Tom Sandoval Sparks Backlash After Comparing Cheating Scandal to George Floyd and O.J. Simpson: 'The Disrespect'

The 'Vanderpump Rules' star is amid controversy again, this time over comments he made to 'The New York Times Magazine'

Tom Sandoval is back in the hot seat, this time after clumsily comparing the attention put upon his headline-making cheating scandal to that of O.J. Simpson and George Floyd.

On Tuesday, the New York Times Magazine published a lengthy interview with the Vanderpump Rules star, in which he discussed life after becoming what they dubbed "the most hated man in America" for hiding a months-long affair with then-costar Rachel "Raquel" Leviss behind the back of his girlfriend of nine years, Ariana Madix.

Related: Tom Sandoval Opens Up About Rachel Leviss Cutting Him Off: 'Optics' Became Her 'Priority'

The piece traced the fallout Sandoval received after his and Leviss' relationship went public. But when asked why he thought the scandal, dubbed "Scandoval" by fans, "got so big," the 41-year-old reality star gave an answer that has since ignited backlash among viewers and Black Bravo stars alike.

“I’m not a pop-culture historian really,” Sandoval said. “But I witnessed the O.J. Simpson thing and George Floyd and all these big things, which is really weird to compare this to that, I think, but do you think in a weird way it’s a little bit the same?”

Related: Tom Sandoval's Estranged VPR Castmates Leave Him in the Dust as They Claim He Has to 'Pay' for Friends

In the profile, author and interviewer Irina Aleksander attempted to contextualize Sandoval’s answer.

“I think I knew what he meant,” she wrote. “He was trying to express the oddity of becoming the symbolic center of a nationwide discussion and a major news story; what he communicated instead was something more honest, which is just how much the experience had made him lose perspective.”

But she also noted that Bravo PR and Vanderpump Rules executive producer/showrunner Alex Baskin both reached out to her after the interview. "Everyone was concerned," Aleksander wrote. "What was it that he said about O.J. Simpson and George Floyd exactly? Maybe Sandoval wasn’t ready for this."

Ready or not, Sandoval is feeling the heat. Multiple Black Bravo stars — including Real Housewives of Miami's Guerdy Abraira and Jordan Emanuel (Summer House: Martha's Vineyard, Winter House) — called out Sandoval on social media Tuesday.

"Comparing slinging d--- to a Black man being murdered in front of our eyes during Black History Month is something I just don't have words for," wrote Emanuel, 31.

"The disrespect... and during Black History Month... WOW just plz 🤫 🤐," wrote Abraira, adding, "PLEASE reflect on this repulsive statement you made (regarding GEORGE FLOYD r.i.p), especially in Black History Month and take it back!! NOT OK! An immediate apology is in order, sir."

Other Bravo stars, including RHOM's Nicole Martin and Sandoval's own Vanderpump Rules costar Katie Maloney, also expressed their outrage.

PEOPLE reached out to Sandoval's rep for comment.

Related: Tom Sandoval Vows Never to 'Cheat in That Way Again' After World-Rocking Affair — but Clarifies 'I Love Hard'

Simpson and Floyd weren't the only names Sandoval invoked as comparison in his interview with the NY Times Magazine.

“I feel like I got more hate than Danny Masterson and he’s a convicted rapist," said the Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras frontman, referring to the former That 70s Show star, who was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison in September for raping two women.

"I did what I did because I was in an unhappy place in my life,” he said, summarizing the reason why he strayed in the first place. “I got caught up in my emotions and fully fell in love. Like, for real.”

Still, he appeared to take all the hate in stride. "The scandal has made the show so big, it’s kind of cool and crazy," Sandoval told the publication. "Even though it’s negative and at my expense."

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Vanderpump Rules airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. All episodes can be streamed on Peacock.

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