Tom Schwartz Reveals He's Closer To Jax Taylor Than Tom Sandoval After Being Axed From 'Vanderpump Rules'

Tom Schwartz may have spent years as Tom Sandoval's best friend on the Bravo reality show "Vanderpump Rules." These days, however, he's closer to another co-star: Jax Taylor.

In a new interview, Tom Schwartz, who also filmed a season of Fox's "Stars on Mars," revealed that after Bravo axed the cast of "Vanderpump Rules" from the show, everybody has taken personal time to get themselves together. He also shared some behind-the-scenes information about which of his past "VPR" castmates he's closest to.

"Vanderpump Rules" aired its first episode in 2013, and since then, it has become a pop culture phenomenon, especially for reality TV fans.

However, the series that viewers know and love will be getting a facelift when it returns for season 12.

Lisa Vanderpump and Bravo announced that the network would axe the original members, including Scheana Shay, Schwartz, and Sandoval, in exchange for fresh faces.

The decision came after a challenging final two seasons between the original cast members due to Sandoval's salacious affair with former co-star Raquel Leviss.

In an interview with E! News, Schwartz discussed how he and his former colleagues have been dealing with the news, saying they've spent time away from each other to center themselves.

"Everyone's taking a little time to just recalibrate [and] enjoy their peace and time apart," he said. "I think there's still a lot of love and respect amongst the castmates, but regardless of what happens in the future, I think we needed a little break."

Despite spending years alongside his bestie, Sandoval, and opening a sandwich shop with him, Schwartz shared a surprising revelation about where his relationships with his "Pump Rules" cast mates stand today.

"I see Scheana and [her husband] a lot," he said before saying he also interacts with "Lala [Kent] a lot."

Additionally, the 42-year-old said that he spends a lot of time with "VPR's" OG villain, Taylor.

"Yeah, I see Jax [Taylor] a lot; he's my neighbor now," he said.

Even though Bravo fans are losing many of the characters they've spent years watching on "Vanderpump Rules," several of them still have jobs with the network.

Brittany Cartwright, Kristen Doute, and Taylor are all featured in one of Bravo's newest shows called "The Valley."

The second season will premiere on the network soon, and, according to Schwartz, he'll make a few appearances next to Kent and Shay.

“They might pepper a little Schwartz in here or there," he said before teasing that the next batch of episodes will be a "doozy."

"What I do know, just because they are my friends and I know what is going on, it is going to be a hell of a season," he finished.

After Sandoval's affair became breaking news, fracturing their friend group and show forever, Schwartz revealed that the negative attention surrounding him became too much for him to bear.

While appearing on Cartwright and Taylor's podcast, "When Reality Hits," the dog-dad and seasoned reality star told his fans that he was "taking a break" from Sandoval to avoid the drama and prevent him from becoming bitter.

"He made a big mess and left for us to clean up. It's hard for [me] not to be resentful. I'm taking a break from Tom right now. I haven't spoken to him in a while," he shared.

Although Sandoval's affair didn't involve Schwartz, the reality star still lost the relationship he had with Sandoval's then-girlfriend, Ariana Madix.

As more details about the affair became public, Madix learned that Schwartz, at some point, knew of the affair; however, he chose not to disclose the information to her.

Madix confronted Schwartz about the betrayal during the season 10 finale, where she told him that they were no longer in a friendly space.

"I don't think you are a [co-conspirator], but I will not have mutual friends with him. So I am not your friend anymore," she told him.

On "Watch What Happens Live," Madix kept the same energy, blasting Schwartz for covering Sandoval's behavior.

"I don't think it was just covering," she toldAndy Cohen. "I think it was actively participating in my downfall."