Headline: Ariana Madix Loses Appeal Bid in Revenge Porn Lawsuit From Former 'Vanderpump Rules' Costar Rachel 'Raquel' Leviss

Ariana Madix has lost her bid to have a revenge porn lawsuit filed against her by former Vanderpump Rules co-star Rachel "Raquel" Leviss thrown out. According to court documents, the California Court of Appeals ruled that Madix failed to establish that her actions constituted constitutionally protected activity.

The lawsuit centers around allegations that Madix improperly accessed and shared sexually explicit videos of Leviss. The videos were allegedly recovered from ex- boyfriend Tom Sandoval's phone during his affair with Leviss. Madix admitted in previous court declarations that she secretly accessed Sandoval's phone without his knowledge or permission and copied the FaceTime videos of Leviss, claiming she sent them to Leviss as part of an attempt to confront her about the affair.

In response to the lawsuit, Madix's legal team argued that Leviss' conduct was protected under free speech because the affair between Leviss and Madix's ex-boyfriend was a matter of public interest. However, the court disagreed, ruling that Madix "failed to meet her burden of establishing that the claims alleged against her arose from constitutionally protected activity."

This decision marks another development in the ongoing drama between Madix and Leviss, which began last March when Madix broke up with Sandoval following his infidelity with Leviss. The scandal became a plot point on seasons 9 and 10 of Vanderpump Rules, with Leviss ultimately leaving the show while Madix and Sandoval stayed for one more season.

Leviss sued Madix and Sandoval nearly a year later, alleging invasion of privacy, eavesdropping, and revenge porn. In court documents obtained earlier this year, Leviss claimed that Sandoval had recorded an explicit video of her without her consent, leading to its distribution and discussion among their castmates.

Madix maintained that she did not keep the explicit video after discovering it on Sandoval's phone, stating that she did not hold onto it for any reason. This statement contradicts accusations made by Leviss and raises questions about the handling of sensitive information within the reality TV community.

With Madix's appeal dismissed, the lawsuit will move forward. A resolution is yet to be determined, but the case continues to shed light on the complexities surrounding free speech, privacy, and exploitation in the entertainment industry.