James Kennedy was arrested for domestic violence in the wake of the Vanderpump Rules recast announcement, according to multiple sources.
According to TMZ, the 32-year-old reality star turned DJ was arrested on December 10—the same night he attended Kathy Hilton’s annual Christmas party. While the initial report did not include too many details, here’s everything we know.
What happened?
Well, according to TMZ, the police were called about an argument between the VPR star and an unnamed woman at a house in Burbank, California (which was later identified as Kennedy’s home, per People). Though the police reportedly “did not see any visible injuries” on the woman in question, a witness allegedly saw the reality star “grabbing” the woman before James Kennedy was arrested for “misdemeanor domestic violence.” The news was first reported on December 12.
According to an arrest log obtained by TMZ and People on December 14, Police were called to the home for an “unknown problem.” After police made contact with both Kennedy and the woman inside the house, she reportedly claimed “her boyfriend picked her up and threw her to the ground.”
Has he been released?
Sources told TMZ that Kennedy was released after posting $20,000 bail and that the Burbank City Attorney’s Office is currently reviewing the case for possible charges. “The investigation determined it was a domestic incident, leading to [Kennedy’s] arrest,” a spokesperson for the Burbank Police Department told People. “[Kennedy] was booked for misdemeanor domestic violence and later posted bail. Formal charges are pending review by the Burbank City Attorney’s office.”
Has James Kennedy commented on the situation?
Kennedy’s lawyers released a statement on Friday, December 13. “We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations levied by the Burbank Police Department against James,” the statement read, per Us Weekly. “We understand that there were no injuries and we are hoping that, after careful review, the city’s attorneys will decide not to file formal charges.”
What happened before the arrest?
Earlier that evening, Kennedy had reportedly attended DirecTV’s Christmas at Kathy’s event with his girlfriend of nearly three years, Ally Lewber. Following TMZ’s initial report, a source told People the couple “didn’t show much affection toward each other” and spent much of the party apart. They did not pose together on the red carpet.
“James was acting super aggressive all night long,” another source told People. “He was acting so erratic, running back and forth to the bar and body-checking people along the way,” the insider claimed. “He appeared inebriated. Spent the evening mostly alone but when he did speak to people, he appeared irritated and rude.”
James Kennedy has been open about his struggles with alcohol.
Kennedy first quit drinking in 2019 after verbally berating then girlfriend Raquel Leviss. “Because of all the drinking I was doing and stuff, I was really hiding away from my true emotions and just blaming whatever. I wanted to get out the easy way,” he said on Watch What Happens Live in March 2020, per Us Weekly. “I’m going onto nine months sober. I haven’t had a drink in nearly nine months, and I just feel completely different.”
Though he reportedly confirmed he was drinking again during a Vanderpump Rules episode that aired in February 2023, Lewger claimed he was sober again in January 2024. “James, he’s in therapy, he’s sober, I’m really proud of him,” she said in a promotional video for season 11.
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