Credit: Shutterstock/Featureflash Photo Agency/Eugene Powers
Tom Sandoval has finally publicly apologized to Ariana Madix.
Following an alleged months-long affair with their Vanderpump Rules co-star and friend, Raquel Leviss, and after being called out for leaving her out of his first statement, Sandoval took to his Instagram page to share a lengthy statement, revealing what he regrets most and telling his online audience he is “beyond sad” about the way their nine-year relationship ended.
“I want to first and foremost apologize to everyone I’ve hurt through this process,” Sandoval began on March 8. “Most of all, I want to apologize to Ariana. I made mistakes, I was selfish, and made reckless decisions that hurt somebody I love. No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly.”
“I can only imagine how devastating this has been for Ariana and everyone around us. I feel really horrible about that. My biggest regret is that I dishonored Ariana. I never meant to disappoint so many people, including our loving families and friends,” he continued. “My love for Ariana was stronger than any camera could ever have captured. Some of our biggest times together were never filmed. The same goes for some of our biggest struggles. I wish things happened in a different order and our relationship was not severely tarnished, and that it ended with the same respect with for her that it began with. I owed Ariana better.”
Sandoval went on to acknowledge that the choices he made caused harm to many people and vowed to work on himself.
“I am beyond sad that it ended the way it did. The choices I made hurt so many people. I acted in a way that clashes with who and how I want to be. I will continue to reflect and work on myself. I have work to do. I always have, and I always will,” he concluded.
Sandoval’s public apology was shared just hours after an insider confirmed that Ariana hadn’t yet received an official apology from her now-ex-boyfriend or her former friend, Raquel.
“There hasn’t been a sincere ‘sorry’ from either of them to Ariana,” the source told PEOPLE on March 7. “It was all a bunch of excuses and projections — almost as if it was her fault … [Sandoval] didn’t even acknowledge her in his public statement! And [Raquel has] said nothing publicly, at all!”
After Sandoval focused on the potential ramifications to his businesses and his business partner, Tom Schwartz, those close to the situation doubted he or Raquel would ever truly take accountability for their behavior.
“Neither of them have yet to properly apologize and probably never will. These are two people who have no ability to take responsibility for their actions. They’re sorry they got caught — not that they did anything to hurt Ariana,” the insider stated.
After being ousted by the Pump Rules cast and her friend group, Raquel, who was visited by Sandoval at her apartment on Saturday night, “has left Los Angeles and gone home to be with her family,” according to a second source close to the former beauty queen.
“Her entire friend-circle has turned against her, as has so much of social media. It’s overwhelming and she needs space away from it all to gather herself,” they said. “She knows she hurt Ariana, but doesn’t know how to say she’s sorry.”
As for Ariana, the first insider said she’s focused on healing from Sandoval and Raquel’s betrayal.
“Ariana is doing the best she can. She’s really touched by the support that’s come her way and she’s just trying to work through her feelings,” the insider revealed. “As time has gone on, she’s realized this has been going on longer than she even knew. She has no interest in going back now — only forward.”
Vanderpump Rules season 10 airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on Bravo.