2023 has been a tough year for Tom Sandoval. First, the press tore him apart for cheating on his girlfriend of nine years, Ariana Madix. Then his newly-opened bar Schwartz and Sandy’s (co-owned with Tom Schwartz) took a hit due to blowback from Scandoval.
But then, an opportunity arose to be seen as something other than the wannabe frontman of a mediocre cover band. The Vanderpump Rules star signed onto Season 2 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
The show puts celebrities through the same harsh training the Green Berets go through. But after weeks of high-intensity challenges, his knees were so shredded that he’s probably going to need surgery. The Daily Mail has the story on Tom’s Special Forces experience, as well as his upcoming return to Pump Rules.
Training camp drama queen
Toward the end of training, members of the staff commented that Tom was “dramatic the entire course,” which he denies. I can see it, though. The guy who showed up at BravoCon wearing a skirt and combat boots like he’s Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers is nothing if not dramatic.
Sandoval blames the drama on his lack of preparation for the show. “I [only] found out I was doing this days before,” he complained. “I was lucky to get on a bike for, like, five days leading up to this, to try to get my legs in some sort of shape.”
“When I went onto the show, my knees were shot,” he said of his time on Special Forces. “I’m probably going to have to have knee surgery … I’m looking at some options.” Apparently, on his return from the show, he could barely even walk for a couple of days.
Knee surgery won’t help his public image
The worm with a mustache signed up for Special Forces after his affair with Rachel Leviss came to light in March 2023. People were blocking him on social media and calling him out on his disgusting behavior. Fan sentiment was strongly on Ariana’s side. Tom “battled with self-loathing … [and] understood that people definitely didn’t like me.”
“I felt like [Special Forces] was something that I just really needed in my life,” he said. “I was dealing with the media storm on a day-to-day basis. Every day, there was like 100 stories coming out.” I know! I wrote a bunch of those stories.
The Most Extras frontman knew his haters would “enjoy seeing me get my ass kicked” on TV. Plus he hoped the show would help to improve his image. So, off to boot camp he went, painted nails and all. I hope he left the skirt at home.
VPR Season 11 returns to our TV screens in January. Fans are anxious to see the fallout after the tumultuous Season 10.
“This was probably the hardest season I’ve ever filmed,” Tom admits. “It’s a very intense season for sure.”
How’s he doing now, so many months after we first heard the term “Scandoval?”
“I am hanging in there,” he says. “I guess what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger in a sense. But just keeping myself busy, man … and hoping for the best.” And maybe he should shave that nasty ‘stache while he’s at it. It really does make him look like a porn star.
Vanderpump Rules Season 11 returns in January 2024 on Bravo.
TELL US – DID YOU THINK TOM WAS OVERLY DRAMATIC ON SPECIAL FORCES? DO YOU THINK IT HELPED HIS IMAGE?
