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Fans of Vanderpump Rules were deeply saddened when stars Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz announced their separation in March 2022. The couple had been together since before the show began. While the news didn't come as a shock due to the couple's notorious fights portrayed over the seasons, it shifted the dynamics within the Vanderpump Rules universe.Fans soon began to question what the show will look like now that the pair are officially divorced. With Katie and Tom sharing many of the same friends, people wondered how those friendship circles might begin to change because of the split. Ariana Maddox is a good friend of both Katie and Tom, but she's also the partner of Tom Sandoval - aka half of TomTom. With the two men being such close friends and business partners, people began to wonder if Katie and Ariana would remain friends after the divorce.
How Are Katie And Ariana Making Their Friendship Work?
Thanks to how amicable things are between Katie and Tom, Ariana and Katie have maintained the same level of friendship they had before the breakup. On an episode of her podcast in August, Katie called Tom, her best friend despite everything going on in their life.
The only friend that Katie lost throughout the divorce is Racquell Leviss. The reality tv star all but said she and Racquell aren't friends anymore in a reply on Instagram. When a fan asked Katie if she had lost any friends from the divorce during her "Ask Me Anything" via her Instagram stories, she responded truthfully. She said, "I didn't lose any friends, I just discovered who wasn't my true friend in the end."
Katie's posts came nearly a week after news broke that Racquell and Tom had hooked up at Scheana Shay's wedding in Mexico. The blowout from the hook-up is expected to be featured during season 10 of Vanderpump Rules, airing in early 2023.
There have been some other rifts within the group as well. Katie's good friend and co-star, Lala Kent, told Andy Cohen on an episode of Watch What Happens Live that she is no longer speaking to Tom Schwartz. She decided to cut Tom out of her life in response to him continuing to have a relationship with her ex, Randall Emmett.
Katie told E! News that she couldn't fault Lala for cutting Tom out. She told them explicitly that if they stayed in contact with Randall, she wouldn't be in their lives, and Tom broke the rules.
How Does Ariana Feel About Katie And Tom Schwartz Divorcing?
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Ariana told reporters that her jaw was on the ground after Schwartz told her about the divorce. She and her boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, have been longtime friends of both Katie and Tom. It was hard for them to see the relationship's demise, and shocking.
Ariana still sees Tom frequently and says that it depends on the day as to how he's doing. She told Us Weekly that Tom has ups and downs but seems to be doing as well as he can. She said she couldn't imagine what either of them could be going through. The pair had been together since 2012, and while the idea of beginning a new life after a break-up is exciting, she said she's sure in some other ways it's complicated.
Katie and Ariana have always been good about separating their friendship from the friendship of the men in their lives. While the two will have some learning curves to navigate through this break-up, the women are determined to stay friends.
When talking with Extra, Ariana assured fans, "it's not like a sides' thing, you know, I just want both of them to be happy, and I'm excited for what's next for both of them." Tom Sandoval echoed her statements, saying that the couple is trying to balance giving Katie and Tom their space while being there for them as much as possible.
Are Katie And Ariana Still Opening A Sandwich Shop Together?
Katie and Tom's break up has not stopped Ariana and Katie's quest from opening a sandwich shop together. Fans will get an introduction to the pair's new business endeavor in the upcoming season of Vanderpump Rules. The women held a tasting at the season finale for their upcoming shop Something About Her, featuring a few sandwiches. One of the items on the menu is a spicy turkey sandwich.
Katie originally asked Tom to open the sandwich shop with her, but he said no. He felt he was too preoccupied with opening his new bar, Schwartz & Sandy's, with his longtime friend and business partner Tom Sandoval.
The women are hoping to open their sandwich shop called Something About Her soon. According to Page Six, they've been eyeing multiple locations in the San Fernando area. Their goal, along with making the best sandwich you've ever eaten, is to spotlight and support other female-owned businesses.
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