Tom Sandoval Is Hopeful ‘The Traitors’ Will Allow Him to Leave Behind Scandoval

“Vanderpump Rules” star Tom Sandoval is hoping that starring in season 3 of “The Traitors” will give him the redemption he’s been waiting for.

 “I knew I’d get a lot of mixed reactions. [But] when I was filming it, I knew I worked really hard and contributed, so I’d be considered a strong player, at least when it comes to the challenges,” he told Us Weekly in a March 11 interview.

Referring to the 2023 scandal dubbed “Scandoval” when he was caught cheating on his then-girlfriend, Ariana Madix, with fellow “Vanderpump Rules” star Rachel Leviss, Sandoval told Us Weekly that he used “The Traitors” to show him in a new light.

“[I knew] being in a more positive, fun, gaming environment would get people to see me in a different light because it’s less about starting up drama and more just about playing the game and the funny antics that come with that and the campiness of it all,” he said.

Now, he wants to distance himself from Scandoval and shared, “It’s been two years; I want to move on from that and continue with my life.”

The reality star added, “I want to leave that stuff in the past. I’m sure there’s still people out there who hold on to that — I know there are — but the hate has died down for sure. Whether they’re laughing with me [or] laughing at me, at least they’re laughing, and that’s what I love.”

Why ‘The Traitors’ Fans Thought Sandoval Was Reality Television Gold

Sandoval received many positive reviews after his stint in “The Traitors” season 3. A Reddit user posted in February, “Tom is the gift that keeps on giving in The Traitors,” after the episode aired of Sandoval frantically trying to sing a song backward into the phone during a challenge.

A fan replied, “Guys I was wheezing at this. Sam calling him a terrible singer and Alan quietly shaking with laughter in the background, I’m dead.”

Another viewer wrote, “Tom has been fun to watch on Traitors, I’ll admit it. I don’t want him to win, but he’s been great comic relief and he made this week’s episode. It’s hilarious that Bravo’s redemption arc failed so hard when it turns out he just needed to be made fun of relentlessly for a while.”

X users also weighed in on Sandoval’s return to reality television being surprisingly likable. “Tom Sandoval going on Traitors was the greatest career move that man could have made, I’ve gone from never wanting him on my screen again to needing him on every reality competition show moving forward,” a viewer posted on February 14.

“I agree. Tom is unintentionally funny. The camera loves him and he loves it back,” a fan replied.

Sandoval Thought His ‘Traitors’ Castmates Would Turn Against Him

Sandoval revealed that he was worried the shadow of Scandoval was going to follow him to Scotland and he would immediately be banished by his “Traitors” season 3 cast. “I felt like people might bring that opinion of me into the castle and get me out right away,” he admitted to People on March 4.

However, Sandoval ended up being valuable to the contestants and helped them win the singing challenge, as well as name Rob Mariano (Boston Rob) as a Traitor.

He revealed his plan going in and told People, “I felt like it was really important to just be nice, open-minded, build bonds with everyone and prove my worth and my value, in a sense of working hard to win missions and make money for the collective group.”