Ariana Madix: The Future Is Always Better Than the Past

Bravotv.com: You called this group the most toxic environment you've ever witnessed. What makes this group so toxic?

Ariana Madix: The poisonous gossip that occurs regularly within this group of people will suck your soul dry if you let it. Gossip and feeding off of other people's shortcomings is an addictive thing, but it makes me feel horrible about the life I'm living. I've been a witness to it, a participant in it, and a victim of it. It feels like an endless cycle of hurting and forgiving each other. It's been so hard for me to see people I care about being mistreated and feeling as though I'm the only person who cares that those things happened to them. It's every man for himself. I'm learning to only care about my own well-being because of that and I'm wondering if that's a good thing. I don't want to be that person. I love all of my friends and making a habit of talking about them when they aren't around is not something I want in my life. You can easily get caught in the spiral and it feels like shit in there. 

I think setting boundaries for yourself is a good thing and I'm sticking to those because I don't want to lose myself, regardless of whether or not it makes other people happy. If I'm happy and Tom and my family are happy, then I'm good. 

Bravotv.com: Do you forgive Scheana for texting your mom about Tom?

AM: Yes, I do. I had to make sure that everything was clear and out in the open. I didn't plan on busting out my phone in that moment, but I had been reading through everything knowing it would be brought up soon (and I had been sitting on my phone the entire day to play on it during breaks). Impulsively, I whipped it out when I felt the truth wasn't being told. Now that it has, it's a dead issue. 

Bravotv.com: Do you think your friendship with Scheana can ever go back to the way it was?

AM: Probably not, but that's ok. The future is always better than the past. When Scheana and I were at our closest, I was at a personal low. I'd rather everything be on a higher level. 

Bravotv.com: How do you think Lala and Brittany handled their first reunion? 

AM: I think they were both wonderful. They are so different from each other, but both are very strong women who know how to speak their minds. 

Bravotv.com: Do you think Stassi's motives this season were genuine or do you think she was using everyone to get back into the group?

AM: I think she did miss having Katie in her life. Katie is an amazing friend and person and Stassi would be a robot not to miss her. However, I think everything else about it made it clear that she wanted to be on the show. If there wasn't a show, it's a hard maybe that she would have eventually reached out to Katie, but I don't think she would have made any effort to speak to anyone else.