A Timeline of Ariana Madix and Daniel Wai's Relationship

Updated on 10/30/2023 at 6:00 PM

Ariana Madix's new boyfriend Daniel Wai will indeed appear in season 11 of "Vanderpump Rules," though it seems like he won't be prominently featured. In an Oct. 30 interview with E! News, Madix revealed that Wai will appear "once or twice, but definitely not very much," and added that "he's not into the whole world of it all. It was very foreign to him, but I give him props for being a good sport on my behalf," she continued.

Madix and Wai were first linked in April, just a month after Madix split from her longtime boyfriend Tom Sandoval in March amid a cheating scandal. Madix, 38, was with Sandoval, 40, for nine years. In early March, Madix learned that Sandoval had been cheating on her with her former friend (and fellow "Vanderpump Rules" cast member) Raquel Leviss. Sandoval and Leviss, 29, eventually publicly admitted to the affair and issued apologies. But in an interview with Howie Mandel released on April 11, Sandoval claimed he tried to break up with Madix on Valentine's Day before she learned about the affair. In a May interview on "Call Her Daddy," Madix said that after a romantic date, Sandoval opened a conversation about them splitting but nothing was resolved.

On May 17, news broke that Sandoval and Leviss weren't moving forward with a relationship (though they were never in one officially), and things came to a head during the three-part "Vanderpump Rules" reunion, which concluded on June 7, as viewers saw Sandoval and Leviss apologize profusely to Madix. In August, Leviss sparked backlash when she addressed the affair on the "Bravo Tea With Jared B" podcast, saying that she "would not be involved in this affair secrecy type of situation if I thought that there was longevity in this relationship between Tom and Ariana. She also added that "the people closest to them could see that their relationship hasn't been what they portray on camera, and Tom always told me they're a brand."

Madix, meanwhile, has kept busy since the breakup. She's set to release a recipe book called "Single AF Cocktails: Drinks for Bad B*tches" in December, and she's also a formidable contender on "Dancing With the Stars"'s 32nd season. And of course, it looks like she's all wrapped up in a new romance.

See more photos of Madix and Wai and learn more about their relationship ahead.

March 2023: Ariana Madix Starts a New Relationship

During a May interview on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, Madix opened up about how she met her new partner. She didn't mention Wai by name, but said that she had met someone "10 or 11 days" after the Scandoval news broke in March. "I met him at this wedding and all we did was talk. Like we stayed up all night just talking. . . . It's literally all I wanted," she said. The reality star added that she was clear about boundaries with Wai because of the situation she was coming out of, and he respected them at every step.

When the pair flew home to separate coasts after the wedding, they kept talking. Madix shared, "The conversations we were having were so amazing." Since then, she said, she'd frequently been in New York for work, which let her see him in person. As for critics who accused her of jumping into a new fling too soon after her breakup with Sandoval, Madix said, "Accepting happiness and good things while you're healing, there's nothing bad about that."

April 2023: Ariana Madix and Daniel Wai Are First Linked

Rumors began to swirl about Madix and Wai's romance in April when the reality star was spotted kissing the fitness coach at LAX as she dropped him off for a flight, per photos published by the Daily Mail. The airport PDA came after the pair were spotted glued at the hip at Coachella that weekend.

In the above photo, which was taken on April 14 at the festival's Celsius Oasis Vibe House at Coachella, Wai wears a blue outfit and is standing next to Madix. The photo also features Madix's "Vanderpump Rules" castmates Scheana Shay and Brock Davies, as well as former star Dayna Kathan.

May 2023: New Details Emerge

On May 5, Wai shared a video celebrating his birthday, which included multiple videos and photos of Madix. It also included when they were featured on the scoreboard at a New York Yankees game this spring.

That same month, Madix opened up about her new relationship on "Call Her Daddy." "I'm really, really enjoying myself. I am seeing someone," she said. "They live across the country in New York, so obviously there's that whole aspect to it, but I would say it's really, really good."

Also in May, a source told People that Madix was reportedly "falling in love" with Wai. "It's happening faster than she thought but he treats her well, they're having fun, and she's happy to be moving on to this next chapter with such an incredible guy," the source added.

August 2023: Ariana Madix and Daniel Wai Take a Trip to Chicago

On Aug. 21, Madix shared a photo of herself and Wai looking affectionate in front of Chicago's famous tourist attraction, The Bean.

September 2023: Ariana Madix and Daniel Wai Attend Beyoncé's "Renaissance" Tour

On Sept. 4, the pair were spotted looking affectionate at Beyoncé's "Renaissance" tour in Los Angeles. Before the show, the duo were spotted cozying up at a pre-party, looking ready to dance the night away.

Per People, the pair's appearance at the "Renaissance" tour occurred just a few days after Madix's "Vanderpump Rules" costars Katie Maloney and Scheana Shay shared Instagram Stories of the cast on a trip to San Francisco ahead of the show's 11th season. The photos also included Wai, hinting at his involvement in the next season.

October 2023: Ariana Madix Opens Up About Daniel Wai

On Oct. 9, Madix shared new details about how Wai is supporting her as she competes on "Dancing With the Stars." "He's a personal trainer, so there's been times when he's been in town and I'm like sore, in pain, and he's like, 'OK, you just sit here,'" Madix told Entertainment Tonight. "[He'll] make sure I'm just sitting there, eating, makes me ice my feet, makes me do all those things."

She also revealed that Wai will make a brief appearance in "Vanderpump Rules" season 11, telling E! News that he'll show up "once or twice, but definitely not very much."