A legal battle involving former “Vanderpump Rules” stars Ariana Madix and Rachel “Raquel” Leviss has reached another major point. Madix has lost her appeal attempt to dismiss Leviss’ revenge porn lawsuit, meaning the case will continue through the legal process.

The dispute follows the highly publicized fallout known as “Scandoval,” which became one of the biggest storylines connected to the reality show.

According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Wednesday, August 5, the California Court of Appeals ruled against Madix’s effort to have Leviss’ lawsuit dismissed. The court determined that Madix did not prove that the claims against her involved constitutionally protected activity.

Instagram | arianamadix | The court rejected Madix’s protected-speech defense, allowing the lawsuit to move forward.

Madix’s legal team argued that the situation involved a matter of public interest because Leviss’ affair with Tom Sandoval became widely discussed after the breakup. The defense claimed that her actions were connected to speech protected under the First Amendment.

However, the court disagreed and stated that Madix “failed to meet her burden of establishing that the claims alleged against her arose from constitutionally protected activity.” The lawsuit will now continue as originally planned.

Details Behind Rachel Leviss’ Lawsuit

Leviss filed a lawsuit against Madix and Sandoval nearly a year after the “Scandoval” controversy began. The case includes allegations of revenge porn, eavesdropping, and invasion of privacy.

The lawsuit claims that Sandoval recorded sexually explicit videos of Leviss without her knowledge or consent. Leviss also alleged that the videos were later shared and discussed publicly during the aftermath of the affair.

Court documents from March 2024 stated that Leviss considered herself a victim of actions by Sandoval and Madix. The filing claimed that the situation caused serious emotional distress. It also stated that Leviss entered a mental health facility, where she stayed for three months.

Madix previously addressed the situation and denied sharing or keeping the explicit video. She explained that she found the recording on Sandoval’s phone after discovering his affair with Leviss.

Instagram | rachelleviss | Leviss filed suit against Madix and Sandoval citing illegal recording and privacy violations.

During an August 2023 appearance on Scheana Shay’s podcast, Madix said, “To be very clear, I have not shown or sent that video. I don’t have it. I did not hold on to it for any reason.”

Madix also stated that she only viewed a short portion of the video before contacting Leviss about the affair. She claimed that the recording was deleted before she confronted Leviss.

How the “Scandoval” Controversy Started

The conflict between Madix and Leviss began in March 2023 after Madix ended her relationship with Sandoval following his affair with Leviss. The situation quickly became a major storyline on “Vanderpump Rules.”

Leviss later left the reality series, while Madix and Sandoval remained on the show for another season. The controversy continued beyond television, eventually leading to the ongoing legal dispute.

The lawsuit between Rachel Leviss and Ariana Madix remains active after the California Court of Appeals rejected Madix’s appeal request. While Madix has continued to deny wrongdoing, Leviss’ claims will now move forward in court.

The case highlights the legal and personal consequences that followed one of reality television’s most widely discussed controversies.

Helen Hayward

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