America's Got Talent: Tom Sandoval Sparks Outrage – "Cheaters Gonna Cheat"

The Vanderpump Rules star strutted onto the America's Got Talent stage with his band, Tom Sandoval and The Most Extras, and walked away with a ticket to the next round. But behind the scenes? It's chaos. Accusations of special treatment, shady connections, and — surprise — cheating. Again.

From Reality Villain to AGT Contender

For those who managed to stay blissfully unaware, Tom Sandoval became reality TV's punching bag back in 2023 after cheating on longtime girlfriend Ariana Madix with their Vanderpump Rules co-star, Rachel Leviss. The scandal — dubbed "Scandoval" — turned him into "The Most Hated Man in America," a title he's worn like a badge ever since.

After flaming out on Bravo, Sandoval spent two years desperately patching up his public image, including a stint on Peacock's The Traitors. Now, he's hijacked a new platform — America's Got Talent — with what critics are calling a rigged audition.

What Actually Happened on AGT?

Sandoval and his band performed an '80s classic, A-ha's Take On Me, in front of the AGT judges on June 24, 2025. By the end of the set, the judges — Simon Cowell, Mel B, Howie Mandel, and Sofia Vergara — all voted yes.

Mel B told him, "You made me smile!" and even joked about hiring the band for her wedding. Simon, ever the realist, gave his approval while noting that the singing wasn't exactly top-tier.

What viewers didn't see:

• Sandoval was singing over a backing track, giving his performance an artificial polish.
• AGT contestants usually sing live without such vocal crutches — it's allowed, but far from typical.
• Sandoval allegedly landed the audition thanks to his connections with NBC (which owns Bravo and AGT) and his friendship with Howie Mandel, who hosted him on his podcast back in 2023.

Fans Call Foul: "Cheaters Gonna Cheat"

The outrage was immediate. Social media lit up with viewers accusing AGT of rigging the game for ratings. Comments on Reddit were brutal:

"Anyone that's seen his live shows knows he doesn't sound this good in real life."

"Seeing him show his ass on national TV would've been amazing — instead, we got autotune."

And for many, the cheating accusations hit a little too close to home. As one commenter put it:

"Glad to see he's doing what he does best: cheat."

It wasn't just his vocals that raised eyebrows. Fans pointed out the production's overly enthusiastic audience shots, accusing AGT of splicing in reactions from other performances to sell Sandoval's act.

The NBC Connection: A Stacked Deck?

Insiders claim Sandoval's path to the AGT stage wasn't exactly organic. His long-standing ties with NBCUniversal — from his years on Bravo to personal rapport with Howie Mandel — made him a ratings-friendly pick.

One source admitted:

"He didn't have a typical audition process. The powers that be worked their magic to make this happen."

AGT's official stance? They insist the competition is an even playing field, stating every act is "allowed to use backing tracks to support their performance, should they choose." But try telling that to the internet.

Can He Actually Win?

Even with the shady start, Sandoval can't coast on industry hookups forever. The next rounds of AGT are determined by public votes — and if Reddit, X, and Instagram are any indication, the public hasn't exactly forgiven him.

Still, Sandoval seems serious about pushing his band forward. A source close to the production claimed:

"They would love a Vegas show. They're serious about taking it all the way."

That's cute, but there's only so far reality TV villainy can carry a cover band. Especially when half the audience is rooting for you to fail, loudly.

In the end, Sandoval's AGT stunt feels less like a redemption arc and more like a brand extension of his messy public persona. The man built his notoriety on cheating, lying, and mugging for the cameras — and NBC knows that controversy sells.

Whether he makes it to Vegas or flames out in the next round, Sandoval's AGT run is just the latest proof that in reality TV, infamy pays better than talent.

And as one viewer summed it up:

"It's not cheating if production set it up. Maybe an unfair advantage sure — but that's just showbiz, baby."