Yeah, so, I jumped on the “Vanderpump Rules” bandwagon after #Scandoval happened.
For those who don’t watch VPR, you’re missing out on some primo Bravo. “Vanderpump Rules” stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix were in a relationship for 10 years. They bought a house together, and it appears they were planning a future together. THEN, it turns out that Sandoval had been having an affair with one of Ariana’s best friends for at least 7 months. A very heated, very public breakup occurred while the cameras were rolling, which brought in millions of new viewers (like me).
Several friends mentioned VPR to me when this happened because they knew I could relate to what was happening to Ariana. They thought I might find it therapeutic to watch the show and see all the hate for Sandoval online. They were correct. Good times.
The latest season has started, and it’s picking up 3 months after the breakup. Sandoval and Ariana are still living in the same house because neither of them wants to give it up. Tom wants to buy her out of the house, but she doesn’t want him to have it, and he shouldn’t have the house because seriously, fuck that guy. It’s a very “War of the Roses” situation.
During every episode, most of the cast talks about how this breakup impacts themselves, how they need to work on their friendship with Tom, and how much they miss their friendship with Tom. Umm, do they need to work on that? Maybe he’s the one that needs to do work. They could say, “Wow! I saw how he treats people that he supposedly cares about, and I don’t want that in my life.” But maybe they’re thinking, “Well, I have to work with this person, so …”
No one in the cast other than Katie knows how to handle it when Ariana expresses anger about or toward Tom. Obviously, she’s allowed to be sad about the breakup and cry, but if she gets angry, almost everyone is like, “She needs to calm down,” or “She needs to forgive and forget.”
Umm, it’s been 3 MONTHS!
I don’t think a lot of people know what it’s like to have your world completely blown up one day. One minute, you’re in a decade-long relationship, and the next you’re finding out your person has been cheating, and maybe you don’t know this person at all. It’s traumatizing. Give the lady some fuckin’ grace and space while she deals with this shit. Damn.
Annnnnd, along with all the “She should just forgive and forget,” there are little nuggets like this:
If you didn’t watch the video, allow me to summarize: “Tom cheating on Ariana is the best thing that ever happened to her, because look at all the success and money she’s received since it happened.”
Y’all, Ariana’s broken heart and having her world turned upside down after her partner of 10 years cheated on her is not the best thing to happen to her.
Sure, she’s got “Dancing with the Stars,” commercial deals, and a run on Broadway in “Chicago,” but at the expense of her heart and the trauma of what happened. It’s not the best thing that’s ever happened to her.
When people say things like, “This breakup is the best thing that’s ever happened to you,” I think they’re trying to say, “Look how awesome you handled a shitty situation and you’re better for it.” It might come from a good “You’re winning the breakup” place, but it comes out as your trauma wasn’t really that traumatic. This sentiment is usually paired with the ever-popular “you should take the high road” speech (personally, I think the high road can get fucked), and it’s time for you to forgive so you can move on. Meh. You can move on without forgiving and/or forgetting.
I had to deal with almost exactly the same thing as Ariana, except we were married and there’s a child involved. And I have become more successful since my divorce. I moved up in my career. I’m not sure if that would’ve happened if I was still married. Honestly, I was always more focused on helping him do well in his career than mine. After he was gone, I focused on my career. Shit, this might be the first time I referred to it as a “career” and not just “my job” or “my current gig.”
So, yeah, I’m doing awesome in my career. The podcasts are doing well. I’ve traveled more. I feel like I have a closer relationship with Calvin than I did before. I redecorated the house. I’m happy. I’m really happy. But guess what? My partner cheating on me and getting a divorce was not the best thing to ever happen to me just because I’m happy now.
I know. It’s weird. It’s a weird feeling, and it’s kinda difficult to explain, but I’m going to try. I have a peace now that I wouldn’t have had before, but dealing with betrayal, a broken heart, and trauma to get there … It’s not the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Back to Ariana … The best thing that could’ve happened to Ariana is they both realized that the relationship wasn’t what they wanted anymore, and they broke up. Then she takes all that energy she put into Tom and their relationship and pours it into herself and her goals. Then she gets “Dancing with the Stars,” Broadway roles, and commercial deals as a result. That would be the best thing that ever happened. Not trauma and a broken heart.
OR, they could’ve gone to couples therapy, worked on their relationship so it serves them both, and THEN she takes all that energy and pours it into herself and her goals, etc etc. I think you’re picking up what I’m putting down.
A better way for Ariana’s “friends” to talk about her on the show would be: “I’m so proud of my friend. Something really shitty and traumatizing happened to her, and she’s made the best out of a bad situation. After everything that happened, she’s putting herself out there and doing a lot of new things that are really working out for her. How cool is that?”