Rachel Leviss Gets Candid About Mental Health Amid 'Scandoval'

Bethenny Frankel has been giving "Vanderpump Rules" star Rachel 'Raquel' Leviss a chance to tell her story this week on her podcast.

In the three part series released this week, Leviss, 28, has given her perspective on "Scandoval," the event that has propelled "Vanderpump Rules" straight into popular culture pandemonium in 2023. News broke earlier this spring of Leviss' affair with Tom Sandoval, 40. Sandoval had been dating Leviss' close friend Ariana Madix for nearly 10 years. The events of the affair propelled the show and the cast past reality TV circles and into national news circuits. The three-part reunion of 'VPR's tenth season broke gigantic rating milestones for Bravo.

Since the reunion aired in May, Leviss has not spoken out about her affair with Sandoval or the vitriol she has received in the wake of "Scandoval."

The"Real Housewives of New York" alumna has given Leviss to do so in a three part episode this week. Episode one was released on Wednesday, August 16th, with the conversation's conclusion released today, August 18th.

Leviss discussed everything from Bravo's reception to her needs, "Insiders" reportedly refusing to dispel rumors she had gone to a spa instead of treatment, and the ways in which the lessons she learned in treatment have helped her work through the aftermath of "Scandoval."

Last month, The Blast reported on Leviss' effort to obtain better pay from the network.

Her decision to abstain from filming the following season of "Vanderpump Rules" has reportedly lead her to concentrate on her family life and mental health in Arizona.

Leviss' mental health care was reportedly an element of concern ahead of the reunion; the reality star discusses Bravo's reception and process in providing Leviss with resources with Frankel.

According to the reality star, she was allegedly promised a "mental health advocate" ahead of the reunion's first two parts. The advocate was reportedly supposed to be available to Leviss while she watched the first two parts of the reunion. However, as she told Frankel, the advocate was allegedly taken away from her a day prior to when filming was scheduled to begin.

Leviss attributed the network's decision was made after she had been spotted speaking to the paparazzi. She alleges Bravo made the decision in the aftermath of the aforementioned interview with the belief she no longer needed mental health resources due to her decision to speak to cameras.

The "Vanderpump Rules" star states several times in the interview that Bravo refused to "reimburse" her for the cost of treatment. She went on to say she has "a theory" that the network would have to "admit to a liability" if they did reimburse the star for her treatment.

Leviss has undoubtedly experienced a whole new level of fame since news of her affair with Sandoval broke. She discussed the countless thoughts and conclusions she has come to in hindsight with Frankel, but one of the bigger ones may be the realization that she "needed" their relationship to be unearthed.

She called the scandal the "biggest wakeup call," adding that she "needed to get caught" to be able to begin working on herself.

Frankel soon asked whether Leviss could see herself returning to the show, which Leviss responded with a resounding "Hell no." She added she "refuses" to disrespect herself on a level where she would allow herself to continue enduring the level of emotional abuse she had been experiencing previously.

Leviss broke her Instagram silence yesterday when she posted a promo for the podcast.

She also commended Kristen Doute for speaking up about comments Leviss had made in part two about their mutual ex, James Kennedy, on her Instagram story.

Leviss' other 'VPR' cast mates have been seemingly quiet on social media about Leviss' episode, as of this writing.

All three episodes of Frankel's conversation are now available to stream!