Tom Sandoval (left) and Tom Schwartz.Photo:David Becker/Bravo via Getty
David Becker/Bravo via Getty
Tom Schwartzis sticking up for his friendTom Sandoval.
TheVanderpump Rulesstar, 41, revealed that fans of theBravoseries will see his longtime sidekick and much-maligned costar experience a redemptive journey in season 11 in the wake of the"Scandoval" cheating scandal.
“I think early stage redemption arc,” Schwartz tells PEOPLE of Sandoval’s portrayal in the upcoming episodes.
“I think it would be nice to see Tom re-humanized,” he continues. “I mean, some people, it’s beyond forgiveness, I guess, for some of the audience, but just it’d be nice to remind people that he has a great heart and he’s a good person who did a very dumb thing.”
“He’s not a monster. He’s not aworm with a mustache. He’s a wormwithouta mustache now — just kidding,” he quips.
He adds, “I don’t think there was any betrayal there. It popped in for 10 minutes, from what I understand. I wasn’t in there when Scheana was in there, but I was slightly annoyed that they got criticism for that. Come on guys.”
Still, Schwartz said Sandoval — who gotbooed during this year’sVanderpump Rulespanelat BravoCon — “can take it. He’s put a lot of work into himself mentally, physically, and we had a good talk about it.”
Tom Schwartz (left) and Tom Sandoval in ‘Vanderpump Rules’.Nicole Weingart/Bravo
Nicole Weingart/Bravo
While Schwartz is defending Sandoval, he didstep back from their friendshipduring the worst of the wide-reachingScandovalfallout. The pair recently reconnected, and Schwartz tells PEOPLE it feels “good” to have his buddy back.
“We took a break. I mean, that was the first time since I’ve known him, we’ve been really tight for 13 years, but we took a long break. But I think we’re back,” he says.
“We put a lot of work into our friendship and I love him very much and it’s good to have our Tom Tom dynamic back,” he continued. “I missed him, but I also needed some time to myself because my whole life kind of became consumed with his and it was weird.”
Earlier this month, Schwartz also had a hand in bringing about a reunion between Sandoval andJax Taylor, who has been very vocal about his distaste for Sandoval’s treatment of Madix, 38. In a photo shared on his Instagram Story, Schwartz, Sandoval and Taylor, 44, could be seen hanging out atSchwartz & Sandy’s.
“Got the band back together,” Schwartz declared in the caption, adding three turkey emojis.
From left: Tom Sandoval, Jax Taylor and Tom Schwartz hang out at Schwartz & Sandy’s.Tom Schwartz/Instagram
Tom Schwartz/Instagram
When asked about the unlikely get-together, Schwartz explained to PEOPLE that Sandoval and Taylor “have been on the outs for a long time” but noted that the pair’s friendship has deep history. “I think people forget that Tom and Jax have been friends longer than I’ve been friends with both of them,” he said. “I’m talking almost 20 years.”
“Sometimes their dynamic, it’s love-hate — maybe more emphasis on the latter lately, but I feel like they had a little breakthrough recently. They’ve been communicating more often,” he continued, adding that the two love each other “deep down.”
While Schwartz admitted that Sandoval and Taylor’s relationship remains “touch-and-go,” he said it felt good to help thaw the ice a bit between his longtime friends, who he said are “like brothers” to him.
“It was really nice for me because I kind of feel like a child of divorce sometimes with those two because Jax and Tom are two of my best friends on the planet and I love them dearly,” he told PEOPLE.
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Vanderpump Rulescan be streamed in full on Peacock.
source: people.com
