Jax Taylor is calling out Tom Sandoval for seemingly trying to steal the spotlight from ex Ariana Madix after her “Dancing With the Stars” debut.
While chatting exclusively with Page Six Thursday, the “Vanderpump Rules” alum criticizes his former co-star for announcing his new podcast, “Everybody Loves Tom,” less than 12 hours after Madix hit the ballroom.
“I’m happy for him, but I don’t think he should have launched it the day after Ariana’s ‘Dancing With the Stars,’” Taylor tells us at the grand opening of the Newsroom in Long Island City, N.Y.
“I think that was bad PR, and the fact that he is trying to redeem himself and make himself a better person — whoever told him to announce this the day after … not a good move,” he continues.
“I don’t understand why he couldn’t have announced it maybe a week later.”
Despite the shady timing, Taylor, 44, says having a podcast will be a great “outlet” for Sandoval.
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However, he believes the TomTom co-owner’s apparent efforts to steal Madix’s thunder were unsuccessful.
“I think she killed it. She did amazing and I am so happy for her,” Taylor says. “She is such an amazing person.”
Although the two have had a rocky relationship over the years, the father of one says he recently had the opportunity to sit down with Sandoval, 40, and offer him some words of encouragement.
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“I said, ‘Hey listen, I don’t agree with what you did to Tom Schwartz. I don’t agree with how you handled your bar situation,’ but other than that as far as the cheating thing goes, I’ve done that. So I don’t really have a leg to stand on,” Taylor admits, referencing Sandoval’s bombshell affair with Raquel Leviss.
“But I said, ‘Listen, I don’t know what you’re going through mentally. I can only imagine the whole world hating you.’ So I just gave him a hug and said, ‘If you need me I’m down the street.’”
Page Six exclusively revealed on Wednesday that Sandoval was entering the world of podcasting.
Not only did the timing of his latest business venture rub people the wrong way, but he also announced the project with a “cringey” shirtless video.
In the promo, the casually dressed reality star can be seen walking toward a wooden desk before sitting down and ripping off his shirt.
“All right, let’s do this,” he then says into the mic.
Sandoval released his first episode on Thursday, discussing his decision to go sober and dealing with mental health struggles amid the Scandoval fallout.
“There were some times where I felt very, very close [to suicide],” he revealed, adding that he got into a “headspace” where his thoughts turned into a “domino effect.”
“Your world just starts collapsing itself and you cannot see outside of your feelings,” he explained. “Your peripheral goes away, your sense of thinking about future, about like, ‘Oh come on,’ like, you’re ability to snap out of it goes away.”
However, the Bravolebrity was able to rely on a few friends to help him get out of that dark time.
