“The Curious Case of the Lightning Bolt Necklace: Unpacking the Scandal Involving a French Tycoon and a Former Model”

The Affair of the Lightning Bolt Necklace: Unpacking the Scandal

The world of entertainment has been rocked once again, this time by the end of the relationship between Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss, stars of the reality TV show Vanderpump Rules. The story of their affair, which supposedly involved a matching pair of lightning bolt necklaces and was exposed by explicit recordings in March of this year, has been thoroughly documented by Vulture news blogger Bethy Squires in a detailed timeline. Beyond the superficial drama, however, is a deeper commentary on the nature of relationships in the public eye and the power dynamics that are often at play.

The Prehistory of Scandoval

The story begins with Raquel making her debut on Vanderpump Rules as the girlfriend of James Kennedy, a recurring character on the show. She is introduced as a pageant girl and moves in with Kennedy, sharing a tiny apartment with a bedsheet wall. At that time, Tom and Ariana Madix, who have been in a two-year relationship by then, discuss Raquel’s move with Lala Kent.

In 2021, James Kennedy put on a mini music festival called “Rachella” with funding from Sandoval, during which he proposed to Raquel. “Rachella” alludes to the festival Coachella, which is beloved by Tom, Ariana, Raquel, and James, but also sounds like Raquel’s birth name of Rachel.

Later that year, in December, James Kennedy and Raquel Leviss announced their separation after five years together, citing different goals as the reason. Raquel kept their shared dog, Graham.

Covert Ops and Cracks in the Story

In April of the following year, Raquel posted a photo of her and Sandoval at Coachella, captioning it “I’m on an island.” Later that spring, rumors surfaced that Raquel was spotted making out with Tom Schwartz at Coachella, which turned out to be false as Tom No. 2 wasn’t even at Coachella. In August, a girls’ trip to Las Vegas and Lake Havasu apparently turned sour when Ariana got a call that her dog Charlotte was dying, and she had to leave. The next day, Raquel left as well, feeling bullied by the other girls. Tom alleges that the affair started during this trip.

At Scheana Shay’s wedding to Brock Davies in August of that year, Tom and Raquel hooked up, and Raquel also kissed Schwartz on camera at the wedding. This was when Tom No. 1 claims he found out about the affair but thought it was a one-time mistake. On Labor Day, Tom stayed at a party rather than going to comfort Ariana after her grandmother died, and according to former cast member Jax Taylor, he was with Raquel at the party. In September, James Kennedy’s new girlfriend, Ally Lewber, saw Raquel and Tom dancing at one in the morning, leading to denials by Tom, Raquel, and Ariana. It is around this time that Raquel buys a lightning bolt necklace from LA boutique Polka Dots and Moon Beams, which is later shown in the would-be season 10 finale. Fans speculate that Tom and Raquel wear matching lightning bolt necklaces as a secret token of their love, as Tom uses a lot of lightning bolt imagery in general, adorning the TomTom logo, his motorcycle and matching sidecar, and his stage wear for Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras.

The Exposé

In September, Raquel was spotted riding Tom’s shoulders to get a better view of the stage at Las Vegas’ Life is Beautiful festival, and in October, she showed up to BravoCon Day 3 wearing a TomTom hoodie. During a performance of Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras show at TomTom on March 1, 2023, an explicit recording of Sandoval and Raquel was found on Tom’s phone by Ariana Madix, leading to Sandoval’s confession of the affair with Raquel. Days later, the scandal known as Scandoval broke to the public, and the cast unfollowed Tom and Raquel on Instagram, en masse. 

The reunion show filming took place on March 23, during which Sandy and Raquel were attacked from all sides. After the tense filming, Sandy took Raquel to dinner at Musso and Frank, the same restaurant where he took Ariana for their ninth anniversary in January. In April, a rep for Leviss announced that she had entered a voluntary facility for mental health counseling. In May, at a Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras show, Sandoval sang a cover of “Stacy’s Mom,” with changed lyrics about Schwartzy’s mom. Some sources report that Raquel has moved on from Tom, while others, like Ariana, claim that she is still sending him letters.

The Symbolism of the Lightning Bolt Necklace

The most discussed aspect of Scandoval appears to be the matching lightning bolt necklaces worn by Tom and Raquel, which some fans have speculated were a secret symbol of their love. Lightning bolts are often used as a symbol of energy and power, and in mythology, the god Zeus is associated with lightning bolts as a symbol of his power. This interpretation fits in with the power dynamics in the relationship between Tom and Raquel, with Tom being the more established star of Vanderpump Rules and Raquel being a newer addition who may have been seeking to boost her profile. The lightning bolt necklaces could be seen as a symbol of the power Tom had over Raquel in the relationship.

Conclusion: Debating the Merits of Scandoval

The Scandoval scandal may seem like a frivolous distraction from the important issues of the day, but it raises questions about the power dynamics in relationships in the public eye and the way that fame and publicity can impact how we view ourselves and others. The lightning bolt necklace may seem like a small thing, but it represents a larger cultural obsession with symbolism and the power of objects to convey deep meaning. Ultimately, the scandal reminds us that relationships are complex and multifaceted, and even those that seem like fairy tales can come apart at the seams.

As for what advice to give to Tom, Raquel, and the other cast members of Vanderpump Rules, it’s hard to say. Relationships in the public eye are always going to be under scrutiny, and the pressures of fame can often exacerbate existing issues. Perhaps the best thing that can be done is to step back from the spotlight and focus on personal growth and healing. Only time will tell whether Scandoval will be remembered as a cautionary tale or simply a footnote in the annals of reality TV history.