‘I was the punching bag’

Raquel Leviss is able to “share my aspect of the story.” In her first sit-down interview because the Vanderpump Guidelines reunion was taped in March, Leviss talked Scandoval, took goal at Bravo and shaded Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix’s relationship. She seemingly confirmed hypothesis she is not going to return to Bravo’s hit present after searching for remedy for psychological well being.

Leviss broke her silence on Bethenny Frankel’s ReWives podcast, which ought to come as no shock. The 28-year-old has reportedly joined Frankel who’s threatening to sue NBCUniversal, Bravo’s guardian firm, for alleged “mistreatment of actuality stars and crew members” because the Actual Housewives alum needs actuality TV stars to unionize.

Listed below are the most important bombshells from Leviss’s interview.

“The community is working to the financial institution… and I have never seen a single penny.”

Leviss, who’s formally going by her delivery title, Rachel, mentioned compensation on the present is “not truthful.”

“And I really feel like a toddler saying, ‘It isn’t truthful!’ Nevertheless it actually is not. And I really feel like I have been portrayed as the final word villain. My errors that I’ve made on-camera reside on ceaselessly,” she defined.

Leviss mentioned she “nearly went again” to movie Season 11 of VPR, agreeing with Frankel there’s an dependancy element to being on actuality tv as you wish to management your personal narrative, as producers at all times recommend.

“And one of many issues that producers additionally advised me is you receives a commission based mostly off of your efficiency from the season prior, in order that already set me as much as wish to carry out nicely,” Leviss defined of her mindset final yr. “‘If this could possibly be my season, I may actually stand out.'” She quipped: “I took course nicely.”

Leviss could not afford months-long psychological well being remedy she simply obtained, suggesting her VPR compensation is so low, noting earlier within the podcast her dad and mom paid the invoice.

At one level Frankel added, “It is my understanding that you simply receives a commission in a yr lower than my interns receives a commission.”

“Actually?” Leviss requested

“Yeah,” Frankel replied.

“Ariana and I weren’t greatest associates”

Leviss insinuated the Scandoval “narrative” — that she slept along with her greatest good friend’s boyfriend — has been pumped up by way of the Bravo PR machine. “It is extra salacious that approach,” she added.

For one, she claimed she and Madix weren’t that shut and by no means frolicked simply the 2 of them off-camera.

“We have been acquaintances who turned associates by way of the present,” she defined, calling Madix “candy.” “We by no means had a deep dialog that I might have with a greatest good friend.”

Leviss nonetheless confirmed some regret. “It is painful to suppose that I damage her on this approach as a result of that wasn’t my intention,” she mentioned. “I wasn’t attempting to be a malicious individual, I simply obtained wrapped up on this and wasn’t considering clearly, however we weren’t greatest associates.”

Frankel requested Leviss how she felt about Madix being dubbed “America’s sweetheart” and receiving model and endorsement offers post-Scandoval.

“A part of me says, good for you, as a result of reap the benefits of these alternatives whereas they arrive your approach,” Leviss mentioned. “However it’s hurtful to me simply to suppose that — my nature may be very sort and forgiving and understanding of different folks, so the idea of me being the final word actuality TV villain simply blows my thoughts.”

Leviss added that the best way Madix spoke to her through the reunion “was uncalled for.”

“[Tom and Ariana] have not been an genuine couple”

In accordance with Leviss, she would not imagine Madix and Sandoval had an intimate, genuine relationship.

“I might not be concerned on this affair, secrecy-type of scenario if I believed there was longevity on this relationship between Tom and Ariana,” she claimed. “The folks closest to them can see their relationship hasn’t been what they painting on digicam. Tom at all times advised me, like, they seem to be a model, they’re a picture, they work collectively to make model offers and so they’re enterprise companions.”

Leviss added, “They are a duo on the present and so they make the most of that for the success of their model or picture”

The previous actuality star talked about how Madix and Sandoval are nonetheless dwelling collectively within the residence they share in Valley Village, Calif. as they movie the brand new season.

“I do not know their conditions, however I do realize it is not actually that shocking that they are dwelling collectively in my eyes as a result of it has been this fashion. They have not been an genuine couple, romantic, intimate [couple],” she mentioned.

“I now look again on it and see that I used to be not in love with [Tom]”

Though Leviss really “believed” that she was “in love” Sandoval throughout their seven-month affair, she now is aware of that is not the case.

“I additionally do not imagine that he really was in love with me both,” she defined. “We had this connection that I felt seen and heard by him. I have never actually had that reference to different folks within the forged, nor folks in my actual life.”

Leviss continued, “I used to be filming in a tumultuous surroundings. I used to be needing some validation and someone to listen to what I used to be going by way of. Right here comes alongside Tom who actually gave me that point of day to share my aspect of the story in a non-judgment zone. That is precisely what I wanted in that second.”

“I lastly have come to the place the place [the affair] is smart to me,” she added.

Originally of the episode, Leviss famous how she’s been engaged on herself.

“It has been a whirlwind. It has been chaos, however I’ve taken a while to myself to replicate and try to perceive my actions and I lastly have come to the place the place it is smart to me,” she added. Going away to a facility helped her quiet the noise and get readability she wanted.

“There was such vitriol on-line,” she recalled, noting she sought remedy “to know” her habits. “Why am I selecting males which are unavailable? Why do I hold discovering myself in unhealthy relationships? What are issues I would like to vary about my habits?”

“Actuality reckoning”

Frankel mentioned Leviss was an ideal instance of the “actuality reckoning” she hopes occurs, beginning at Bravo. The Actual Housewives of New York alum mentioned VPR is “set in a bar, fueled by alcohol” and what’s taking place is “exploitation with out compensation.”

“It is so good to have you ever validate that have as a result of for a second I believed it I used to be going loopy,” Leviss mentioned. “It is true — actuality TV is edited, it is contrived to create a sure storyline and so it is not all factual. As a viewer tuning in, it is simple to get wrapped up in that after which the idea of an affair hits residence, hits actually laborious to lots of people so I believe there was quite a lot of projection taking place… and sadly I used to be the punching bag for lots of that.”

“I used to be ingesting rather a lot” not in a “protected house”

Close to the start of the episode, Leviss (considerably) apologized for her actions.

“I do wish to take a second to simply acknowledge the damage I delivered to lots of people. I used to be not cautious in my actions and I used to be not considering long-term,” she shared. “I used to be utterly wrapped up in heartbreak and eager to get sure wants met.”

Leviss mentioned “wanting again,” she will be able to see that she “was nonetheless therapeutic” from breaking off her engagement to co-star James Kennedy.

“Once I was filming I used to be ingesting rather a lot to ease that nervousness, and in a actuality TV surroundings, I used to be not getting that protected house for me to precise my feelings in a wholesome approach,” she added. That verbiage sounds much like the authorized letter Frankel’s massive shot attorneys despatched NBCU. It positive appears like Leviss is among the rumored 80 actuality stars who plans to affix the combat.