Tom Sandoval responded to Rachel “Raquel” Leviss’ revenge porn lawsuit, calling it a “thinly veiled attempt to extend her fame and to rebrand herself as the victim instead of the other woman.”
According to court documents obtained by Page Six, attorneys for the “Vanderpump Rules” star, 41, also say Leviss is attempting to paint Ariana Madix as a “scorned woman” and Sandoval as “predatory” with her suit.
The attorneys go on to claim that Leviss’ “provocative podcast,” “Rachel Goes Rogue,” is also a move “to further bend the narrative to her will” in the aftermath of Scandoval.
In February, the former pageant queen, 29, filed a complaint in the Los Angeles Superior Court against Madix and Sandoval for revenge porn, eavesdropping, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy.
She claims that intimate FaceTime calls which showed her “in a state of undress and masturbating” between her and the TomTom owner were filmed without her consent.
Sandoval’s attorneys go on to argue that “these videos were created by Leviss and published by Leviss to Sandoval via a consensual exchange on Facetime, i.e., ‘their video calls.’”
They’re also asking that Leviss’ lawsuit be dismissed or amended.
“Based on Leviss’ own allegations, Sandoval merely saved private copies of the videos that Leviss had filmed and shared with him,” the documents read.
Leviss’ original suit noted that she takes responsibility for the role she played in Sandoval cheating on Madix, 38 — who he’d been dating for nearly a decade — but claims there is “more to the story.”
“Lost in the mix was that Leviss was a victim of the predatory and dishonest behavior of an older man, who recorded sexually explicit videos of her without her knowledge or consent, which were then distributed, disseminated and discussed publicly by a scorned woman seeking vengeance, catalyzing the scandal,” the complaint claims.
For more Page Six reality TV updates…
Leviss is seeking compensatory, special, general and consequential damages, and that Madix and Sandoval cease distribution and destroy all copies made of the alleged explicit video.
She’s also looking to have her attorney fees compensated and that the court grant other and further relief deemed as just and proper.
Sandoval isn’t the only person who’s slammed Leviss’ revenge porn claims. Lisa Vanderpump also called out the “Vanderpump Rules” alum for her involvement in Scandoval, calling her lawsuit “ridiculous.”
“I think if you don’t want to have somebody share your porn, then don’t send it to your best friend’s boyfriend,” Vanderpump said, alluding to Sandoval, 41.
“Vanderpump Rules” airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
