Ariana Madix 'needed time to process' Tom Sandoval's cheating scandal

Ariana Madix needed time to "fully process" her acrimonious split from Tom Sandoval.

The 38-year-old star split from Tom, 40, after it emerged that he had a months-long affair with Rachel Leviss, and Ariana has now pushed back against the idea that she should've moved on sooner.

She said on the 'Vanderpump Rules' reunion episode: "The only way I was ever going to get anywhere is to fully process and let myself feel it.

"Last summer was really difficult, and I felt like ... as much as people were coming from a place of care, I felt like I was being pushed to be further along than I was ready for."

Ariana also rubbished Lala Kent's suggestion that she developed a God complex following Tom's 2023 cheating scandal.

She said: "I don’t think I’m Beyonce, I don’t think I’m God."

Lala previously accused her co-star of developing a God complex following the high-profile cheating scandal.

The 33-year-old TV star said: "I never in my life experienced someone who gets cheated on and suddenly she becomes God."

Lala even suggested that Ariana's approach to the TV show had been unprofessional.

The outspoken star explained: "This is what we do. We've been doing this for most of our adult lives.

"We've all experienced high highs and low lows and there's a responsibility that comes with living your life on camera. You have to be truthful, even when it's extremely uncomfortable..."

Prior to that, Ariana admitted that she wasn't ready to forgive Tom, explaining that she wasn't on the "Sandoval sympathy train".

Ariana shared: "My position has not changed that he doesn't get any sort of access to my life via me or via mutual friends.

"I'm not down with him being around. You know, I can quietly remove myself from situations that make me uncomfortable.

"I'm not the person to come to with the Sandoval sympathy train."

© BANG Media International