Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney Face Lawsuit from Former Chef of Something About Her Sandwich Shop
Something About Her: A Dream Turned Nightmare?
Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney's venture into the restaurant business, Something About Her, has hit a major roadblock just two months after its grand opening in West Hollywood. The Vanderpump Rules stars are now facing a lawsuit from their former chef, Penny Davidi, who claims that the duo did not honor the terms of her role as COO and Director of Culinary at the establishment.
The Lawsuit: Allegations and Claims
According to the complaint obtained by PEOPLE, Davidi alleges that in June 2023, the trio agreed that she would possess 10% of the partnership, serving as the "COO/Director of Culinary." The chef was to be paid $7,500 a month, which would ultimately increase to $10,000 in January 2024, contingent on Davidi helping run Something About Her. However, the complaint states that Madix and Maloney are now denying the terms of the original partnership.
Within her lawsuit, Davidi is seeking a judge to declare that the partnership and its terms are legally binding. PEOPLE reached out to Davidi, but she declined to comment on the matter.
Madix and Maloney's Response
PEOPLE did not immediately hear back from a representative for Madix and Maloney regarding the lawsuit. However, the duo has faced their fair share of challenges in bringing Something About Her to life, including permitting issues and other logistical delays that pushed back the opening date.
In an interview with PEOPLE ahead of the opening, Madix and Maloney spoke about the setbacks they encountered. "We both believed that it would always happen, that we were going to make it happen," Madix said. "But there was definitely some moments of deep breathing at times when something else would pop up, and you just have to take a second."
Maloney added, "I don't think it was ever a moment of this won't happen, but it was just kind of like, 'Okay, but how much longer are we talking?' 'Are we talking weeks or months at this point?'"
Learning Experiences and Relinquishing Control
Despite the challenges, Madix and Maloney remained committed to their dream of opening Something About Her. Maloney shared that "relinquishing control" helped her "trust the process more," while Madix called it an "incredible learning experience" as a newbie in the restaurant business.
However, the lawsuit from Davidi threatens to derail the progress they've made. The chef's claims that Madix and Maloney are denying the terms of the original partnership could have serious implications for the future of Something About Her.
Sandoval's Lawsuit: Adding to the Drama
Madix's personal life has also been the subject of intense media scrutiny in recent months. Just one day before Davidi's lawsuit was filed, her ex-boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, filed a lawsuit against her for allegedly accessing his phone without his "permission" and reviewing "images, information, data, videos and/or communications" that included "FaceTime videos" between him and Rachel Leviss, the costar with whom he was having an affair.
In the complaint obtained by PEOPLE, Sandoval claimed that Madix "made copies of the data and distributed the data to Leviss and third parties without [his] authorization or permission." The alleged incident happened on March 1, 2023, just two days before PEOPLE confirmed that Sandoval and Madix had broken up after nine years together as a result of his affair with Leviss.
The Future of Something About Her
As Madix and Maloney navigate the legal challenges presented by Davidi's lawsuit, the future of Something About Her remains uncertain. The duo had high hopes for the sandwich shop, with Maloney expressing her belief that it would always happen and that they were going to make it happen.
However, the lawsuit could potentially derail their plans and put the restaurant's future in jeopardy. It remains to be seen how Madix and Maloney will respond to the allegations and whether they will be able to resolve the dispute with Davidi out of court or if the matter will proceed to trial.
Conclusion
Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney's journey into the restaurant business has hit a major roadblock with the lawsuit filed by their former chef, Penny Davidi. The duo has faced numerous challenges in bringing Something About Her to life, and now they must contend with allegations that they did not honor the terms of Davidi's role at the establishment.
As Madix and Maloney navigate the legal challenges, they must also deal with the ongoing drama surrounding Sandoval's lawsuit against Madix. The future of Something About Her remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the Vanderpump Rules stars have their work cut out for them as they try to overcome these obstacles and make their dream a reality.
FAQ
What is the lawsuit about? Chef Penny Davidi is suing Ariana Madix and Katie Maloney for not upholding the terms of their written "partnership" at their sandwich shop, Something About Her.
What are the alleged terms of the partnership? According to the complaint, Davidi claims she possessed 10% of the partnership, serving as the "COO/Director of Culinary," and was to be paid $7,500 a month, increasing to $10,000 in January 2024.
How have Madix and Maloney responded to the lawsuit? PEOPLE did not immediately hear back from a representative for Madix and Maloney regarding the lawsuit. However, the duo has faced numerous challenges in bringing Something About Her to life, including permitting issues and logistical delays.
What other legal issues are Madix and Maloney facing? Madix's ex-boyfriend, Tom Sandoval, filed a lawsuit against her for allegedly accessing his phone without permission and reviewing communications between him and Rachel Leviss, with whom he was having an affair.
What is the future of Something About Her? The future of Something About Her remains uncertain as Madix and Maloney navigate the legal challenges presented by Davidi's lawsuit. It remains to be seen how they will respond to the allegations and whether they will be able to resolve the dispute out of court.
