Tom Sandoval Is "Finally Starting to Grieve" His Late Friend Ali Rafiq

Jan. 31 2024, Published 10:58 a.m. ET

Get ready to pop the champagne as a result of Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules is hitting your TV screens! After the mind-blowing #Scandoval drama rocked our world in Season 10, we're all itching to dive headfirst into the aftermath of the dishonest scandal that shook the Bravo universe.

However, sooner than we jump into the joy, let's take a moment to rewind. In the Season Eleven premiere, several forged contributors reveal their loss of communication with Tom Sandoval. Despite reaching out in regards to the tragic dying of his close friend, Ali Rafiq, he remained unresponsive.

With that mentioned, sit down tight as we resolve the tale of Ali, a chapter in Tom's life he's "finally starting to grieve."

Tom Sandoval's close friend, Ali Rafiq, kicked the bucket in May 2023.

On May 19, 2023, tragedy struck when Ali Rafiq collapsed at his folks' home. His sister, Rabia, spoke with TMZ and published their mom discovered Ali on the flooring of their St. Louis home, having fallen and hit his head on a table.

Rabia discussed that except for bronchial asthma, her late brother had no identified diseases, and the circle of relatives didn't imagine it a significant concern for him. Although she famous that Ali's loss of life certificate indexed "organ failure" as the reason for loss of life, the family was hoping toxicology reports would shed more gentle at the circumstances.

At the peak of his dishonest scandal, Tom Sandoval took to Instagram to pay tribute to Ali.

"The love I have for you is way beyond words. I will carry u forever in my heart," Tom wrote on May 20, 2023. "Always cherishing the beautiful memories, uncontrollable laughter, and epic experiences we had together. You were My best friend, my brother. I'll catch u on the next sunrise… 5min/5hour 5or500."

Tom's ex, Ariana Madix, also shared a close bond with Ali and expressed how deeply she ignored him: "I keep wanting to text you. It feels like this can't even be real," she shared by way of her Instagram Story. "We were just planning your trip to L.A., talking about our futures and all the things we were looking forward to.

"I pass over our talks about lifestyles. I omit sending each different cat memes. I leave out geeking out over food or DJ videos. I omit you bringing your turntables over," she continued. "I leave out us each wanting to head house but still staying out and having a laugh. I miss reduce copy and Chromeo songs."

The reality TV star concluded, "I really like you always and perpetually. I'm grateful for the moments we spent together and for the love and friendship you showed me during the last [10] years. You are so cherished, and you are so missed. I am proud so that you could say I do know Ali the good since you ARE and can all the time be the best."

Tom Sandoval is finally starting to mourn the loss of his friend Ali Rafiq.

During the Jan. 30, 2024, episode of The Viall Files podcast, Tom Sandoval opened up about the scandalous events of the past year. When asked about his therapy journey and what he has gained from it, Tom told host Nick Viall that he's "finally starting to grieve the lack of my easiest friend, my brother, Ali."

"I cried so f--king onerous ultimate night, like, my eyes were bloodshot…," Tom explained on the podcast, recounting that his tardiness to the recording was due to a sleepless night filled with tears. "I didn't sleep ultimate night time. I f--king cried for, like, two hours."

Reflecting further, Tom expressed, "Ali was once one of the most f--king stunning human beings. I got here throughout a picture of him, and I ... when he died, there used to be so much going on. I by no means truly were given to grieve him, and remaining night time, I literally f--king sobbed for 2 hours. I used to be up all night, I used to be pacing around."

Catch new episodes of Vanderpump Rules on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Bravo.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pbXSramam6Ses7p6wqikaKhfqbyuedKapZ2nppa5brLRopynnF2Wuao%3D