Good morning, Vanderpump Rules star Rachel Leviss (previously known as Raquel Leviss) made a surprise appearance on Bethenny Frankel’s Just B with Bethenny Frankel podcast this morning, and opened up about Scandoval for the first time since the VPR reunion special. Here are the biggest revelations from the interview, via Daily Mail and Today:
On changing her name:
“So I changed my name to Raquel in first grade. There were a few other Rachels in my class and I wanted to be special. I also feel like deep down, I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin. I wanted to be somebody better in my eyes. And so Raquel was a way for me to kind of be that person.”
Rachel went on to add that she decided to change her name back after speaking to a therapist, saying “I feel like most of my life, I’ve been afraid, I’ve struggled with social anxiety, I’ve struggled with judgment for other people. So having a fear of vulnerability makes sense. So I’m really just trying to come back to my roots, and I’m introducing myself as Rachel.”
On the “uncalled for” way Ariana Madix spoke to her:
“Part of me says, good for you, because take advantage of these opportunities while they come your way. But it is hurtful to me just to think that — my nature is very kind and forgiving and understanding of other people, so the concept of me being the ultimate reality TV villain just blows my mind. And the way that she spoke to me at the reunion, I feel like it was uncalled for.”
On taking time away from the spotlight:
“It’s been a whirlwind, it’s been chaos. But I’ve taken some time to myself to reflect and try to understand my actions. And I finally have come to the place where it makes sense to me. Part of the reason why I wanted to take some time away is just because it was so chaotic and loud, and there was such vitriol online.”
On spending time in a treatment facility:
“But then the other part of the reason why I wanted to go to a treatment facility was to understand my behaviors and my goal was to really get down to the bottom of, ‘OK why am I choosing men that are unavailable, why do I keep finding myself in unhealthy relationships, what are the things that I need to change about my behavior.’ And in knowing that I needed to make a change, I first had to know what leads to those behaviors.”
On being a punching bag:
“As a viewer tuning in, it’s easy to get wrapped up in that. Then the concept of an affair hits really hard to a lot of people. So I think there was a lot of projection happening, a lot of emotions that came up for people, and unfortunately I was the punching bag for a lot of that.”
On the reason for her affair with Tom:
“I do want to take a moment though to just acknowledge the hurt that I brought to a lot of people. I was not careful in my actions and I was not thinking long-term. I was completely wrapped up in heartbreak and wanting to get certain needs met.”
She added, “Looking back now, I can see that I was still healing from a relationship from someone I thought I was going to marry. And in ending that, I still haven’t healed yet.”
Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm, She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.