Rachel “Raquel” Leviss is ready to put the year of Scandoval behind her.
The Vanderpump Rules alumna on Sunday rang in 2024 with a candid Instagram post, addressing the chaos that came when she was caught in a months-long affair with costar Tom Sandoval, thus ending his nine-year relationship with Leviss’ friend Ariana Madix.
“2023 hands down has been the hardest year yet,” Leviss wrote, captioning a photo of herself. “My life had become completely unmanageable and I was so far down the rabbit hole of making bad decisions that I NEEDED help.”
“I’m so blessed I was able to get the help I needed,” she continued. “Now, I finally feel like I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
She went on to open up about her goals for the next year, while also thanking her supporters. “As we set intentions into the new year, I vow to be a better friend to the ones close in my life,” said Leviss. “To those that have stood by me through my darkest days, I will always remember and cherish you.”
“Eternally grateful for a second chance,” wrote Leviss. “Here’s to an epic 2024! 🦋”
Earlier this year, Leviss stepped away from the Bravo reality show and entered into months-long treatment for mental health (she previously stated it was for love addiction treatment.) One of Leviss’ last public appearances before that was at the Vanderpump Rules season 10 reunion, where she faced her costars — including Sandoval’s ex girlfriend Ariana Madix — for the first time since the cheating scandal.
Since then, she’s returned to the red carpet and launched a podcast called Rachel Goes Rogue. “I look back at season 10. Oh God, it was a really difficult season to watch back because I’m just cringing at all of the things and all of the moments that they caught on camera,” she said in the debut episode. “It’s really embarrassing.”
“But I see a girl that is going through pain and doesn’t have the right tools to tackle it and she’s coping and the way that she feels like her needs are being met is by someone who’s giving her adoration and attention,” Leviss added. “I really did not prioritize my friendships when I got involved with Tom and I regret that a lot.”
Meanwhile, Bravo viewers will get to see how Madix and Sandoval navigate this next chapter of their lives when Vanderpump Rules returns for its eleventh season later this month.
Both have been busy since their breakup. Madix channeled her pain into an impressive range of projects — from an impressive run on Dancing with the Stars to star turn in Lifetime’s Buying Back My Daughter, a new cocktail book called Single AF Cocktails: Drinks for Bad B*tches, and a sea of high-profile brand partnership deals including ones forUber One and BIC razors. She’s even in a new relationship, with boyfriend Daniel Wai, who she met just 10 days after splitting from Sandoval.
Sandoval has stayed busy too, launching his own podcast, touring with his band and appearing on Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. He’s dipped his toe back into dating, but hasn’t been with anyone officially.
Despite their busy schedules, the former couple are still cohabitating in the same Los Angeles home. And though they are not speaking, the situation appears to drive a lot of the drama next season. “Why are they living together anyway?” asks boss Lisa Vanderpump in the trailer for season 11. “It’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen!”
Vanderpump Rules is available to stream on Peacock.
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