Lala Kent is setting the record straight on her relationship with Tom Sandoval.
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During her May 15 Amazon Live broadcast, the Vanderpump Rules mom claimed there was a misconception about where she stood with Tom following his tumultuous breakup with Ariana Madix.
Although she previously slammed her castmate over his admitted infidelity, Lala expressed a bit of sympathy for Tom as he faced backlash throughout Vanderpump Rules Season 11. Her mild defense led some viewers to believe she had jumped on the “Sandoval train," especially after she questioned Ariana’s post-breakup decisions. However, Lala insisted she was not, nor has ever been, Team Tom.
Lala Kent admits she and Tom Sandoval have "never been close"
“That’s what’s so wild. I didn’t jump on the Sandoval train,” she said during the stream. “We don’t talk… I didn’t jump on anyone’s train. I think this was the first time that it was kind of, like, just seeing all sides.”
Lala went on to say she and Tom had “never been close,” but her resentment toward the restaurant owner was hindering her personal growth.
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“This was a healing process for me, being like, ‘You know what? I’m gonna let that stuff go,’” she recalled. “‘I don’t want to see you or hear your name and want to light you on fire.’ You know? We’re not hanging out, I’m not going to his house.”
She continued: “A huge reason why I didn’t show up to a lot of his things was because, whether you guys believe it or not, I would always choose Ariana. You were in the wrong. There may be things with Ariana that don’t make sense to me, but I’m sticking with her. I’m not coming to your fricken’ concert, OK? I didn’t go to your concerts before. Why would I want to go now?”
Lala suggested she is now indifferent to Tom as her feelings toward him are neither positive nor negative: “He’s not … He’s there… with his new girlfriend. That’s it.”
Lala Kent says Tom Sandoval has "the right to evolve"
Ahead of Vanderpump Rules Season 11, Ariana made it clear she would “not have mutual friends” with her ex, suggesting she would cut ties with any castmate who buddied up with him. But despite Ariana's comments, Lala decided to meet with Tom in an attempt to hear his side of the story and possibly move forward.
In Season 11, Episode 9 the two had a “vulnerable” sitdown that seemingly ended on a good note.
“We should reserve the right to evolve and f—k what anyone else says,” Lala explained in an episode interview. “And you know what? Let’s say he is bullsh-tting us all. He’s the one who has to sleep with himself. It doesn’t affect my life. I sleep real nice at night.”
Lala Kent addresses claims she's "jealous" of Ariana Madix
Fans began doubting Lala’s loyalty to Ariana after the release of the Vanderpump Rules Season 11 trailer, in which she questioned all the support Ariana received following her breakup with Tom.
“I have never experienced someone who gets cheated on and, suddenly, she becomes God,” she said.
The comment immediately sparked backlash and allegations that Lala was “jealous” of Ariana; however, the Utah native dismissed the criticism during her January 30 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, insisting she was happy for Ariana’s “rise.”
“I am so proud of my friend and I love that everyone was up in arms about what I said,” she told host Andy Cohen. “Like, I love when people get that way. I think toward the end of the season it’s gonna be made very clearly why I said that, and I think a lot of you will be with me.”
