Vanderpump Rules star Rachel Leviss is now SUING Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix for 'revenge porn, eavesdropping and invasion of privacy' after Scandoval drama

Rachel Leviss is now suing Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix for 'revenge porn, eavesdropping and invasion of privacy' following last year's Scandoval drama.

'Scandoval’ captured the public’s attention in a massive way, went completely viral, and injected new life into Vanderpump Rules,' the complaint, obtained by DailyMail.com, reads. 'It also caused mayhem in Leviss’s life, culminating in months-long in-patient treatment at a mental health facility and her departure from the show. Fomented by Bravo and Evolution in conjunction with the cast, Leviss was subjected to a public skewering with little precedent and became, without exaggeration, one of the most hated women in America.'

Last year, it was revealed that Leviss had an intimate FaceTime conversation with Sandoval that was recorded without her knowledge.

During an interview with Bethenny Frankel in August, Leviss accused Sandoval of recording the video chat. 

DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Sandoval, Madix, and Leviss for comment. 

Rachel Leviss is now suing Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix for 'revenge porn, eavesdropping and invasion of privacy' following last year's Scandoval drama

Bravo, NBCUniversal, Andy Cohen, and producers who work on Vanderpump Rules are not named in the lawsuit, however they are frequently mentioned.

The lawsuit, which spans 19-pages, was filed by Leviss Thursday at Los Angeles Superior Court. 

'Plaintiff Rachel Leviss is a former cast member on Vanderpump Rules, a reality television show produced by Evolution Media (“Evolution”) and broadcast by Bravo Media (“Bravo”), an asset of NBCUniversal (“NBC”) (together with Bravo, “Bravo”). This case arises from a scandal of epic proportions starting in March 2023,' it reads. 

'Stemming from an affair between Leviss and another cast member, Tom Sandoval, “Scandoval”—as it came to be known—went instantly viral and was the subject of extraordinary press coverage, even in the mainstream media. “Scandoval” injected new life into a previously faltering series, causing its viewership to explode to unseen levels and making its cast members mega-celebrities. Due to a narrative deliberately fomented by Bravo, Evolution, and the cast, Leviss became an object of public scorn and ridicule.

'To be clear, Leviss has repeatedly acknowledged that her actions were morally objectionable and deeply hurtful to Madix. She has offered numerous apologies. There is more to the story, however. Lost in the mix was that Leviss was a victim of the predatory and dishonest behavior of an older man, who recorded sexually explicit videos of her without her knowledge or consent, which were then distributed, disseminated, and discussed publicly by a scorned woman seeking vengeance, catalyzing the scandal. Leviss ultimately checked herself into a mental health facility and remained there for three months while Bravo, Evolution, and the cast milked the interest her excoriation had peaked.

'To make matters worse, Leviss was misled by Bravo and Evolution into believing that she was contractually barred from speaking out about her mistreatment. As a result, she suffered in silence as Bravo and Evolution watched viewership explode, and the rest of the cast enjoyed unseen levels of public recognition and professional opportunity. Meanwhile, Leviss, who was humiliated and villainized for public consumption, remains a shell of her former self, with her career prospects stunted and her reputation in tatters.'

Leviss filed the lawsuit Thursday at Los Angeles Superior Court, according to Deadline

Leviss engaged in a months-long affair with Sandoval that sparked the end of his nine-year relationship with Madix last year. The fallout was captured on camera and both Leviss and Sandoval were heavily shamed by viewers and castmates alike.

The affair came to light after Madix discovered an intimate Facetime video on Sandoval's phone featuring himself and Leviss.

Leviss has insisted the video was recorded without her knowledge, and last summer she accused Sandoval of recording the Facetime.

The lawsuit describes how Madix came across the 'sexually explicit videos of Leviss' - Sandoval was performing with his band at Tom Tom when his phone fell out of his pocket and was given to Madix, who then went through his phone.

'It was reportedly retrieved by an attendee and handed over to Madix, who searched it and found sexually explicit videos of Leviss,' the lawsuit states of Madix coming across the phone. 

The suit continues: 'Leviss is informed and believes, and on such information and belief alleges, that the explicit videos were recorded by Sandoval without her knowledge or consent in or around February 2023.

'The two videos Leviss has seen depict her in a state of undress and masturbating. However, given Sandoval's apparent practice of secretly recording their video calls, Leviss has every reason to assume there are additional illicit videos and/or photographs of her that she has not yet seen.'

 Leviss engaged in a months-long affair with Sandoval that sparked the end of his nine-year relationship with Madix last year

Leviss claims in the lawsuit that Madix 'obtained at least two illicit videos of Leviss and distributed them and/or showed them to others without Leviss' knowledge or consent. At a minimum, Madix circulated the illicit videos to herself and Leviss. She also immediately informed production about what she had found.

'In addition, many other individuals have demonstrated intimate familiarity with their contents, leading Leviss to believe the circle of recipients is wider,' the suit adds. 

The suit adds that Madix sent the two sexually explicit videos to Leviss when she confronted her over the affair via text message. Leviss received the two videos along with the text, 'you are DEAD TO ME[.]' 

The suit makes other allegations, including a claim that their affair was 'well-known to many cast members and suspected by others.'

'Leviss and Sandoval were not particularly discrete. Leviss is informed and believes, and on such information and belief alleges, that Madix knew about it as early as the Fall of 2022. Indeed, in December of 2022, Madix scolded Leviss and Sandoval for being handsy in public, admonishing them to save the story for Season 11.'

The lawsuit also goes into depth about the alleged physical altercation between Leviss and Scheana Shay, who the suit says 'violently assaulted' Leviss after learning about the affair. Leviss ultimately filed a restraining order against Shay over the incident but it was dismissed. 

The alleged assault occurred on the night of March 1, when Leviss received the text message with videos from Madix. Leviss was in New York to film Watch What Happens Live with her castmate Shay. 

The suit alleges she received the text from Madix after filming while she was at a bar with Shay. 

'Leviss experienced a swirl of emotions in response, including shock and fear,' the suit said of Leviss' emotions when she received the text. 'Shock because she did not know Sandoval had recorded pornographic videos of her. Fear because these videos were now in the hands of someone who hated her guts and was out for blood. She was terrified Madix would leak them on the internet. 

She alleges in reaction to the news, Shay 'violently assaulted' her, 'shoving her aggressively into a brick wall, punching her face, and throwing her phone into the street. The blow to Leviss' face caused a rupture above her left eyebrow and severe swelling and bruising above her left eye. Leviss was told by a treating physician that her busted brow would permanently scar.'

It also recalled news breaking of the affair on March 3, 2023, stating the first story to break the news was 'quickly followed by a torrent of follow-up stories. By March 4, tabloids had already begun reporting on the pornographic videos of Leviss, citing unnamed sources. Although filming for Season 10 had already wrapped, Bravo and Evolution had a camera crew ready to shoot the next day.'

The suit also alleges that cameras had filmed a scene where Leviss confronted Sandoval for 'secretly recording pornographic videos of her and storing them unprotected on his phone.' He 'ultimately offered a reluctant admission and a sheepish apology.'

'Sandoval was clearly rattled,' the suit continues. 'After filming ended, an erratic and unsettled Sandoval refused to leave Leviss' apartment in spite of her requests. Leviss was forced to have her sister and brother-in-law pick her up and drive her to their home. That day, Leviss retained an attorney to mitigate the risk of the illicit videos leaking.'

The fallout was captured on camera and both Leviss and Sandoval were heavily shamed by viewers and castmates alike

The suit says Sandoval was reportedly concerned over his portrayal in the scene, fearful 'being accused of recording nonconsensual pornography would "paint him in a negative light."

The suit alleges that Sandoval 'reportedly threatened to cease all further filming for the show unless he was granted editing rights over the scene. Shockingly, Bravo and Evolution obliged his demand. The scene was selectively edited to omit any mention of Sandoval's illicit recording or Leviss' lack of consent. This was part of a pattern and practice of Bravo and Evolution throwing Leviss under the bus in favor of Sandoval.'

The suit also blasts Bravo for its handling of the scandal, stating the network 'deliberately sacrificed Leviss for the sake of its commercial interests from its refusal to allow her the opportunity to tell her side of the story and defend herself, which she repeatedly begged for permission to do.' 

Levis is seeking a trial by jury and has requested that the court order the destruction of all copies of the illegally obtained recordings of her and for the defendants to stop distributing them. She is also seeking compensatory, special, general and consequential damages.

Leviss' lawyers Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos spoke out about the lawsuit in a statement to Page Six.

Freedman told the outlet: 'For decades, a great deal of my life has been devoted to mental health treatment and recovery and helping others on that path. I’m outraged that NBC and Bravo have used illegal NDAs as cudgels to profit off their employees.

'The idea that human beings are expected to sacrifice their mental and emotional health in service of Bravo’s ratings is obscene. Many of their employees are suffering in silence due to brazen and calculated actions by NBC and Bravo.

'Hundreds of reality TV participants have reached out to Mark Geragos and myself, and we are committed to ensuring that they have zealous advocates to confront the damage these employers have wreaked on their lives.'

The suit makes other allegations, including a claim that their affair was 'well-known to many cast members and suspected by others'

'While coming forward can be terrifying and even embarrassing, I implore people not to suffer in silence. Reach out to my firm or Mark’s firm, and we will help you get the help you need,' he says.

Geragos said: 'This lawsuit is squarely about illegal behavior and those who traffic in it and enable it. Rachel has apologized for her part in an affair. That’s not a crime. Tom and Ariana are alleged here to have engaged in criminal acts.

'They then doubled down and used those actions to shame, bully, belittle, and intentionally try to destroy Rachel’s mental health.

'The law makes it clear that recording someone without their consent and distributing that illegal recording is punishable by law; however, doing so while knowingly enticing them to engage in sexual acts deserves the harshest of penalties allowable under the law.'

Full Complaint Filed by Rachel Leviss