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Raquel Leviss Refused to Return to ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Without a Big Raise … on January 19, 2024 at 4:12 pm The Hollywood Gossip

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In some ways, having an affair with Tom Sandoval was the worst mistake that Raquel Leviss ever made.

She lost pretty much all of her friends, and in subreddits and comment threads across the internet, Raquel’s name quickly became synonymous with “homewrecker.”

Now, the future of Raquel — or Rachel, as she prefers to be called now — career in reality TV seems to be open.

All because she demanded what was rightfully hers!

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Raquel spills the tea about her affair with Tom Sandoval. (Photo Credit: Bravo)

Raquel Leviss Refused To Return To ‘Vanderpump Rules’

Filming for Vanderpump Rules Season 11 got underway on June 28, 2023 and most of the usual suspects were been spotted shooting scenes in and around West Hollywood.

But not Raquel.

By August, she had made the official announcement that she would not be returning to the show.

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Raquel explained that money was the driving force behind her decision  to exit the show. In her view, she was by no means compensated fairly for what she brought to the show last season. 

“I haven’t seen a single penny,” she told Bethenny Frankel on her “ReWives” podcast. “It’s not fair. 

Prior to the Scandoval, the idea of the ditzy ex-beauty queen — a second tier character, at best — trying to negotiate a more lucrative contract would’ve been laughable.

But once the drama hit, Raquel became the show’s main attraction, and she didn’t see a dime for the time.

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Scheana Shay was once close friends with Raquel Leviss. (2023 Bravo Media LLC)

Raquel Admits She ‘Almost Went Back’ Despite No Raise

“It’s not fair,” Raquel added while talking to Bettheny. And I feel like a toddler saying, ‘It’s not fair.’ But it really isn’t.”

She went on: “I feel like I’ve been portrayed as the ultimate villain. My mistakes that I’ve made on camera live on forever. And you mentioned something about the addiction of doing reality TV and the way that they always dangle that carrot in front of you, like, ‘Well, you need to tell your side of the story otherwise it’s gonna be written for you.’ And that’s terrifying. So I almost went back, I know just because of that.”

It remains to be seen what will become of the Scandoval storyline in the next season of Vanderpump.

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Lisa Vanderpump attends the premiere party for Season 11 of Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules” at the Hollywood Palladium on January 17, 2024 ((Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images))

Vanderpump Rules season 11 premieres on January 30, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. The cast gathered for the premiere in Los Angeles two weeks before.

On the red carpet. matriarch of the whole affair Lisa Vanderpump admitted that she wished Raquel had reconsidered and returned.

“I think it would’ve behooved her to come back. I really do,” Vanderpump said to Page Six. “But maybe not the whole season because I think [the cast] were all pretty kind of reticent.”

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‘Vanderpump Rules’ Was Almost Cancelled

It’s hard to believe given all the buzz that surrounds the show these days, when there was a time, Vanderpump appeared to be on its way out.

Many of the OG drama-stirrers like Stassi Schroeder and Jax Taylor had been fired following a messy race-related scandal, and the show’s lackluster ninth season did not inspire hope for the future.

As the tenth season premiered, even longtime fans were suggesting that it might be time to shutter this show like one of Lisa Vanderpump’s less-popular WeHo eateries.

The Toms and Raquel at the Vanderpump Rules Season 10 reunion. (Photo Credit: Bravo)

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But when news got out that Sandoval was cheating on Ariana Madix with Raquel everything changed literally overnight.

Suddenly two of the show’s most boring characters were at the center of TV’s biggest scandal.

And just as quickly, a series that appeared to be on its last legs was making headlines and inspiring talk of spinoffs.

Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss attend the “Vanderpump Rules” Party For LALA Beauty on June 30, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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It’s all because of Tom and Raquel — which is why many people think that Leviss was right in asking for more money.

While several outlets reported at contract dispute as the official cause of Raquel’s absence at the time, others proposed different possibilities.

At the time, the last anyone heard, Raquel was in a mental healthcare facility in Arizona, having checked in amid the mounting pressure of the Scandoval.

Raquel Leviss attends the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles, California on March 22, 2022. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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So it’s possible that Raquel has been absent because she’s practicing self-care during what must be a very stressful time in her life.

Either way, we hope she’ll reconsider going back at SUR.

We’ve become addicted to Vanderpump being good again, and Raquel is a large part of what makes it work.

Raquel Leviss Refused to Return to ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Without a Big Raise … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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In some ways, having an affair with Tom Sandoval was the worst mistake that Raquel Leviss ever made. She lost …
Raquel Leviss Refused to Return to ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Without a Big Raise … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip. 

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What We Can Learn Inside 50 Cent’s Explosive Diddy Documentary: 5 Reasons You Should Watch

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50 Cent’s new Netflix docuseries about Sean “Diddy” Combs is more than a headline-grabbing exposé; it is a meticulous breakdown of how power, celebrity, and silence can collide in the entertainment industry.

Across its episodes, the series traces Diddy’s rise, the allegations that followed him for years, and the shocking footage and testimonies now forcing a wider cultural reckoning.

For viewers, it offers not just drama, but lessons about media literacy, accountability, and how society treats survivors when a superstar is involved.

Rapper 50 Cent pictured in Tup Tup Palace night club with owners James Jukes and Matt LoveDough, Newcastle, UK, 7th November 2015

1. It Chronicles Diddy’s Rise and Fall – And How Power Warps Reality

The docuseries follows Combs from hitmaker and business icon to a figure facing serious criminal conviction and public disgrace, mapping out decades of influence, branding, and behind-the-scenes behavior. Watching that arc shows how money, fame, and industry relationships can shield someone from scrutiny and delay accountability, even as disturbing accusations accumulate.

Rapper 50 Cent pictured in Tup Tup Palace night club with owners James Jukes and Matt LoveDough, Newcastle, UK, 7th November 2015

2. Never-Before-Seen Footage Shows How Narratives Are Managed

Exclusive footage of Diddy in private settings and in the tense days around his legal troubles reveals how carefully celebrity narratives are shaped, even in crisis.

Viewers can learn to question polished statements and recognize that what looks spontaneous in public is often the result of strategy, damage control, and legal calculation.

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3. Survivors’ Stories Highlight Patterns of Abuse and Silence

Interviews with alleged victims, former staff, and industry insiders describe patterns of control, fear, and emotional or physical harm that were long whispered about but rarely aired in this detail. Their stories underline how difficult it is to speak out against a powerful figure, teaching viewers why many survivors delay disclosure and why consistent patterns across multiple accounts matter.

4. 50 Cent’s Approach Shows Storytelling as a Tool for Accountability

As executive producer, 50 Cent uses his reputation and platform to push a project that leans into uncomfortable truths rather than protecting industry relationships. The series demonstrates how documentary storytelling can challenge established power structures, elevate marginalized voices, and pressure institutions to respond when traditional systems have failed.

5. The Cultural Backlash Reveals How Society Handles Celebrity Accountability

Reactions to the doc—ranging from people calling it necessary and brave to others dismissing it as a vendetta or smear campaign—expose how emotionally invested audiences can be in defending or condemning a famous figure. Watching that debate unfold helps viewers see how fandom, nostalgia, and bias influence who is believed, and why conversations about “cancel culture” often mask deeper questions about justice and who is considered too powerful to fall.

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South Park’s Christmas Episode Delivers the Antichrist

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A new Christmas-themed episode of South Park is scheduled to air with a central plot in which Satan is depicted as preparing for the birth of an Antichrist figure. The premise extends a season-long narrative arc that has involved Satan, Donald Trump, and apocalyptic rhetoric, positioning this holiday episode as a culmination of those storylines rather than a stand‑alone concept.

Episode premise and season context

According to published synopses and entertainment coverage, the episode frames the Antichrist as part of a fictional storyline that blends religious symbolism with commentary on politics, media, and cultural fear. This follows earlier Season 28 episodes that introduced ideas about Trump fathering an Antichrist child and tech billionaire Peter Thiel obsessing over prophecy and end‑times narratives. The Christmas setting is presented as a contrast to the darker themes, reflecting the series’ pattern of pairing holiday imagery with controversial subject matter.

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Public and political reactions

Coverage notes that some figures connected to Donald Trump’s political orbit have criticized the season’s portrayal of Trump and his allies, describing the show as relying on shock tactics rather than substantive critique. Commentators highlight that these objections are directed more at the depiction of real political figures and the show’s tone than at the specific theology of the Antichrist storyline.

At the time of reporting, there have not been widely reported, detailed statements from major religious leaders focused solely on this Christmas episode, though religion-focused criticism of South Park in general has a long history.

Media and cultural commentary

Entertainment outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, Forbes, Slate, and USA Today describe the Antichrist arc as part of South Park’s ongoing use of Trump-era and tech-world politics as material for satire.

These reports emphasize that the show’s treatment of the Antichrist, Satan, and prophecy is designed as exaggerated commentary rather than doctrinal argument, while also acknowledging that many viewers may see the storyline as offensive or excessive.

Viewer guidance and content advisory

South Park is rated TV‑MA and is intended for adult audiences due to strong language, explicit themes, and frequent use of religious and political satire. Viewers who are sensitive to depictions of Satan, the Antichrist, or parodies involving real political figures may find this episode particularly objectionable, while others may view it as consistent with the show’s long‑running approach to controversial topics. As with previous episodes, individual responses are likely to vary widely, and the episode is best understood as part of an ongoing satirical series rather than a factual or theological statement.

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Sydney Sweeney Finally Confronts the Plastic Surgery Rumors

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Sydney Sweeney has decided she is finished watching strangers on the internet treat her face like a forensic project. After years of side‑by‑side screenshots, “then vs now” TikToks, and long comment threads wondering what work she has supposedly had done, the actor is now addressing the plastic surgery rumors directly—and using them to say something larger about how women are looked at in Hollywood and online.

Sweeney at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival red carpet premiere of Christy

Growing Up on Camera vs. “Before and After” Culture

Sweeney points out that people are often mistaking normal changes for procedures: she grew up on camera, her roles now come with big‑budget glam teams, and her body has shifted as she has trained, aged, and worked nonstop. Yet every new red‑carpet photo gets folded into a narrative that assumes surgeons, not time, are responsible. Rather than walking through a checklist of what is “real,” she emphasizes how bizarre it is that internet detectives comb through pores, noses, and jawlines as if they are owed an explanation for every contour of a woman’s face.

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The Real Problem Isn’t Her Face

By speaking up, Sweeney is redirecting the conversation away from her features and toward the culture that obsesses over them.

She argues that the real issue isn’t whether an actress has had work done, but why audiences feel so entitled to dissect her body as public property in the first place.

For her, the constant speculation is less about curiosity and more about control—another way to tell women what they should look like and punish them when they do not fit. In calling out that dynamic, Sweeney isn’t just defending herself; she is forcing fans and followers to ask why tearing apart someone else’s appearance has become such a popular form of entertainment.


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