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We might not have said this 2 years ago, but thank goodness Tom Sandoval is back on our screens! After a legendary run on The Traitors, Sandoval is continuing his reality TV redemption tour on House of Villains Season 3. While the Vanderpump Rules alum has come a long way from the “Scandoval” that dominated our news cycle back in 2023, Sandoval is aware that people still think of him as a villain. “It’s important for me to just be true to myself and continue to be the person that I want to be,” said Sandoval. “I saw House of Villains as an opportunity to continue doing that.”
In fact, Sandoval saw the House of Villains as almost a “safe haven” because he was going into a space where his fellow contestants had all “been labeled a villain” at some point. When it came to strategy, Sandoval had a good plan to last as long as possible in the treacherous game. “One of the things I feel that helped me on the show was being an anti-villain in a way,” said Sandoval. “I tried to be very honest and transparent about my gameplay and earn respect the good old-fashioned way, by just being a good dude.” It seems like you can teach an old dog new tricks!
Sandoval also found his time on the Peacock series to be less “intense” than his time in the Ardross Castle on The Traitors. “You could be murdered for any reason. You could be banished whenever. You’re in an unfamiliar environment” explained Sandoval, listing the reasons he felt uneasy in Scotland. On House of Villains, Sandoval felt like he had more “control” over his fate . “You’re able to develop alliances and work strategically with other people,” said Sandoval. “You’re competing in a much more traditional way.”
Sandoval spoke to Decider over Zoom to discuss the season so far, talk about his bond with Tyson Apostol, and put one pesky rumor to rest, once and for all.
DECIDER: Tom, you’re no stranger to being called a villain, and now you’re on House of Villains! How did you come to embrace this title and not take it personally?
TOM SANDOVAL: I had been asked to do this show in previous seasons. I was a little reluctant at first. However, it began to feel more like a safe haven. I was going to be in a space where everybody’s been labeled a villain. It was so much fun shooting this show.
When I was first approached, I was nervous that it would be too intense. I didn’t want to feel like I was on a late 90s episode of Jerry Springer where people are just going to be yelling and running in the room and screaming and fighting. Though, most everyone wanted it to be chill and more relaxed. One of the things I feel that helped me in the show was being an anti-villain in a way. I tried to be very honest and transparent about my gameplay and earn respect the good old-fashioned way, by just being a good dude.
PeacockI think The Traitors did a great job of humanizing you for people who had negative opinion of you because of your past scandal. Why is it important to you to continue this redemption tour?
It’s important for me to be true to myself and continue to be the person that I want to be. I saw House of Villains as an opportunity to continue doing that. Traitors is a much more intense experience. You’re in this castle; you feel like you don’t have control. You could be murdered for any reason. You could be banished whenever. You’re in an unfamiliar environment.
But with House of Villains, you do feel like you have control over what happens next in the game. You’re able to develop alliances and work strategically with other people. You’re competing in a much more traditional way. You’re fighting in challenges to be the super villain of the week or get to immunity. If you do get in the bottom three, you have a redemption challenge. After that, it’s a voting situation. There’s lots of chances for you to stay on House of Villains and get farther in the game than the players have on Traitors.
Speaking of alliances, you and Tyson Apostol seemed to connect pretty quickly!
Tyson and I totally developed a bromance. It was so much fun. He’s such a great game player and such a reality TV legend. He was happy to give me pointers on how to play certain situations. Like for instance, he told me that when somebody approaches you to be in an alliance, you always say yes and then decide later. Because if you say “not sure, let me get back to you” or “no,” then they’ll immediately come after you. That was helpful.
You also ended up rooming with Tyson because you were very up front about not wanting to share a room with a girl. Was that out of respect for your girlfriend, Victoria Lee Robinson?
Obviously, it’s a respect thing for Victoria, but also, I felt more comfortable sharing a room with a guy because that also meant we would also be sharing the same bathroom. It didn’t even occur to me that people might have something to say about that decision online. I feel like girls would want a room with girls also, and guys would want a room with guys.
For some reason, you seemed to get under Johnny Middlebrooks’ skin. The reasons he gave for that were a bit confusing. What do you think his real issue with you was?
I have no idea. He initially did approach me to be in an alliance. I was a little apprehensive because when you do a show like this, you don’t want to jump into an alliance immediately. You want to see how people do and where they stand with everybody else before just jumping in. I kept him a little bit at an arm’s length for the first day or so, and I think that bothered him. He might have felt a bit rejected, but yeah, I didn’t understand that either [laughs].
Another person who is a bit wary of you in the house is Kate Chastain. However, she’s not really coming for you as much as she’s coming for your Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test co-star JoJo Siwa. What were your thoughts on watching that scene when Kate speculates that JoJo did Special Forces only because she was broke?
JoJo was really excited about being on Special Forces and trained really hard in advance. She wore a weighted vest and combat boots to simulate how she’d feel during the missions. She also had a really, positive attitude that made everyone’s experience on the show so much better. The last thing she was worried about was the money. On Special Forces—I don’t know if you know this—but you get paid the same amount of money if you stay there one day or ten days. If it was about the money for JoJo, she would have just come for one day and then dipped out.
PeacockJoJo might not be the best fit for House of Villains, but how did you think she’d do on a season of The Traitors?
She would do well. She connects with people. People like her. That’s really what it comes down to. Though, Traitors is a tough game. Johnny Bananas and Dorinda [Medley] were both eliminated immediately. You would have thought those two would do really well. You never know how people are going to do. Just look at Rob [Rausch]! He went from Love Island to being the best Traitor ever. You just never know.
Whether you have had a chin implant has been a big topic of conversation among the villains this season. What do you think about these people being so obsessed with your face?
[Laughs] I guess I’m flattered, but yeah, I have not had a chin implant. My face looks the same as it did when I was first on Vanderpump Rules. I once I did a close-up selfie video on point five, and it elongated my face. I think that’s where that rumor came from. I just have to laugh because my face is the same shape it has been for the past 14 years that I’ve been on TV.
Last question. Your pal Tom Schwartz shows up in the super teaser for this season! What canyou tell me about his visit to the House of Villains?
Well, not much! I can tell you that he makes a stop by the House of Villains, and you’ll just have to wait and see what happens [laughs].
New episodes of “House of Villains” drop Thursdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET on Peacock. “The Official House of Villains Podcast” airs immediately after new episodes of “House of Villains” on Peacock!
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