Tom Sandoval‘s girlfriend Victoria Lee Robinson has spoken out about why the couple decided to delete their social media accounts amid the reality star’s legal battle with ex Ariana Madix.

According to Robinson, 32, the decision was made to avoid public backlash and criticism while Sandoval focused on resolving the issue. “We both deactivated our Instagrams once he found out about what the filing really meant,” she explained via Instagram comments, which she then screenshotted and shared to her Story. “We BOTH were shocked and did not want hate and criticism from the public on something when he needed to focus on fixing it immediately without any distractions.”

Sandoval, 42, filed a lawsuit against Madix, 39, alleging that she had accessed his phone without permission and viewed explicit videos of Rachel “Raquel” Leviss. The lawsuit was filed in July, and it was these videos that led Madix to discover Sandoval and Leviss, 29, had been having a months-long affair.

Related: Celebrity Exes Who Lived Together Post-Split

Some celebrity exes, including Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval, Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson, and more, have chosen to continue living together post-split. For Sandoval and Madix, who parted ways in March 2023 after Madix discovered Sandoval’s infidelity, the living arrangements have remained the same.

The lawsuit led to both Sandoval and Robinson temporarily deactivating their Instagram accounts.

In response to the lawsuit, Madix’s lawyer, Jordan Susman, stated that Sandoval’s actions are “abhorrent” and that he continues to “torment” Madix. Susman added that Sandoval’s lawsuit is an attempt to shift the blame and avoid taking responsibility for his actions.

Sandoval has since returned to social media, stating that he did not intentionally file a lawsuit against Madix and that he plans to fire his legal team. He added that the “action taken against Ariana brought on my behalf is being removed.”