Tom Schwartz updates on his friendship with Tom Sandoval post-Scandoval and business fallout. Learn how they mended ties. Read now!

Introduction

Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval, the Vanderpump Rules duo known as “the Toms,” have been through a rollercoaster since 2013. Their friendship hit rock bottom after Sandoval’s 2023 affair with Raquel Leviss, coined “Scandoval, —and the 2024 closure of their bar, Schwartz & Sandy’s. Schwartz told Watch What Happens Live on June 17, 2025, “I think we’re in a better place now,” signaling a thaw. Why does this matter? Reality TV friendships, like those in Spotlight’s newsroom, reflect real-world bonds tested by public scrutiny. Fans on X in June 2025 cheered their reunion, with posts like “Toms forever!” This article dives into how they repaired their bond, the impact of Scandoval, their business fallout, and what’s next, using insights from Entertainment Now and Bravo. It’s a messy, human story of loyalty and recovery.

Scandoval’s Impact on Their Friendship

The 2023 Scandoval affair—Sandoval cheating on Ariana Madix with Leviss—nearly broke the Toms. Schwartz told When Reality Hits in June 2023, “It’s hard not to be resentful,” taking a break from Sandoval, per Page Six. The affair, revealed via a racy video Madix found, per People, tanked Sandoval’s reputation and dragged Schwartz, his business partner, into the mess. Fans boycotted Schwartz & Sandy’s, blaming Sandoval.

Why’s this key? Scandals can fracture friendships, like The Insider’s whistleblower losing allies. Schwartz’s loyalty was tested—sticking by Sandoval risked his own image. A mistake was Schwartz’s initial silence, which fans on X in 2023 called “spineless.” He later set boundaries, telling The Viall Files in May 2025, “I have my peace now.” If Schwartz had cut ties permanently, like RHOBH’s Kyle Richards with Lisa Vanderpump, he’d lose a lifelong friend. Their bond survived because Schwartz forgave, showing resilience.

The Schwartz & Sandy’s Closure Fallout

Schwartz & Sandy’s opened in 2022, closed on December 21, 2024, after two years, per Bravo. Schwartz told The Valley After Show it “almost destroyed” their friendship due to financial strain in a post-COVID market. He invested most of his money, over-leveraging himself, per Bravo. Sandoval’s Scandoval backlash made the bar “the scene of the crime,” Schwartz said in 2023, per Glamour. Negative press and boycotts didn’t help.

Why does it matter? Business ventures can kill friendships, like Entourage’s crew clashing over projects. Schwartz’s mistake was tying their bond to a risky venture without clear roles—Sandoval’s marketing push clashed with Schwartz’s operations focus, per Bravo. They mended ties by dissolving the business, freeing them from public hate. Without closure, resentment could’ve lingered, like Jersey Shore’s Ronnie and Mike post-fights. Their Minnesota reunion in March 2025, per Bravo, proved they moved on.

Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval Friendship Timeline

• 2013: Debut on Vanderpump Rules as best friends and bartenders at SUR, per Bravo.
• 2018: Open TomTom with Lisa Vanderpump, cementing their business partnership, per Wikipedia.
• 2022: Launch Schwartz & Sandy’s, facing post-COVID challenges, per Entertainment Now.
• March 2023: Scandoval breaks—Sandoval’s affair with Raquel Leviss strains friendship, per Page Six. Schwartz takes a break, per Glamour.
• November 2023: Sandoval says at BravoCon, “We’re stronger than ever,” but Schwartz disagrees, per EW.
• December 2024: Schwartz & Sandy’s closes, easing business tension, per Bravo.
• March 2025: Reunite in Minnesota for Sandoval’s band performance, singing “Schwartz’s Mom,” per Bravo.
• June 2025: Schwartz confirms on WWHL they’re “in a better place,” per Entertainment Now.

Sources: Bravo, Entertainment Now, Page Six, EW, Wikipedia

Rebuilding Trust Post-Scandoval

Rebuilding took work. Schwartz told The Viall Files in May 2025, “Any lingering resentment is compartmentalized.” Their March 2025 Minnesota reunion, where Schwartz joined Sandoval’s band for “Schwartz’s Mom,” a twist on “Stacy’s Mom,” showed playfulness, per Bravo. On WWHL June 17, 2025, Schwartz said, “I’ve let that go,” signaling forgiveness.

Why is trust tough? Betrayal, like in All the President’s Men, demands accountability. Sandoval’s affair hurt Schwartz’s bar and rep—Schwartz’s mistake was not confronting Sandoval sooner, per Collider. He learned to set boundaries, saying, “Our names aren’t on a business people chastise anymore.” Without forgiveness, their bond could’ve ended, like RHOA’s NeNe and Cynthia. Their slow rebuild—public hangouts, no new ventures—kept fans hopeful, with X posts in June 2025 saying, “Toms are back!”

The Role of Public Perception

Public hate shaped their dynamic. Post-Scandoval, fans booed Sandoval at BravoCon 2023, per EW, and Schwartz caught “residual negativity,” per Bravo. Schwartz & Sandy’s faced Instagram flak, forcing Sandoval to beg fans to spare employees, per EW. Schwartz told The Valley After Show the bar “wasn’t embraced by the neighborhood,” per Bravo.

Why is perception a factor? Reality stars live under scrutiny, like She Said’s journalist, who is facing backlash. Schwartz’s mistake was staying quiet during Scandoval, letting fans assume complicity, per X posts in 2023. He countered this by speaking out in 2025, showing transparency. If they’d ignored fans, like KUWTK’s Scott Disick post-scandals, they’d lose support. Their public reunion and Schwartz’s candor on WWHL rebuilt trust, with 2025 X buzz praising their honesty.

The Minnesota Reunion: A Turning Point

Their March 15, 2025, Minnesota reunion was symbolic. Sandoval’s band, Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras, played Grand Casino Hinckley. Schwartz joined for “Schwartz’s Mom,” a fun cover, per Bravo. Sandoval teased it on Instagram, saying, “Getting the band back together.” Schwartz’s heart-hand gesture showed warmth, per Bravo.

Why’s this big? Public gestures heal wounds, like The Post’s team uniting post-exposé. Schwartz’s mistake could’ve been avoiding Sandoval publicly, risking fan doubt. Their playful stage moment countered 2023’s tension, when Schwartz needed a “break,” per Winter House. Without it, fans might’ve assumed permanent estrangement, per Glamour. X posts in March 2025 called it “epic,” boosting their image. The reunion proved they’re past business and scandal drama.

What’s Next for the Toms’ Friendship?

Schwartz and Sandoval are on solid ground but cautious. Schwartz told WWHL in June 2025, “We’re in a good place,” but emphasized boundaries, per Entertainment Now. Sandoval’s on The Traitors Season 3 premiered in January 2025, and tours with his band, per ScreenRant. Schwartz stars on The Valley Season 2, airing in 2025, without Sandoval, per Collider. Rumors of both joining The Valley Season 3 surfaced on X in June 2025, per OK! Magazine.

Why is the future tricky? New projects test bonds, like Entourage’s Vince and Turtle drifting. A mistake would be rushing into another business, repeating Schwartz & Sandy’s stress. Their focus on separate careers—Schwartz’s barr TomTom thrives, per Bravo—keeps peace. If they overcommit, like RHOBH’s Dorit and PK, tension could resurface. Fans want collabs, but boundaries ensure longevity.

Challenges of Reality TV Friendships

Reality TV amplifies friendship struggles. Scandoval’s fallout, with 8 million Vanderpump Rules viewers in 2023, per Nielsen, put the Toms under a microscope. Schwartz told The Viall Files, May 2025, “It got dark there for a while,” per Bravo. Kristen Doute said on Hot Mic January 2025, “They’ve evolved away,” but not severed ties, per Bravo.

Why’s reality TV brutal? It’s like The Bling Ring’s fame-chasing chaos—cameras force drama. Schwartz’s mistake was staying too loyal early on, alienating fans, per Yahoo. He learned to speak out, like on WWHL. Without boundaries, friendships crumble, like Jersey Shore’s Sammi and Ronnie. The Toms’ survival shows balance—public fun, private limits—keeping them relevant in 2025.

FAQs

What caused the strain in Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval’s friendship?
Scandoval in 2023—Sandoval’s affair with Raquel Leviss—hurt Schwartz’s reputation and their bar, Schwartz & Sandy’s. Schwartz felt resentful, taking a break, per Page Six. The bar’s 2024 closure added financial stress, nearly ending their bond, per Bravo. Schwartz’s silence early on fueled fan backlash, but he later set boundaries.

How did Schwartz & Sandy’s closure affect their bond?
The bar’s December 2024 closure, after two years, eased tension. Schwartz invested heavily, per The Valley After Show, but fan boycotts post-Scandoval hurt, per Glamour. Closing it freed them from public hate, letting them rebuild, like their March 2025 reunion, per Bravo. Staying tied to it risked permanent fallout.

What was the Minnesota reunion in March 2025?
Schwartz joined Sandoval’s band in Minnesota for “Schwartz’s Mom,” a “Stacy’s Mom” cover, at Grand Casino Hinckley, per Bravo. It showed their playful bond post-Scandoval and bar closure. Fans on X called it “epic,” per OK! Magazine. Without it, doubts about their friendship might’ve lingered.

Are Schwartz and Sandoval still friends in 2025?
Yes, they’re “in a better place,” per Schwartz on WWHL June 2025. They rebuilt trust with boundaries, per The Viall Files. Their Minnesota reunion and separate careers—Schwartz on The Valley, Sandoval on The Traitors—show stability, per ScreenRant. Fans on X in June 2025 cheer their bond.

Could they join The Valley Season 3 together?
Rumors say they’re being considered, per OK! Magazine on X in June 2025. Schwartz is on The Valley Season 2, but Sandoval isn’t, per Collider. Joining could spark drama, but rushing collabs risks tension, like Schwartz & Sandy’s. They’re better with separate projects for now.

How do reality TV friendships survive scandals?
They need boundaries and transparency, per Schwartz’s 2025 comments. Scandoval showed how cameras amplify drama, like The Bling Ring’s chaos. Schwartz’s early silence hurt, but speaking out on WWHL rebuilt trust. Without balance, bonds break, like RHOA’s NeNe and Cynthia. Public gestures, like Minnesota, help, per Bravo.

Summary

Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval’s friendship survived Scandoval and Schwartz & Sandy’s 2024 closure. Schwartz’s resentment, voiced in 2023, gave way to boundaries and forgiveness by June 2025, per WWHL. Their Minnesota reunion in March 2025, singing “Schwartz’s Mom,” showed resilience, per Bravo. Public hate tested them, but transparency and separate careers—Schwartz on The Valley, Sandoval on The Traitors—keep them steady. Reality TV friendships need work, and the Toms prove it. What’s your take on their comeback? Comment below!