Vanderpump Rules alum Tom Sandoval has auditioned for the NBC show America’s Got Talent — and viewers are furious by the result.
Sandoval, 42, became the “most hated man in America” after it emerged he cheated on longtime girlfriend Ariana Madix with her then best friend, Rachel Leviss, during season 10 of the hit Bravo show. Both the cast and fans of Vanderpump Rules rallied around Madix amid the infidelity scandal, dubbed “Scandoval,” while Sandoval received intense backlash.
Since then, Sandoval has appeared on season three of The Traitors U.S. as well as Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
Taking the AGT stage during Tuesday night’s episode of Season 20 auditions, Sandoval said: “This is the chance to show who I am as a musician.” His musical talents had been only been somewhat showcased on the Bravo show.
After introducing himself and his band, Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras, the group performed a cover of “Take On Me” by A-ha for the judges: Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara, and Mel B.
Cowell asked if Sandoval was ready and followed with: “Let’s get America to like you.”
At the end of the performance, the audience immediately leapt to its feet along with some of the judges.
“You made me smile, you gave me happy vibes,” Mel B said, while Vergara agreed: “Tom, you look amazing up there. I thought you guys brought us joy tonight.” Mandel also echoed that sentiment, saying: “For me, it was great.”
But Cowell had a different opinion.
“The vocals weren’t great, Tom, I’m going to be honest with you,” Cowell said as the audience booed.
Ultimately, the judges all agreed to send Sandoval and his band through to the next round. But reviews for his audition were also mixed from the at-home audience.
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“Tom Sandoval shouldn’t be on this show,” one said, while another wrote: “Nope! Still don’t like Tom Sandoval.”
“No No No! They are putting Tom Sandoval through on America’s Got Talent! It’s a sad day for all of us – we will never get rid of him!” someone else said.
“This is an odd prop-up job by the show. What are they gaining from trying to rehab Tom Sandoval’s image for him? Sounds like he is kind of a top notch scumbag. I’m not a pearl clutcher but this seems like an unnecessary hill for the show to be on right now,” another said.
Someone else agreed, writing: “I don’t care who the hell Tom Sandoval is, his act on #AGT wasn’t good. He has the ‘looks,’ but his voice isn’t great & the act wasn’t good. Who agrees? Clearly he’s a SOME1 since they’re making a big deal about him & want everyone to like the act… but pass.”
But others enjoyed it with one saying: “That was an incredible performance by tom sandoval, And the most extras.”
A preview clip of the group’s audition — sans the judge’s critiques — was posted on social media days in advance, adding to the anticipation of Tuesday night’s episode. Prior to the full episode airing, Sandoval posted photos from the filming of the show on his social media accounts.
“TONIGHTS THE NIGHT! @agt at 8PM ET/PT on @nbc@peacock !!! @agtauditions I feel so honored to be able to bring my band into to such a cool and different experience,” Sandoval wrote on X. “I’m also thankful for the ones who came to support me and of course, all of my fans supporting us! Love y’all!!”
Sandoval’s AGT audition wasn’t his first run-in with one of the show’s judges.
In April 2023, weeks after news of the scandal broke, Sandoval sat down with Mandel on his podcast, Howie Mandel Does Stuff, for his first big interview. But Mandel, who admitted he hadn’t watched Vanderpump Rules, caught heat from fans over his apparent lack of preparation for Sandoval’s first tell-all interview.
Mandel, who largely remained quiet during the AGT critiques of Sandoval and his band, has since said he has watched the show.
