Ariana Madix and Daniel Wai met only a handful of days after news of Tom Sandoval‘s infidelity broke.
Now, over a year later, they’ve done a good job of shutting down assumptions that Ariana was just having a rebound fling.
But that won’t stop her castmates from questioning their relationship – and it won’t stop Ariana from shutting them down.
Ariana Madix and Daniel Wai are still going strong about a year after they first started dating, but that doesn’t mean that everyone is buying it.
In fact, it’s Ariana’s costars who are taking her to task.
On the Vanderpump Rules aftershow, Ariana shut down any doubts.
Ariana’s friend (or frenemy) Scheana Shay expressed her concerns on the show.
“It had only been a matter of weeks, and that’s where I worried for her because I’m like, God forbid this doesn’t work out… she’s going to have both of that coming down on her, and that’s going to hit her like a f-cking ton of bricks,’” Scheana shared.
To no surprise, Lala Kent chimed in.
James Kennedy agreed and added that the three were only “being protective of Ariana,” via Bravo.
But Ariana wasn’t having it.
“Here’s the thing, he could literally turn out to be, which he’s not, a f-cking con artist,” Ariana said.
“And guess what?” she added “I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll take care of myself regardless,” she continued.
Ariana has been open about considering marriage with Daniel.
In a recent with Us Magazine from last year, Ariana shared that Daniel has been flying out weekly to watch her perform on Dancing With The Stars.
“He’s incredibly supportive,” she told the outlet. “He sacrifices his sleep and time to help me with anything I need, and then he takes a red-eye back and goes straight to work.”
She added that Daniel will “clean up things that are left out and [does] little things you don’t really think about. When I come home from the show and everything’s clean and there’s food in the fridge that he made, it’s like, ‘Wow, that’s so nice.'”
Though Ariana said she was “nervous” about starting a new relationship, she also shared that her stance on marriage has softened.
When the outlet asked her whether her views on marriage might change, she was less staunch than she’s been in the past, saying simply: “I don’t know.”
The silver screen star has also dropped apparent hints that she won’t be returning to VPR.
TMZ recently reported that VPR production has decided to put a “pause” on filming this year, which typically begins filming in May and continues to shoot all summer.
A source told the outlet that Bravo has decided to pause filming to give the cast a “break.” Apparently Tom Sandoval and Rachel Leviss’ affair took a toll on the group and they all need a moment to step away.
The outlet noted that production is hopeful the group will take some time for themselves and bring back some new drama when they are ready to return.
Many fans are convinced that this is Bravo’s way of going into a “soft cancellation” of the show. Many think production will just throw in the towel and announce they are not returning at all.
And it seems like Ariana is on board with this decision.
During the final part of the season 11 reunion, Ariana made a few comments that indicated she was ready to be done with the show for good. Especially after she was given a hard time by a few cast mates, including her ex and Lala Kent.
Lala and Tom both expressed to Ariana that filming the show is their livelihood and she can’t be the decider as to when things end. This came after Ariana refused to have a conversation with Tom during the season finale.
“That’s the thing, it’s always having the one conversation with the one person you don’t want to have it with,” Tom said. “Like Lala said. That is what we do.”
Ariana fought back, “I’ll have that conversation with everybody else, but I am not in a place to have a conversation with you.”