Tom Sandoval’s star turn thanks to the “Scandoval” revelation isn’t simply a matter of weathering the PR storm – it appears to be an unexpected resurgence he’s actively reveling in. While Kristin Doute has declared herself unimpressed, offering dry assessments of Sandoval’s machinations as if he’s enacting some sitcom premise gone astray, deeper within the fan hysteria lies a different kind of calculation at play.
Sandoval, with decades as Scheana Shay’s ex and more recently Jax Taylor’s “bro” all firmly in the rearview mirror (at least publicly), had become somewhat relegated to bartender territory by previous “Vanderpump Rules” seasons. Yes, his band was referenced regularly and there was the occasional flirtatious exchange, but he lacked an undeniable storyline driving him to prominence like a cheating spouse or a chaotic personal drama.
Scandoval catapulted him centre stage once again, crafting a headline that reverberates far outside Bravo territory. Now we’re seeing his brand take new turns; unexpected interviews popping onto non-Bravo media outlets, public sightings gaining feverish Instagram documenation. He’s no mere reality show contestant now – he’s “cheated Tom,” the moniker given with morbid fascination by a Twitterverse thirsty for narrative clarity. This is, undoubtedly, good PR territory for him that wouldn’t necessarily be so easily attained through amicable post-Jax and Presely exit antics. The very public “villainy” adds an unforeseen layer of intrigue – one that even Lisa Vanderpump herself acknowledged in whispers, suggesting the reality star has somehow played things quite smartly from behind enemy lines (a perspective no one previously thought of!).
While the ramifications continue to swirl in Bravo-land and beyond (“Scandoval’
aftereffects are bound to make some “Vanderpump Rules” couples rethink their allegiances – there’s only so much time you can wait at Lala’s doorstep to be crowned as “queen” and not actually have something substantial. That leaves Sandoval in a curious position: the accidental, perhaps even unintentional, media mastermind.
Kristen believes Scandoval is enjoying every part of this – playing manipulative roles to make it rain fame and publicity. But are we all simply failing to see how Sandoval inadvertently stumbled into his best narrative? His former “friends” have traded betrayal for genuine anger – allowing him an easy escape route and a platform where anyone attempting reconciliation seems hypocritical.
Could ‘Scandoval’ turn out to be a shrewd maneuver, albeit one shrouded in questionable ethical ground? Perhaps he’s proven more insightful about public sentiment within the Bravo realm than previously imagined – making the ‘Scandoval fallout’ a reality far larger and even further-reaching than anyone expected from any “Vanderpump Rules” villain before.
