The Most Shocking Moments from Rachel Leviss' New Interview

1. Rachel's Officially Leaving 'Vanderpump Rules'

The new season of Vanderpump Rules began filming while Leviss was in treatment, so fans already assumed that she wouldn't be on the upcoming season or would be featured in a reduced role.

When chatting with Frankel about the addiction to reality TV fame, Leviss revealed that she walked away from the show.

“They always dangle that carrot in front of you, like, ‘Well, you need to tell your side of the story — otherwise, it’s gonna be written for you,' and that’s terrifying. So I almost went back just because of that," Leviss told Frankel.

Even though she won't be on the upcoming season, it's safe to say "Scandoval" will still be a prominent topic.

2. Rachel Downplays Her Friendships With Ariana & Scheana

Although they called each other best friends on the show, Leviss claimed her friendship with Madix wasn't actually that deep.

Leviss said she never hung out with Madix one-on-one when the cameras weren't rolling, besides group events mainly centered around Tom Sandoval.

"Ariana and I were not best friends. We were acquaintances who became friends through the show. We never had a deep conversation that I would have with a best friend. It did seem like we were friends from the outside looking in, but I was hanging out with Tom more than I was hanging out with her."

Besides her relationship with Madix, Leviss showed her disdain for Scheana Shay over the way Shay portrayed their friendship on the show.

Even though Shay offered her home in LA to Leviss after she broke up with James Kennedy, Leviss claims Shay is painting Leviss out to be a bad friend.

“She started creating this narrative that she was the sister I never had and like a mother to me, and that she gave me a place to live when nobody else would, you know, put me up anywhere [and] that I didn’t pay rent, which is not true. It’s just unfortunate that she’s trying to create this narrative that I’ve taken advantage of her when I feel like I did contribute.”

3. Rachel Claims Tom Sandoval Recorded Her Without Consent

While Leviss was in NYC promoting Vanderpump Rules with Scheana Shay on Watch What Happens Live, the reality star hopped on a FaceTime call with Tom Sandoval back in her hotel room.

During the FaceTime call, Leviss alluded to intimate behavior that occurred on screen, which she now claims Sandoval filmed without her consent.

Once Madix went through Sandoval's phone during his show in West Hollywood, she discovered the videos that Sandoval kept in his phone of Leviss.

"Tom and I FaceTimed a lot. I expected to have privacy in that moment. I get a text from Ariana sending me two screen recorded videos and a text that said, 'You're dead to me.' That's how I found out I had been recorded without my consent."

4. Rachel Says Tom & Ariana Weren't In A Close Relationship

Even though Madix and Sandoval have broken up since "Scandoval," the two are still living together in their southern California home.

Frankel expressed confusion as to why they'd still be living together and asked Leviss her thoughts on their relationship before and after the breakup.

"I would not be involved in this affair if I thought that there was longevity in this relationship between Tom and Ariana. Their relationship hasn't been what they portray on camera. They're a duo on the show and they utilize that for their brand and image. I don't know their situation, but I do know that it really isn't that surprising that they're living together because it's been this way. They haven't been an authentic couple."

5. Rachel Thinks Bravo Used Her Only For Ratings & Money

Besides her current podcast and other business ventures, Frankel is currently working on a union for reality TV stars to challenge networks that profit and exploit TV personalities.

After the latest season of Vanderpump Rules aired and Leviss completed treatment, she sought out an interview with Frankel after learning about the work the former RHONY star was doing against TV corporations.

“I just heard what you were saying on TikTok and using my case as an example of exploitation and the way that the network is running to the bank — like, laughing running to the bank with this scandal — and I haven’t seen a single penny. I feel like it’s not fair. I feel like a toddler saying it’s not fair, but it really isn’t. I feel like I’ve been portrayed as the ultimate villain, and my mistakes that I made on-camera live on forever.”