Scheana Shay’s curious behavior in recent episodes of Vanderpump Rules feels beyond explanation. She seems more upset about mourning the person Tom Sandoval was perceived to be a year ago, more so than his ex-girlfriend, Ariana Madix.
But a surprising admission to Lala Kent during the cast trip to Lake Tahoe added complexity, if not an explanation, to her emotions.
Sandoval wants Scheana to “literally forget” about the PayPal
After revealing to Lala that she had received a substantial PayPal gift from Sandoval during the pandemic, Scheana gave the deets to producers during a confessional interview.
“During the pandemic, I woke up to several thousand dollars in my account,” Scheana revealed. “He knew I was struggling at the time. My podcast got cancelled. I’m pregnant. I had no income. And he was there for me in a time when no one else was.”
Skeptics would consider that an act of manipulation, as in buying loyalty. But during the Pump Rules After Show, Sandoval denied being motivated by self-serving purposes.
When asked to comment about why he sent Scheana money, the Schwartz & Sandy’s co-owner replied, “I did that because I knew Scheana was struggling with money. And she’s my friend.”
“I don’t want it to be a big deal with her either. I want her to literally forget it happened,” he added.
That seems quite a bit less sinister than how Katie Maloney portrayed the loan. She called it “toxic” behavior and pointed out that Sandoval makes a habit of over-sharing his financial resources. In one notable case he paid for James Kennedy’s engagement party to Rachel Leviss.
“I’ve done many things like that for many people,” Sandoval concluded. “I don’t want people to think it’s me, like, buying their loyalty or anything like that.”
It seems that the financial support only adds to Scheana’s confusion, but is by no means the entirety of the issue.
Catch Vanderpump Rules Tuesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SANDOVAL’S PAYPAL TO SCHEANA? SHOULD SHE FEEL CONFLICTED OVER IT?
