Tom Schwartz knows a thing or two about surviving a reality TV flare-up and coming out the other side a little scorched, but still standing.
The “Vanderpump Rules” alum, who is navigating the aftermath of a 2023 cheating scandal involving former business partner Tom Sandoval, then-girlfriend Ariana Maddix and castmate Rachel “Raquel” Reavis, recently told Page Six’s “Virtual Reality” that the turmoil has taken a high personal toll.
“(I) somehow survived, at a huge cost of losing my sanity,” Schwartz said with a laugh.
Schwartz, 43, who currently stars on “The Valley,” is watching another group of Bravo friends unravel — this time, “Summer House” — and he has some hard-earned advice.
The latest drama revolves around West Wilson and Amanda Batula. Batula had a secret affair with Wilson’s former best friend, Ciara Miller, and on March 31 released a widely criticized public statement admitting to the betrayal.
Schwartz spoke to us on April 23, the same day the “Summer House” cast filmed their reunion, and emphasized the importance of channeling honesty when tensions are at their peak.
“Look, as you get older, this too will pass. You’ll all be fine,” he said. “But when you’re on stage, be honest. I don’t know. I know it’s hard, especially when people start bringing up things like timelines.”
And yes, those timelines matter.
“The timeline is actually important, right?” Schwartz added. “We don’t know if this overlap dates back to when[Batura and her estranged husband Kyle Cooke]were still married.”
Schwartz admitted that as a viewer, the developing dynamic between Wilson, 31, and Miller, 30, who in the current episode appears to be rebuilding a flirtatious friendship, is difficult to watch given what’s to come.
“Be very careful,” he said bluntly.
Still, Schwartz insisted he was rooting for everyone involved, noting that the stakes are higher when real friendships are at stake rather than just stories.
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“I really like them and support them. Personally, as a cast. Not even as a cast, but like a real group of friends,” he explained. “They’re a group of friends. They’re hanging out off camera and it’s tense and I’m just worried.”
As for Miller, scandal or not, Schwartz believes she’s stronger than ever.
“With or without this situation, it’s a given,” he said of her recent successes, including a major brand deal, a Glamor magazine cover and an appearance on next season’s Dancing with the Stars. “Ciara is a star. She’s a star. Some people just have that… She just has justice.”
“The Valley” airs Wednesdays at 8pm ET on Bravo, with new episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.
