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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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Jennifer Lopez’s Ex Fires Back: “You Are the Problem”

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Ojani Noa Accuses J.Lo of Cheating After “Never Been Loved” Comments

Jennifer Lopez is once again at the center of a media storm — but this time, it’s her first husband, Ojani Noa, turning up the heat. Following Lopez’s recent Howard Stern Show interview, in which she claimed she has “never been truly loved” by any of her exes, Noa has publicly accused the superstar of cheating and playing the victim.

In the viral Instagram post that has now spread across major outlets like TMZ and New York Post, Noa didn’t hold back.

“Stop putting us down. Stop putting me down with your victim card,” he wrote. “The problem is not us. Not me. The problem is you. You’re the one who couldn’t keep it in your pants.”

“You Chose Fame and Lies Over Love”

Noa and Lopez were married briefly from 1997 to 1998, before her rise to Hollywood superstardom. In his explosive statement, he accused her of being unfaithful during their marriage, claiming she prioritized fame over their relationship.

“You have been loved a few times. You’ve been married four times. And have had countless relationships in between,” Noa continued. “You decided to lie, to cheat on me. You begged me to keep the marriage intact to avoid bad press.”

Noa described himself as “faithful, honest, and loving,” saying he uprooted his life and career to support Lopez at the beginning of her entertainment journey. “I left my family, my friends, everything behind for you,” he wrote, “but once fame came calling, you left me behind.”​

Lopez Silent Amid Growing Backlash

As of now, Jennifer Lopez has not publicly responded to Noa’s allegations. During her Howard Stern interview, the singer and actress claimed her former partners “weren’t capable” of loving her, saying, “It’s not that I’m not lovable… it’s that they’re not capable.”

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Her remarks were widely interpreted as referencing all of her ex-husbands — including Marc Anthony, Cris Judd, and Ben Affleck — but it was Noa who reacted first and most forcefully. His comments have ignited widespread debate online, with many questioning whether Lopez’s honesty came at the expense of others’ reputations.

Public Response and Media Fallout

The online reaction has been intense, with social media users split between defending Lopez’s right to share her truth and blasting her for allegedly rewriting history. Meanwhile, entertainment analysts note that the controversy adds to an increasingly turbulent year for the singer, following canceled tours, underperforming films, and ongoing scrutiny over her marriage to Affleck.

This latest backlash has also reignited conversations about Lopez’s highly publicized romantic history. As tabloids and fans speculate whether more exes might respond, the situation underscores an old truth in celebrity culture — that every candid confession comes with consequences.

For now, Jennifer Lopez remains silent. But in the court of public opinion, the debate about who’s really at fault in her love story is only just beginning.

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Selling Your Soul in Hollywood: The Hidden Cost of Fame

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By all appearances, Hollywood is a dream factory — a place where charisma, talent, and luck collide to create stars. But behind the camera lights and red carpets lies a conversation few inside the industry speak openly about: the spiritual and moral price of ambition.

For actor Omar Gooding, the idea of “selling your soul” in Hollywood isn’t a metaphor — it’s a moral process that begins with tiny compromises. In an October 2025 interview, Gooding explained that no one in Hollywood makes a literal deal with the devil. Instead, it’s the quiet yeses, the moments when comfort overrides conviction, that mark the beginning of the trade. “They don’t say, ‘Take this or you’ll never make it,’” he said. “They just put it in front of you. You choose.”

Those choices, he argues, create a pattern. Once you show that you’ll accept something you once resisted, the industry notices. “Hollywood knows who it can get away with what,” Gooding said. “One thing always leads to another.” The phrase “selling your soul,” in this context, means losing your say — doing what you’re told rather than what you believe in.

That moral tension has long shadowed the arts. Comedians like Dave Chappelle, who famously walked away from millions to preserve his creative integrity, often serve as examples of where conviction and career collide. In resurfaced interviews, Chappelle hinted that he felt manipulated and silenced by powerful figures who sought control of his narrative, warning that “they’re trying to convince me I’m insane.”

This isn’t just about conspiracy — it’s about agency. Hollywood runs on perception. Performers are rewarded for being agreeable, moldable, entertaining. Those who question the machine or refuse the script risk exile, while those who conform are elevated — sometimes beyond what they can handle.

We see the ‘collections’ all the time,” Gooding explained. “When the bill comes due, you can tell. They made that deal long ago.”

But the story doesn’t end in darkness. Gooding also emphasizes that in today’s entertainment landscape, artists have more control than ever. With streaming, social media, and creator‑driven platforms, performers don’t have to “play the game” to be seen. Independent creators can build their own stages, speak their own truths, and reach millions without trading authenticity for access.

Still, the temptation remains — recognition, validation, quick success. And every generation of artists must answer the same question: What are you willing to do for fame?

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As Gooding put it, “You just make the best choices you can. Because once it’s gone — your name, your peace, your soul — there’s no buying it back.”

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California Bans AI Clones from Replacing Real Talent

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California just made a dramatic stand for human creativity, defeating the threat of AI actor clones with a sweeping new law that puts people—not algorithms—back in the Hollywood spotlight. With the stroke of Governor Gavin Newsom’s pen in October 2025, the state has sent a clear message to studios, tech companies, and the world: entertainment’s heart belongs to those who create and perform, not to digital facsimiles.

California Draws a Hard Line: No More AI Clones

For months, the entertainment industry has been divided over the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Studios, lured by promises of cost-cutting and creative flexibility, have invested in software that can mimic an actor’s face, voice, and even emotional range. But for performers, this wave of synthetic reproduction has triggered alarm—encouraged by chilling stories of deepfakes, unauthorized digital doubles, and contracts that let studios reuse a star’s likeness indefinitely, sometimes without pay or approval.

The new California law, anchored by AB 2602 and AB 1836, changes everything:

  • Every contract must explicitly detail how studios can use digital replicas or voice models, preventing once-common “blank check” agreements that overlooked this risk.
  • No one—not studios nor streaming giants—can create or release AI-generated clones of an actor, living or dead, without clear, written consent from the performer or their estate.
  • The law gives families new powers to defend loved ones from posthumous deepfake exploitation, closing painful loopholes that once let virtual versions of late icons appear in new ads, films, or games.

Actors Celebrate a Major Victory

The legislation rides the momentum of the recent SAG-AFTRA strike, where real-life talent demanded control over their own digital destinies. Leaders say these protections will empower artists to negotiate fair contracts and refuse participation in projects that cross ethical lines, restoring dignity and choice in an industry threatened by silent algorithms.

Stars, unions, and advocacy groups are hailing the law as the most robust defense yet against unwanted AI replications.

As one actor put it, “This isn’t just about money—it’s about identity, legacy, and respect for real artists in a synthetic age.”

A New Chapter for the Entertainment Industry

California’s move isn’t just a victory for local talent—it’s a warning shot to studios everywhere. Companies will now be forced to rethink production pipelines, consult legal counsel, and obtain proper clearance before digitally cloning anyone. Global entertainment platforms and tech developers will need to comply if they want to do business in the world’s entertainment capital.

These laws also set a template likely to ripple through other creative fields, from musicians whose voices can be synthesized to writers whose work could be mimicked by generative AI. For now, California performers finally have a powerful shield, ready to fight for the right to shape their own public image.

Conclusion: Human Talent Takes Center Stage

With its no-nonsense ban on AI actor clones, California draws a bold line, championing the work, likeness, and very humanity of its creative stars. It’s a landmark step that forces the entertainment industry to choose: respect real talent, or face real consequences. The age of the consentless digital double is over—human performers remain the true source of Hollywood magic.

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