Howie Mandel has defended the interview he conducted with Vanderpump Rules star Tom Sandoval, which Andy Cohen criticised for not doing his homework and having no knowledge of the drama. Mandell clarified that he had done his homework, but he had been advised to not challenge Sandoval, to avoid putting him in an uncomfortable position. Mandel’s daughter and co-host on The Viall Files podcast, Jackelyn Shultz, confirmed that Bravo fans wanted to hear Mandel grill Sandoval.
Howie Mandel stands by his approach to his tell-all interview with Tom Sandoval, despite criticism from some, and clarified that he did his homework before speaking with Sandoval.
Howie Mandel recently came under fire for his tell-all interview with Tom Sandoval on his podcast. However, Mandel stands by his approach, explaining that Bravo fans wanted him to grill Sandoval and that he had promised not to push back against him on the air. He also offered to edit out anything Sandoval wasn’t satisfied with after the podcast taping. Mandel went on to say that he would not do anything differently and that he still doesn’t understand the outrage around Sandoval.
Sandoval, co-owner of TomTom and a Vanderpump Rules cast member, appeared on Mandel’s podcast amid controversy surrounding his split from Ariana Madix after nearly a decade of dating. News that Sandoval had an affair with Vanderpump Rules co-star Raquel Leviss while still with Madix made headlines in March. On the podcast, Sandoval explained what led to his infidelity and alleged that he and Madix had conversations about calling it quits before his affair with Leviss.
Andy Cohen publicly slammed Mandel for not knowing about the Sandoval drama, calling him the “Jackhole of the Day.” Cohen elaborated the next day, explaining his annoyance with the podcast. Mandel, however, clarified that he put in an effort before speaking with Sandoval and didn’t understand the backlash.
Despite the criticism, Mandel remains optimistic. He jokingly said Bravo “hates” him for getting involved in the discourse and even embraced the title of “jackhole.” Mandel’s podcast certainly sparked controversy and raised eyebrows, but it’s clear that he stands by his unchallenging approach to interviewing Sandoval.
