Following Scheana Shay’s admission at BravoCon about her time spent with Ariana’s cheating ex-boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix is talking candidly about their relationship. After Scheana, 38, acknowledged that she had been hanging out with Sandoval, 40, she insisted that she confront him about the remarks he had made about Ariana, 38, during their time together. Ariana then disclosed whether or not they had spoken since, provided an update on her marriage-related thoughts, and disclosed that she had almost declined to appear on Vanderpump Rules.
“I was dating someone at the time who told me that reality TV and anybody who’s involved with it is disgusting. I’m glad that I not only got over that guy but got over all of that,” Ariana revealed on Access Hollywood‘s Golf Cart Confessions.
As for what changed her mind, it was her acting teacher.
“She actually said, ‘You have an opportunity in front of you. You never know when an opportunity like this will ever happen again. Until you have Martin Scorsese knocking at your door, you gotta take the opportunities that are in front of you,’” Ariana recalled.
Ariana reflected on her time on Pump Rules and noted that, although there have been moments when she has second-guessed her choice to participate, it has ultimately been worthwhile.
“There have been times when I’ve wondered, ‘What have I got myself into?'” Was I intended for this? Can I take criticism well, as well as the occasional outright trolling that occurs? But in the end, I believe it was all worthwhile because I got to interact with people and meet other show fans. When I realized that our stories were similar and that we could build a friendship, that’s what made me think, “You know what? “It’s all worthwhile,” she disclosed.
Moving on to her dating life, Ariana named Andre 3000 as her celebrity crush and said that “it depends” when asked if she’d ever date a celebrity.
As Pump Rules fans well know, Ariana is currently committed, having stuck up a romance with Daniel in April, weeks after her messy split from Sandoval, who was caught cheating on her with Rachel “Raquel” Leviss, 29, in March.
“I didn’t think about it that much,” Ariana said of her mindset going into the new romance. “I was like, ‘I am such a careful, anxious, and like overly cautious person and that’s what got me to where I was before.’ So part of me was like, ‘Caution to the wind.’”
“Also, it helps that all of my longest friends from 20 years ago are also his longest friends from 20 years ago. I know exactly what’s up,” she added.
As Ariana and Daniel continue their long-distance relationship, with her in Los Angeles and him in New York City, Ariana said she appreciates their time apart.
“You’re able to have time away and time to evaluate and process. It’s a lot less intense that way but you are able to just have really amazing times together when you are together,” she explained.
Then, when asked if she’s in love, a blusing Ariana said, “I don’t know.”
“I’m going where the good is. And someone who’s supportive and positive and brings good to my life, I’m gonna keep them around,” she clarified.
In recent years, Ariana has said that she’s not interested in getting married or having children. But these days, she seems to be open to the idea of marriage — at least from a legal standpoint.
“It’s less about the marriage part [that I’m not into]. It’s all of the wedding and the festivities,” she clarified. “I would want it to be just about me and the other person.”
Also during her appearance on Golf Cart Confessionals, Ariana said the wildest thing she heard about “Scandoval” was that it was “staged” to promote her sandwich shop and noted that she wore her “revenge dress” to “feel strong.”
Ariana discussed her most recent Dancing With the Stars performance in a different interview with Access Hollywood, stating that she was “thrilled” to perform to Britney Spears’ music.
“There must be Britney if there is going to be a music video night, and I would fight someone to do Britney,” she said. “I wanted to make sure that Britney would be proud of her fan girl right here when this dance lives on, on the internet or whatever.”
Following the dance, Ariana received a 10 from guest judge Paula Abdul, who Ariana described as an “icon.”
Ariana was then asked if she’d spoken to Scheana since she admitted to spending time with Sandoval at BravoCon after-party last weekend.
“I have [talked to her]. We’re good,” Ariana confirmed.
Vanderpump Rules season 11 is set to begin airing on