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You’ll Never Believe Who Crashed the Vanderpump Rules Panel at BravoCon 2023
The brief cameo resulted in one of the most talked-about moments of the event.
One of the most-anticipated events of BravoCon 2023 was, undoubtedly, the Vanderpump Rules panel. Fans were eager to find out where the cast stood following the dramatic events of Season 10 and, perhaps, get a little insight into what viewers could expect in the upcoming season. Needless to say, the panel didn’t disappoint.
The discussion, moderated by Karamo Brown, delivered a slew of updates, some revelations, and a few surprises, including an unexpected cameo. And, no, we’re not talking about Ken Todd’s appearance, which caused the audience to break out in applause; we’re talking about Bravo’s very own Andy Cohen. During the Q&A portion of the event, the late-night talk show host stepped up to the mic and said, “I want to know how DJ James Kennedy and Tom Sandoval got so ripped.”
Tom Sandoval and James Kennedy's Pushup Contest
Andy was, of course, referring to the castmates’ muscular physiques. James said he had been weightlifting and hitting Equinox gym “six days a week,” while Tom credited his fitness to a regular workout routine as well as giving up smoking and alcohol. It was at that point that James took off his shirt and challenged Tom to a pushup contest.
The castmates walked to the center of the Gold Stage at Caesar’s Forum and proceeded to knock out dozens of reps while the crowd cheered. James ultimately came out on top, and gave Tom a friendly hand slap at the end.
Ariana Madix reflects on Vanderpump Rules Season 11
Other panel participants included Lisa Vanderpump, Lala Kent, Scheana Shay, Brock Davies, Ally Lewber, Tom Schwartz, Katie Maloney, and Ariana Madix. The latter opened up about her experience filming Season 11 and how she managed to recover from her scandalous split with Tom Sandoval. The former couple had dated for nearly a decade but called it quits earlier this year after Tom Sandoval’s infidelity came to light.
“I knew it was going to be difficult, I knew it was going to be weird,” she said about returning for Season 11, which premieres in January on Bravo. “I knew that I was gonna have some very strong and some very negative feelings. But, ultimately, I think if anything, the last year has shown me that I can do hard things. It was hard, but we did it.”
RELATED: Vanderpump Rules Season 11 Premiere Date Revealed: Get the Details & a Sneak Peek (VIDEO)
Ariana acknowledged that her experience was “not unique,” but said she was very appreciative of all the support she received following the breakup.
“… I’m not the first, I will not be the last,” she explained in reference to Tom Sandoval’s infidelity. “I think that meeting and speaking to many people, they made me feel like I wasn’t so alone. And, hopefully, I made them feel like they weren’t alone, as well.”
Watch BravoCon 2023 panel highlights, exclusive interviews, and more on Peacock and BravoTV.com.
