Be in Tom Sandoval’s corner, and your stock will fall. Tom Schwartz is not the only one still defending the disgraced Vanderpump Rules star. Former SUR server and VPR alum Billie Lee has maintained her friendship with Sandoval. And has had to defend her position since being seen out and about with the Schwartz and Sandy’s co-owner.
Billie claimed that Sandoval is also “hurting,” Page Six reported. Add that to the disgrace and hurt that he caused his ex-girlfriend, Ariana Madix.
The public isn’t ready to hear that Sandoval is also a victim. Fans called Billie out after she was papped with him at a West Hollywood event.
“Tom and Ariana are my family, they have been there for me over the years and I wouldn’t be where I’m am today without them,” Billie wrote in a since-deleted social media post. She added, “It saddens me that people are so fixated on picking a side. Both are human and are both hurting in their own ways.”
Billie defended herself by saying that she is “allowed to be friends with one of [her] best friends who made a mistake while still holding him accountable and not commending what he did.”
To behave otherwise is “extremely immature,” the former SUR employee wrote. “There is a world where you can support and be there for both parties,” Billie posted of her decision, “and that’s the world I choose to live in.”
“Ariana seems to be in a way better place, I’m so happy that she is moving on and Tom is really working hard on himself. I’ll continue to love and support them, unconditionally,” Billie acknowledged.
Despite the neutral stance she is trying to take, Ariana unfollowed her. She may have even blocked Billie.
Kristen Doute, who previously dated Sandoval, was very vocal about Billie’s support of him. She commented on a post by @cici.loves.you about Sandoval and Billie’s sighting.
“As she cried at Ariana’s house days after Ari found out [about the affair]… smh,” Kristen wrote. Billie quickly responded, “Ya I was crying because they BOTH are my family! It was sad and still is!”
“What were you doing while I was crying!?” She then suggested Kristen was using Sandoval’s infidelity for relevance. “Literary [sic] taking selfies with everyone including Ariana. Like who does that!? It felt like a funeral and you were taking selfies,” Billie said.
Kristen was then accused of being a “fake and performative” friend. “Read the room!” Billie concluded.
There was further drama after Billie was seen at Sandoval and Ariana’s Valley Village house. The former couple has yet to put it on the market, and are still co-habitating there. After a few drinks at a local bar, Billie was seen entering the house. She left the following morning in the same clothes. A source close to the friends felt the need to confirm to Page Six that it was a platonic overnight stay.
Meanwhile, Ariana was seen partying it up at Coachella. She’s been romantically linked to NYC-based trainer Daniel Wai after the pair were seen making out at the music festival. Sandoval is thrilled.
Ariana posted a picture to social media from Coachella, which has been since deleted. Billie had commented, “It’s your happiness shining through for me.”
For her part, Raquel Leviss is also playing the victim hard. Her team announced that the former beauty pageant queen checked into a “voluntary facility” to receive “mental health counseling” as well as “trauma therapy.”
TELL US- WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BILLIE’S ATTEMPTS TO BE A NEUTRAL PARTY? SHOULD SHE PICK A SIDE? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ARIANA’S UNFOLLOWING HER? SHOULD TOM AND/OR RAQUEL GET PUBLIC SYMPATHY?
[Photo Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo]
