He and Leviss were heavily shamed by their costars and viewers.

Madix reportedly came across the sexually explicit videos of Leviss when Sandoval’s phone was handed to her after it fell from his pocket while performing with his band.

The suit reads: ‘Leviss is informed and believes, and on such information and belief alleges, that the explicit videos were recorded by Sandoval without her knowledge or consent in or around February 2023.

‘The two videos Leviss has seen depict her in a state of undress and masturbating. However, given Sandoval’s apparent practice of secretly recording their video calls, Leviss has every reason to assume there are additional illicit videos and/or photographs of her that she has not yet seen.’

Leviss claims in the lawsuit that Madix ‘obtained at least two illicit videos of Leviss and distributed them and/or showed them to others without Leviss’ knowledge or consent.’

Leviss, pictured in 2022, is seeking compensatory, special, general and consequential damages in her lawsuit

The suit adds that Madix sent the two sexually explicit videos to Leviss when she confronted her over the affair via text message. Leviss received the two videos along with the text: ‘You are DEAD TO ME.’ 

The lawsuit also goes into depth about the alleged physical altercation between Leviss and Scheana Shay, who the suit claims ‘violently assaulted’ Leviss after learning about the affair. Leviss ultimately filed a restraining order against Shay over the incident but it was dismissed. 

The alleged assault occurred on the night of March 1, 2023 when Leviss received the text message with videos from Madix. Leviss was in New York to film Watch What Happens Live with her castmate Shay and was left in ‘shock’ on receiving the footage from ‘someone who hated her guts and was out for blood.’

She alleges in reaction to the news, Shay ‘violently assaulted’ her, ‘shoving her aggressively into a brick wall, punching her face, and throwing her phone into the street.’ 

The blow to Leviss’ face caused a rupture above her left eyebrow and severe swelling and bruising. Leviss was told by a treating physician that her busted brow would ‘permanently scar.’

The lawsuit also recalls the moment news of the affair broke on March 3. The following day tabloids were reporting on the pornographic videos of Leviss, citing unnamed sources. 

Leviss allegedly confronted Sandoval on camera over the videos and he ‘offered a reluctant admission and a sheepish apology.’

‘Sandoval was clearly rattled,’ the suit continues. ‘After filming ended, an erratic and unsettled Sandoval refused to leave Leviss’ apartment in spite of her requests. Leviss was forced to have her sister and brother-in-law pick her up and drive her to their home. That day, Leviss retained an attorney to mitigate the risk of the illicit videos leaking.’

Leviss’ affair with Sandoval sparked the end of his nine-year relationship with Madix last year; Tom and Ariana seen in 2023

The suit makes the claim that their affair was ‘well-known to many cast members and suspected by others’

The suit says Sandoval was reportedly concerned over his portrayal in the scene, and fearful of how ‘being accused of recording nonconsensual pornography would «paint him in a negative light.»‘

The suit alleges that Sandoval ‘reportedly threatened to cease all further filming for the show unless he was granted editing rights over the scene. Shockingly, Bravo and Evolution obliged his demand.

‘The scene was selectively edited to omit any mention of Sandoval’s illicit recording or Leviss’ lack of consent. This was part of a pattern and practice of Bravo and Evolution throwing Leviss under the bus in favor of Sandoval.’

The suit also blasts Bravo for its handling of the scandal, claiming the network ‘deliberately sacrificed Leviss for the sake of its commercial interests from its refusal to allow her the opportunity to tell her side of the story and defend herself, which she repeatedly begged for permission to do.’ 

Leviss is seeking a trial by jury and has requested that the court order the destruction of all copies of the illegally obtained recordings of her and for the defendants to stop distributing them. 

She is also seeking compensatory, special, general and consequential damages.