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Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval are opening up about the drama that ensued between them after Katie Maloney told Sandoval that Schwartz didn’t like his chosen name for their new bar, Schwartz and Sandy’s.
As the hardships play out on Vanderpump Rules season nine, Schwartz admitted that Katie and Sandoval’s relationship is “complicated” as Sandoval explained the meaning behind the name and targeted Lala Kent for failing to own up to her behavior.
It got “ugly,” Schwartz told Us Weekly of Sandoval and Katie’s drama. “It caused a lot of tension and probably the most tension that we’ve ever experienced in our friendship and our partnership.”
Luckily, according to Sandoval, he and Katie are in “a good spot” today as they move forward with Schwartz and Sandy’s, which he hopes will allow their guests to get to know him and Schwartz a bit better.
“It’s like, you’re not just getting to know our first names. You’re getting to know our last names. What truly makes us us,” Sandoval explained.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Schwartz said people will learn to like the name once they “come and experience the Schwartz and Sandy’s experience.”
As fans of Pump Rules have seen on recent episodes, the journey toward the opening of the bar hasn’t been easy, especially for Schwartz, who has frequently found himself having to act as a mediator between his wife and his business partner.
“It’s been a lot. And I try to mediate, and like, listen — that’s my wife. I love her more than anything in the world. So I have her back. But also sometimes, my friend, Tom, I have a ton of respect for him. He makes good points. He has a point, too. And it’s tough being in the middle,” Schwartz admitted.
“This is why I wanted to kind of keep this sort of just between Schwartz and I, and not bring in everybody else,” Sandoval replied, denying that he steamrolls Schwartz, as Katie implied.
And, while Sandoval and Katie are in a better place today, Schwartz admitted that the upcoming episodes of Pump Rules may lead to even more drama between them.
“It’s tough to not get affected when you see things play out,” Schwartz shared. “This is our real life. It’s real stakes, and this is stuff we genuinely care about.”
Moving on to the future of the show, which premiered to disappointing ratings at the end of last month, Schwartz said he’s “optimistic.”
“We’re grateful to be back. It’s a good season. Objectively, it’s going to be an awesome season. It’s dynamic. It’s got verve. It’s good,” he said. “We miss [our former cast mates], but it’s going to be a killer season.”
Also, during the interview, Sandoval said that while Lala has no problem “taking shots” at others, including his girlfriend, Ariana Madix, she isn’t so good at handling backlash and owning her behavior.
“Lala is definitely not afraid to take shots at anybody, but she definitely is a little afraid to take the backlash that comes with that,” Sandoval said. “We all screw up from time to time, and we usually own up to that. Lala doesn’t like to own up to anything, though.”
Schwartz and Sandy’s is expected to open in Los Angeles’ historic Franklin Village in late 2021 or early 2022. In the meantime, fans can treat themselves to their first taste of a beverage that will surely be available at the venue once it opens its doors: Toms’ Good Loving.
Vanderpump Rules season nine airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.