Ariana Madix’s attorneys have responded to Rachel “Raquel” Leviss’ revenge porn lawsuit by arguing that Leviss is seeking to blame Madix for the negative reactions she received as a result of her affair with Tom Sandoval. They claim that Leviss’ lawsuit is an abuse of the legal process and are seeking to have her allegations stricken and for Madix to be awarded her attorneys’ fees. Additionally, they argue that Leviss’ intent is not to vindicate any rights but to punish Madix and deter others from exercising their right of free speech.
Leviss filed the lawsuit in February, accusing Sandoval and Madix of eavesdropping, revenge porn, and invasion of privacy. Madix and Sandoval had dated for nearly a decade but broke up in March 2023 after Madix learned of the affair between Sandoval and Leviss. Madix discovered explicit videos of Leviss on Sandoval’s phone while they were dating, which led to the drama playing out on Vanderpump Rules. Madix’s legal team argued that she learned of the affair in a devastating way, found a video of the pair having phone sex, and immediately confronted Sandoval about it.
In response to Leviss’ lawsuit, Sandoval and his legal team requested that the suit against him be dismissed or amended. Leviss’ representatives, Bryan Freedman and Mark Garegos, responded to Madix’s filing in a statement, highlighting Madix’s devastation upon discovering the affair and her claim that she did not share any of the video footage she found with anyone but Leviss. Sandoval’s attorneys argued that Leviss’ lawsuit is an attempt to extend her fame and rebrand herself as the victim, while denigrating Madix as a scorned woman and Sandoval as predatory. Leviss’ legal team responded to Sandoval’s filing, calling his response disturbing and accusing him of leveraging claims for media attention and perpetuating victim-blaming.
Overall, the legal battle between Madix, Sandoval, and Leviss revolves around allegations of revenge porn, invasion of privacy, and eavesdropping. Madix’s attorneys argue that Leviss’ lawsuit is an abuse of the legal process and an attempt to punish Madix, while Sandoval’s legal team claims that Leviss is using the lawsuit to extend her fame and cast herself as a victim. Leviss’ attorneys have pushed back against these claims, accusing Sandoval of leveraging media attention and perpetuating victim-blaming. The ongoing legal battle suggests a complex web of allegations, responses, and counter-claims that will likely continue to play out in court.
