For months, many felt as if Ariana Madix was the queen of Vanderpump Rules, especially after Scandoval played out. Fans learned in March 2023 that her “little sister” and her boyfriend of ten years, Tom Sandoval, were having an illicit affair behind her back. Naturally, the mixologist was livid, but after the dust settled, everything seemed to be coming up Ariana. She was given promotion deals, Dancing with the Stars, and a Broadway slot. But Rachel Leviss is hitting back with a major lawsuit against Tom and Ariana. So, what will this mean for the princess of Bravo?
Rachel Leviss’ Lawsuit Description
Just recently, Rachel came back out from the shadows to reclaim a bit of her dignity as she filed a lawsuit for revenge porn. During Season 10, viewers learned that Tom had recorded his lover masturbating while on Facetime without her consent. Ariana noted how she accidentally also saw the video when she had his phone the night she found out about the affair. Rachel alleged that Tom and Ariana produced and distributed revenge porn, with the lawsuit also alleging eavesdropping, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Rachel is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. She is also asking the court to prohibit further distribution of the images. The court documents state, “To be clear, Leviss has repeatedly acknowledged that her actions were morally objectionable and hurtful to Madix. Lost in the mix was that Leviss was a victim of the predatory and dishonest behavior of an older man who recorded sexually explicit videos of her without her knowledge or consent, which were then distributed, disseminated, and discussed publicly by a scorned woman seeking vengeance, catalyzing the scandal.”
How Ariana Can Beat It
A lawyer via Us Weekly has a few ideas on how Ariana might beat the charge, sharing that Ariana has a couple of ways of defending herself. The legal expert noted the Bravo star could say it “Was consensual. The fact that she accessed it and sent it to Rachel herself and not to anyone else. I think the lawyers that are going to defend Ariana are going to attack the damages here. I think what the lawyers will argue was this was all Rachel’s own doing.” Fans will recall Rachel checked herself into a retreat to work on her mental health after the affair blew up.
The lawyer continued sharing, “Any harm she suffered wasn’t anything Tom or Ariana did. It was because of Rachel’s own doing. I can see the case being defended on that ground.” The speaker ended with a valid point, noting, “It’s the question of causation. So, there’s no question that Rachel did suffer because of all this. It’s just really a question of what caused her suffering. Was it her own actions, or was it the actions of Tom, Ariana, or Bravo? Who’s responsible?”
Possible Repercussions from Lawsuit
Ariana stands to lose a lot if she is found guilty. Most obviously, companies wouldn’t want to work with her for endorsements, which would cause massive cash flow issues. Fans are already speculating that Vandrpump Rules Season 11 should be the last season, so unless she gets a spin-off, which I doubt because Something About Her, the sandwich shop isn’t even open, she would lose the Bravo paycheck, too.
The California Recording Law states, “California’s wiretapping law is a two-party consent law. California makes it a crime to record or eavesdrop on any confidential communication. Including a private conversation or telephone call, without the consent of all parties to the conversation.” Furthermore, the crime of revenge porn in the state of California is a misdemeanor offense which is punishable by serving six months in the county jail and/or a maximum fine of $1,000.
The Verdict
The validity of Rachel’s claim against Ariana hinges on whether she actually shared the videos with other people, as the court documents allege. If Ariana met the criteria for the distribution element, Rachel’s lawyers would still need to prove her motive or intent behind sharing the video. It will be interesting to see how Ariana handles herself since she has yet to speak out about the claims made by her former friend.
TELL US – HOW DO YOU THINK THE LAWSUIT WILL PAN OUT? WILL ARIANA BE ABLE TO DEFEND HERSELF?
