Speculation abounds. But Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright are getting paid to give commentary. The Vanderpump Rules alums, and happily married couple, are participating in a three-episode viewing special of Season 10 on streaming giant Peacock’s Watch With.
The duo gave the following comments during Episode 1, Us Weekly reported. Of course, it had to do with Tom Sandoval. Because his affair with Raquel Leviss has eclipsed all other drama of Season 10. Though the breakdown of Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz’s marriage is a close second.
And Jax thinks the two events are intertwined. Namely, Sandoval’s influence on the Schwartz & Sandy’s co-owner. “I think he had a lot to do with why they got divorced. I would like to think they would still be together if it weren’t for Sandoval. As much as Katie drives me nuts, I see her point,” Jax told Brittany. His wife responded, “Oh, yeah.”
Katie filed for divorce in March 2022. They wed in 2016, but it wasn’t legal. Then they had a do-over in 2019, which was legally binding. The couple had been together for over a decade.
At the time of their separation, Katie posted a statement on her Instagram page. It read, “I never thought I would have to make an announcement like this. After 12 years on an adventure through our life together, Tom and I are ending our marriage.”
Katie often confronted Schwartz about his friendship with Sandoval. The duo were business partners as well as best friends for their tenure on Pump Rules. They count TomTom and Schwartz & Sandy’s as their joint businesses. Within their partnership, Schwartz often took Sandoval’s side over his ex-wife’s. Katie cited this as a major reason for their divorce.
“I felt like he was choosing everyone else in the room and in his life before me. I was like, ‘I don’t know that I’m in love anymore,” Katie said on the Relationsh*t with Kamie Crawford podcast in June 2022.
During a prior appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Sandoval denied creating conflict. He said, “I’m never the first one to pick a fight. Just trust me.”
Schwartz gave a rebuttal in a separate WWHL appearance. His demeanor during the interview didn’t do him any favors. His ex-wife suggested “media training” because of it. Schwartz claimed that Katie, “demanded unconditional loyalty.”
“She abused [the request to defend her] a little bit. She was always getting in tiffs and she’s like, ‘You’re with me or against me,’” Schwartz said, suggesting the demand was unsustainable. “She’s way better now. Katie, I love you, but in the beginning, she was kind of a monster. … She has had a falling out with every single person in her life multiple times.” He added, “And I just didn’t like getting dragged into all that and I guess I became a little numb when she actually did need me. It’s like the boy who cried wolf.”
Jax also gave his opinion on Sandoval and his attempts to explain away his betrayal of Ariana Madix. The former serial cheater sees no defense of infidelity.
“There’s no justifying cheating. Take it from someone who’s been down this road,” Jax said while on Access Hollywood’s Housewives Nightcap. “You own up to what you’ve done. Be a man.”
The When Reality Hits With Jax And Brittany co-host added, “He hasn’t owned up to anything, he’s justifying everything. … I mean, that’s not a man in my opinion. If you are man enough to do what you’ve done, you should be man enough to own up to what you’ve done and at least have some empathy and apologize to Ariana.”
Meanwhile, Ariana is living her best life. She was spotted making out with Daniel Wai at Coachella. Jax has noticed a difference in his former co-star.
“She’s a completely different person,” he said. “She seems like she’s glowing. She seems like she’s a lot happier.”
TELL US- IS SANDOVAL TO BLAME FOR KATIE AND TOM’S MARRIAGE FALLING APART? WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SCHWARTZ ABOUT DEFENDING SANDOVAL? DOES SCANDOVAL CHANGE YOUR OPINION ON THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN KATIE, SCHWARTZ, AND SANDOVAL?
[Photo Credit: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for boohoo.com]
