Raquel Leviss Keeps Her ‘Distance’ From Katie Maloney After Tom Hookup
A cast divided. As she plays coy about her date with Tom Schwartz, Raquel Leviss hinted that her friendship with Katie Maloney went through a rough patch after filming season 10 of Vanderpump rules.
“[We are] not on the best conditions. I can’t speak for her, but I just keep my distance and let her work out her feelings,” Leviss, 28, told exclusively. Us Weekly at BravoCon on Saturday, October 15.
The model didn’t weigh in on romantic rumors about her and Schwartz, 39, did reveal that the costars were getting closer amid their respective splits. “Right now we are good friends. I would like to [our breakups] brought us together as friends and we were able to support each other,” she added. “I didn’t expect that friendship to blossom, but I’m glad it did.”
Leviss’ insight into her connection to TomTom’s co-owner comes two months later U.S confirmed the costars were getting cozy during Scheana Shay and Brock Davies‘ wedding. At the time, an insider revealed that the California native and Schwartz “meant each other” after celebrating their costars’ big moment.
Earlier that year, the business owner and Maloney, 35, announced their split after more than a decade. “Well, this sucks,” Schwartz wrote via Instagram in March. ‘I am not the victim. I’m not going to write too sad a song. Fully respect Katie’s decision and we’ve had healthy, productive conversations about it. It would be much sadder if she decided to stay with me when she’s not happy.”
In his lengthy statement, the Minnesota resident noted that his “heart aches” amid the major life change. How am I supposed to capture 12 years of love in a canned Instagram caption from af-king. I’m not quite ready to use the ‘D’ word yet [because] it’s too painful,” he continued. “We’ve had some of the most blissful, romantic, and fun times humanly possible over the course of our relationship. I’m talking about earth-level joy. She taught me so much about love and being a better partner.”
For her part, the former SUR waitress revealed that it was her decision to pull the plug on their marriage.
“I realized that I really had to prioritize myself and also my happiness. It just had to happen. That’s exactly what everything inside of me said, I thought it got to a point where I felt like I was going to burst,” she shared on an episode of her podcast “You’re Gonna Love Me” that same month. “It was building up for months. I just didn’t feel connected. I felt like I was drifting further and further away.”
A month later, the Utah resident explained how Leviss split from James Kennedy inspired her to take a peek into her own love life. “When they announced at the reunion that they broke it — it was kind of empowering because when you try to figure out what to do and you see other people are strong and their beliefs are like that, you think, ‘Okay, I can do it, I can do it,” Maloney told exclusively U.S in April.
At the time, the former beauty pageant contestant joined Maloney’s podcast to discuss their individual breakups. (Leviss and Kennedy, 30, shocked their costars when they confirmed their split during the season 9 reunion in January.)
“It was a processing thing. Like realizing, “Is this really the relationship for me?” Coming to terms with it and mentally taking the steps to prepare to leave a relationship that no longer serves you in a way that you need to be in a relationship,” Leviss recalled of ending a relationship. her engagement. “I think seeing other people leave relationships that aren’t for them anymore, it’s inspiring. And I think deep inside that when you get that feeling, you have to trust your gut and go through with it. Do what you need to know mentally to prepare, but don’t string that person down if they’re not the person for you.”
During the Vanderpump rules panel at BravoCon, Leviss noted that she was still exploring her dating options. “I’m single and I’m living my life,” she told fans about her view on relationships.
In the meantime, U.S confirmed earlier this month that Schwartz and Maloney’s divorce had been officially finalized.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi