Tom Schwartz says he is better friends with Jax Taylor than with Tom Sandoval since leaving ‘Vanderpump Rules’

During a recent interview, Tom Schwartz, known for appearing on “Vanderpump Rules” and “Stars on Mars,” discussed how the cast members of “Vanderpump Rules” have been focusing on themselves after being removed from the Bravo show. He also mentioned the close relationships he maintains with some of his former castmates from “VPR.”

“Vanderpump Rules” aired its first episode in 2013, and since then, it has become a pop culture phenomenon, especially for reality TV fans.

However, the series that viewers know and love will be getting a facelift when it returns for season 12.

After an announcement by Lisa Vanderpump and Bravo, it was revealed that long-standing members of the show, such as Scheana Shay, Schwartz, and Sandoval, would be replaced with new faces.

This decision followed a tumultuous period for the original cast, marked by conflicts arising from Sandoval’s scandalous involvement with his former colleague Raquel Leviss.

In an interview with E! News, Schwartz discussed how he and his former colleagues have been dealing with the news, saying they’ve spent time away from each other to center themselves.

“Everyone’s taking a little time to just recalibrate [and] enjoy their peace and time apart,” he said. “I think there’s still a lot of love and respect amongst the castmates, but regardless of what happens in the future, I think we needed a little break.”

Despite spending years alongside his bestie, Sandoval, and opening a sandwich shop with him, Schwartz shared a surprising revelation about where his relationships with his “Pump Rules” cast mates stand today.

“I see Scheana and [her husband] a lot,” he said before saying he also interacts with “Lala [Kent] a lot.”

Additionally, the 42-year-old said that he spends a lot of time with “VPR’s” OG villain, Taylor.

“Yeah, I see Jax [Taylor] a lot; he’s my neighbor now,” he said.

Even though Bravo fans are losing many of the characters they’ve spent years watching on “Vanderpump Rules,” several of them still have jobs with the network.

Brittany Cartwright, Kristen Doute, and Taylor are all featured in one of Bravo’s newest shows called “The Valley.”

The second season will premiere on the network soon, and, according to Schwartz, he’ll make a few appearances next to Kent and Shay.

“They might pepper a little Schwartz in here or there,” he said before teasing that the next batch of episodes will be a “doozy.”

“What I do know, just because they are my friends and I know what is going on, it is going to be a hell of a season,” he finished.

After Sandoval’s affair became breaking news, fracturing their friend group and show forever, Schwartz revealed that the negative attention surrounding him became too much for him to bear.

While appearing on Cartwright and Taylor’s podcast, “When Reality Hits,” the dog-dad and seasoned reality star told his fans that he was “taking a break” from Sandoval to avoid the drama and prevent him from becoming bitter.

“He made a big mess and left for us to clean up. It’s hard for [me] not to be resentful. I’m taking a break from Tom right now. I haven’t spoken to him in a while,” he shared.

Although Sandoval’s affair didn’t involve Schwartz, the reality star still lost the relationship he had with Sandoval’s then-girlfriend, Ariana Madix.

As more details about the affair became public, Madix learned that Schwartz, at some point, knew of the affair; however, he chose not to disclose the information to her.

Madix confronted Schwartz about the betrayal during the season 10 finale, where she told him that they were no longer in a friendly space.

“I don’t think you are a [co-conspirator], but I will not have mutual friends with him. So I am not your friend anymore,” she told him.

On “Watch What Happens Live,” Madix kept the same energy, blasting Schwartz for covering Sandoval’s behavior.

“I don’t think it was just covering,” she toldAndy Cohen. “I think it was actively participating in my downfall.”