‘Vanderpump Rules’ Alum James Kennedy Arrested for Domestic Violence and Kristen Doute Reacts!
Vanderpump Rules alum James Kennedy was arrested on December 10, 2024, on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence.
The Burbank Police Department responded to a call at James’ Los Angeles residence around 11:30 p.m. regarding an argument between a man and a woman. A police spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE, “The investigation determined it was a domestic incident, leading to [James‘] arrest.” James was subsequently booked for misdemeanor domestic violence and later posted bail. Formal charges are pending review by the Burbank City Attorney’s office.
According to TMZ, which first reported the incident, a witness allegedly observed James, 32, engaging in physical contact with the unidentified woman. However, authorities did not note any visible injuries upon arrival. James was released on $20,000 bail.
It remains unclear whether the woman involved was James’ girlfriend, Ally Lewber. The couple had attended Kathy Hilton’s annual holiday party earlier that evening. A source informed PEOPLE that during the event, the pair “spent much of the night apart and didn’t show much affection toward each other.” Another insider described Kennedy’s behavior at the party.
“James was acting super aggressive all night long.” The source added, “He was acting so erratic, running back and forth to the bar and body-checking people along the way. He appeared inebriated. Spent the evening mostly alone but when he did speak to people, he appeared irritated and rude.”
Following the news of James’ arrest, his ex-girlfriend and former Vanderpump Rules co-star, Kristen Doute, reacted on Instagram by posting a screenshot of the TMZ article with the caption, “Finally.”
James and Ally 28, began their relationship in January 2022, shortly after James ended his engagement to fellow “Vanderpump Rules” cast member Rachel (formerly Raquel) Leviss. They met at a concert for Tom Sandoval’s band, The Most Extras. Ally later admitted to being a fan of the Bravo show, stating:
“I had seen ‘Vanderpump Rules.’ During COVID, I went down the Bravo rabbit hole.” She elaborated during the show’s season 10 reunion, “I gave him a chance to really show me who he is,” adding that “he’s lovely.”
In the wake of the alleged incident, Ally attended a New Year’s Eve with Windsor Celebration event at the Short Stories Hotel in Los Angeles on December 11. She appeared solo, smiling for cameras and was photographed receiving an ephemeral tattoo by The Tattoo Shop at the event.
James remained active on social media after the incident, promoting an upcoming DJ performance on Instagram. He posted, “I can’t wait to be back at my favorite spot in DALLAS!!🔥🤠 @komododallas.”
James’ struggles with alcohol have been a recurring theme on “Vanderpump Rules.” In 2021, he celebrated two years of sobriety, sharing on Instagram, “IM 2 YEARS SOBER TODAY💜. Thank you everyone that has supported me and my journey so far. Here’s to many more years alcohol free #forlife (to anyone struggling trust me the light at the end is brighter then anything I could of imagined. and if I can do it you can too).”
That same year, James described himself as “California sober,” indicating he used certain substances like marijuana in moderation but abstained from alcohol. This approach faced criticism from his then-co-star Lala Kent, who is completely sober. James defended his stance, stating, “It helped me quit the alcohol for good, you know what I mean? I will quit weed also when the time comes. … I don’t feel like I should quit right now, you know? There’s no point.”
As of now, neither James nor Ally have publicly commented on the arrest. The Burbank City Attorney’s office is reviewing the case to determine whether formal charges will be filed.
For those affected by domestic violence, support is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or by visiting thehotline.org.
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Olivia Davis is a Staff Writer at All About The Tea. Olivia’s hobbies include binging Netflix series, and watching Housewives on Bravo. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in History.
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