Lala Kent: Ariana Madix had ‘meltdown’ about relationship pre-Scandoval

Lala Kent claims Ariana Madix had a “meltdown” after she questioned Tom Sandoval’s motives in last week’s episode of “Vanderpump Rules” — prior to his affair being exposed.

“When I bring it up, Ariana gets furious — to the point where production steps in — because she says, ‘I’m not doing this. Production always tries to do this to my relationship,’” Kent said on her “Give Them Lala” podcast Wednesday.

Kent, 32, was referring to a conversation she had with both Madix, 37, and Sandoval, 39, in which she caught him lying about not being able to leave a party to comfort his then-girlfriend upon learning of her grandmother’s death.

“I wanna say it was before Tom came in that cameras went down because she was very upset that I was bringing this up — very,” Kent added, referring to Sandoval joining the conversation halfway through.

Kent admitted that as soon as she saw Madix react that way, she knew she could not bring up her suspicions about Sandoval and Raquel Leviss’ too-close-for-comfort friendship.

“She did say, ‘Lala, you don’t know mine and Tom’s relationship. Like, in all fairness, we never see you,’” Kent claimed. “But then [after] whatever happened, the cameras picked back up, and we do the rest of the scene.”

During the conversation, Madix became upset after learning that her then-boyfriend had lied to her about why he could not skedaddle from a Labor Day celebration.

“You realize you put me in a position with this where people will think that I’m a f–king idiot,” she told him at the time.

Relationship Follow Page Six’s coverage of ‘Scandoval’:

• Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss, Ariana Madix drama, explained
• How Ariana Madix found out about Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss’ affair
• Lisa Vanderpump reacts to Scheana Shay allegedly punching Raquel Leviss
• First photos of Raquel Leviss since affair bombshell

Kent admitted she was “suspicious” as to why Sandoval stayed behind at the party, but she did not think he was having a full-on affair with Leviss, 28, at the time.

Months later, Madix found out that her boyfriend of nearly 10 years was cheating on her with Leviss, who was one of her best friends, for more than six months.

Madix dumped him on March 1, and the affair — aka Scandoval — first made headlines two days later.

The aftermath has played out both on- and off-screen and will culminate with the upcoming finale — filmed post-scandal — followed by an explosive three-part reunion.

“Vanderpump Rules” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.