Tom Sandoval can’t remember the last time he and Raquel Leviss were in communication, but he tells Variety he surely wasn’t expecting her to block him on Instagram Tuesday. 

Sandoval and Raquel Leviss have been at the center of one of reality television’s greatest controversies since it was revealed that he cheated on his long-term partner Ariana Madix with Leviss, whom they both co-star with on “Vanderpump Rules.” The deemed #Scandoval went on to draw record-breaking ratings for the Bravo series (even landing the show its first Emmy nominations) but at a clear cost. 

At the Los Angeles premiere for Season 2 of “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” Sandoval tells Variety that he was “just wish[ing] her a happy birthday” and that Leviss taking to her Instagram stories to share that she blocked him was “immature” and “thirsty.” 

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“When somebody said she blocked you, I was like ‘Oh, okay, whatever,’” he shared. “Maybe her parents were going to dock her allowance this week or something, but to post that on her story is pretty childish.” 

“I just wished her a happy birthday,” he continued. “I didn’t think she had a lot of people reach out to her, so I wanted to. I mean, if she’s working on herself, I think it’s a little immature — it’s a little thirsty — to post that.”

Sandoval notably joined the “Special Forces” cast at the height of #Scandoval’s media takeover. Former “Bachelor” star Nick Viall was one of many reality stars that covered the cheating scandal on his “Viall Files” podcast. “I wasn’t sure if he knew about me or of my show,” said Viall. Though Sandoval says he “didn’t listen to it [‘Viall Files’] purposefully,” Viall affirms that “he had.” 

“He was aware of what I had said,” said Viall. “He took it in stride and said he understood.”

“It was a very salacious thing and it was all over the place. It was stupidly out of control popular, so I understand people are going to talk about it,” said Sandoval. “People [were] interviewing everyone, so you’re having people like Peter on to tell stories about me – [someone] I clearly don’t see or hang around. It’s strange, but I get it.” 

Spectacle around Sandoval hasn’t slowed down, and now “The Masked Singer” fans think he may be joining the Fox program after the show released a short teaser clip of Diver, one of its Season 10 contestants. 

“I’ve heard rumors that there’s somebody that might possibly be me — like an octopus or squid,” Sandoval said, laughing at the rumors. “No it wasn’t me, but I’m excited to see it.”

Season 2 of “Special Forces” premieres Monday, Sept. 25 on Fox.

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