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James Clarifies Why Tom Sandoval *Actually* Helped Pay for His Proposal to Raquel
The DJ also revealed how he feels about Tom Schwartz after their beach-day drama.
When James Kennedy proposed to Raquel Leviss on the grounds of the Coachella music festival in what was dubbed “Rachella” during Vanderpump Rules Season 9, one person was heavily involved in the planning of the milestone occasion: Tom Sandoval.
On the show, Sandoval revealed that he helped foot the bill for the $25,000 proposal, and he did so because “nothing brings [him] more joy than to help a friend accomplish a dream that they have.”
Raquel and James ultimately called off their engagement about six months after the elaborate proposal, and when the latter cast member appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in February 2023, he revealed that he had no plans to repay Sandoval for the gesture.
“For the record, I did end up spending more than Tom [did] on that day, but no,” James responded when he was asked about the possibility of paying Sandoval back. “He doesn’t regret spending that much money. He’s just that good of a friend, like, that’s Sandoval. He does acts of kindness in the moment, and I don’t think he’d feel right asking me back for money.”
Fast-forward about a month later, and news broke that Sandoval and Ariana Madix had split after nine years of dating amid rumors that the Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras frontman had been involved with Raquel.
As a result, James now has a slightly different perspective on Sandoval’s proposal contribution. On the April 26 episode of WWHL, host Andy Cohen asked James if there was “anything suspect” about Sandoval helping to pay for the proposal in light of the recent drama surrounding his connection to Raquel.
“It wasn’t money to help the proposal, it was towards the fireworks, OK? That’s the only part,” James said, before saying that he didn’t think it was suspicious.
James’ friendship with Sandoval has changed as of late, but where do things stand with Tom Schwartz after the two got into an argument about Rachella on Episode 12?
In case you need a refresher, when James discussed how he was opening for Kaskade at the Imagine Music Festival during the group’s beach outing, Schwartz made a joke asking if the career milestone was “bigger than Rachella.”
James didn’t find the comment funny, and he later tossed some of his drink on Schwartz (though he said on WWHL that he “poured half of the beer out on the sand because [he’s] a gentleman”). While reflecting on the tense beach moment on WWHL, James said he didn’t think it was an overreaction.
“It wasn’t the Rachella part that annoyed me, it was the Imagine Festival part that annoyed me,” he explained. “It was about Imagine Festival, something I’ve worked so hard [for].”
Though Schwartz took a lot of heat for kissing Raquel at Scheana Shay’s August 2022 wedding, James said he doesn’t feel a lot of sympathy for Schwartz.
“I don’t feel bad for Schwartz,” he said, confirming that the two still aren’t on the friendliest of terms.
Watch Vanderpump Rules on Bravo Wednesdays at 9/8c and the next day on Peacock. And catch up on all past seasons of Vanderpump Rules on Peacock.
Watch WWHL on Bravo Sundays through Thursdays and the next day on Peacock. Catch up on the Bravo app.
