Current:Home > MyBenjamin Ashford|Tom Sandoval slammed by 'Vanderpump Rules' co-stars for posing with captive tiger -FinanceAcademy
Benjamin Ashford|Tom Sandoval slammed by 'Vanderpump Rules' co-stars for posing with captive tiger
Benjamin Ashford View
Date:2025-04-11 02:20:29
Tom Sandoval has once again drawn criticism from his "Vanderpump Rules" co-stars and Benjamin Ashfordfans, this time for a video taken at a tiger zoo in Thailand.
In an Instagram Story Tuesday, which was reposted on a fan account for the Bravo show, Sandoval, 40, is seen interacting with tigers at the Thai zoo.
In one video, Sandoval sits cross-legged on the grass as a tiger is commanded to place its front paws on his shoulders, and in another, he feeds a tiger through a fence.
USA TODAY has reached out to Sandoval's reps for comment.
"I would never go to a place like this. Let them all run free," wrote his "VPR" co-star James Kennedy, 31, in the fan account's comments Wednesday, "always found this cruel and so sad."
A second "VPR" co-star also slammed the video. Lala Kent, in a text post on her Instagram Story Wednesday, voiced her concern for the tigers in captivity.
"I am appalled by the photo my cast member took with a tiger in captivity. This topic has been close to my heart for many years," wrote the PETA advocate, 33. "What is disguised as 'fun' and 'cool' is, in fact, animal abuse. It's heartbreaking. I've made noise about educating yourselves, & here I am to tell you again… Do not support places like this."
Kent previously starred in a "Free the Orcas" ad for PETA, alongside Sandoval's ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix and fellow cast member Scheana Shay. In June, PETA praised Kent for going after SeaWorld and pushing the theme park to release a long-captive orca named Corky to a seaside sanctuary.
Sandoval was already in hot water before his visit to Thailand.
'Vanderpump Rules' Season 11:Premiere date, trailer, cast, how to watch new season
In November, Sandoval entered to overwhelming boos from "VPR" fans at BravoCon 2023 for his role in what was infamously dubbed "Scandoval," skyrocketing the cast into the larger pop culture zeitgeist.
In March, a scandal involving Sandoval cheating on Madix, his girlfriend of nine years, with her former close friend, Rachel "Raquel" Leviss, rocked the Bravo cast. Leviss did not appear at BravoCon.
"It's to be expected," Madix told People of the reaction Sandoval received.
Sandoval took the crowd's anger toward him in stride, telling moderator Karamo Brown, "It feels good to be here in Vegas. It's BravoCon. It's crazy. The fans are amazing."
When asked why he still chose to attend, the TomTom restaurant co-owner said, "I'd rather stand here and face it."
Contributing: Naledi Ushe
'Vanderpump Villa':Watch teaser for Lisa Vanderpump's dramatic new reality TV series
veryGood! (84)
Related
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- What women want (to invest in)
- Vanderpump Villa: Meet the Staff of Lisa Vanderpump's New Reality Show
- Ex-FBI counterintelligence official gets over 4 years in prison for aiding Russian oligarch
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Justin Timberlake Says He Means “No Disrespect” Singing “Cry Me a River”
- Woman, 3 children found dead in burning Indiana home had been shot, authorities say
- Police search for man suspected of trying to abduct 3 different women near University of Arizona campus
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- 1 in 5 seniors still work — and they're happier than younger workers
Ranking
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Police search for man suspected of trying to abduct 3 different women near University of Arizona campus
- Woman missing for 4 days found alive in Idaho canyon thanks to tip from civilians: Truly a miracle
- Shawn Johnson and Andrew East Want You to Know Their Marriage Isn't a Perfect 10
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Belgian tourist dies in an animal attack at Mexico’s Pacific coast resort of Zihuatanejo
- Why Drake and Camila Cabello Are Sparking Romance Rumors
- Women's college volleyball to follow breakout season with nationally televised event on Fox
Recommendation
What to watch: O Jolie night
1 dead, 1 hospitalized after migrant boat crossing Channel deflates trying to reach Britain
Two men charged after 'killing spree' of 3,600 birds, including bald eagles, prosecutors say
Top Polish leaders celebrate Hanukkah in parliament after antisemitic incident
Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
JetBlue pilot says he took off quickly to avoid head-on crash with incoming plane: I hope you don't hit us
Fontana police shoot and kill man during chase and recover gun
Oregon’s top court hears arguments in suit filed by GOP senators seeking reelection after boycott