Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
James Kennedy he didn’t shy away from discussing his successes—and failures—on the road to sobriety.
Bravo viewers were introduced to Kennedy when he joined The Vanderpump Rules in 2015. After starting out as a busser at Lisa Vanderpump’s SUR restaurant, Kennedy quickly rose to wrapped in high drama on the screen.
Kennedy was often on the road with his fellow citizens— from a stormy relationship with Kristen Doute to his dispute with Jax Taylor and questionable comments about many expenses – and his relationship with alcohol didn’t help. After Vanderpump dumped Kennedy numerous times, he tried to address his substance abuse issues.
In July 2020, Kennedy announced that he was celebrating one year of sobriety. The professional DJ later admitted that he was “California sober” because marijuana helped him stop drinking alcohol.
Several of Hollywood’s biggest stars have been candid about their journeys to sobriety over the years. Kelly Osbourne, who previously spoke about being six years sober, revealed in April 2021 that she had relapsed and was working on the next steps. “I’m not proud of it. But I’m back on track,” she wrote via (…)
“It helped me quit drinking for good, you know what I mean? I’ll quit weed too when the time comes,” he said on Watch What happens to live with Andy Cohen in October 2021. “I don’t feel like I should quit now, you know? It doesn’t make sense.”
Kennedy added: “It doesn’t hurt me. It doesn’t affect my life in a negative way. So why stop?”
After his high profile separate from Rachel “Raquel” LevissKennedy confirmed that he had started drinking again, he said in a February 2023 episode The Vanderpump Rules“I learned a lot from not drinking for those two years.
Kennedy considered giving up alcohol after meeting his girlfriend Ally Lewber. Before season 11 The Vanderpump Rules began airing in January 2024, Lewber said in an interview with Bravo that Kennedy had “changed the most” over the years.
“James, he’s in therapy, he’s sober, I’m really proud of him,” she gushed that same month.
Kennedy spoke about his sobriety in December 2024 days after he was arrested for domestic violence. “I am determined to make meaningful changes in my life,” he wrote via Instagram Story. “I’m taking time to focus on my sobriety, personal growth, and being present for my loved ones.”
The charges against Kennedy were dropped a month later, and Lewber confirmed their split that same month.
“I’m happy that prosecutors chose not to press charges against James because I never wanted criminal charges,” Lewber wrote via her Instagram story, explaining that while she and Kennedy had an “argument” at his home in December 2024, she was ” not physically injured.”
She added: “We are no longer together but I will always support James and wish him the best with his sobriety and recovery.”
Keep reading to see Kennedy’s candid quotes about sobriety:
Stopping drinking
Kennedy exclusively said My Weekly O benefits of sobrietyshared in August 2019: “I’m 10 weeks (sober) this Friday. It was really good. Everything is beautiful. I focused on my sobriety and it was going really well. … (My) music has been so good lately. I didn’t procrastinate on Wed.’
Making a change
During the performance at WWHL in March 2020, Kennedy attributed to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for help.
“Because of all the drinking and stuff, I was really hiding from my real emotions and just blaming what I wanted to get off easy,” he explained. “I will be nine months sober. I haven’t had a drink in almost nine months and I feel completely different.’
Kennedy continued, “I really took my life and tried to change it for the better and change our relationship for the better. I know I should be doing it for myself, but I’m also doing it for my relationship with Raquel.’
A milestone celebration
“Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know that I’ve been sober for a year today. Quitting drinking was the best decision I ever made and I am strong. I don’t miss the booze…… I don’t miss the feeling…. I am so grateful for everything now and life has become more beautiful in so many ways,” Kennedy captioned an Instagram post in July 2020. “Thank you to my rock @raquelleviss for getting me here I couldn’t have done it without you love.♥️ and thank you all for support in the past year.”
Proud of the steps he has taken
Before his two-year anniversary, Kennedy reflected on what he had learned while maintaining his sobriety.
“It’s gratitude. It’s that feeling that makes me so grateful for my sobriety. I wake up every day and I thank God that I have this,” he said AND! News in May 2021. “My life just got so much better when I stopped drinking. I never have a hangover, I can focus much more on my music. My relationships and friendships are excellent. When I see these amazing things happening right before my eyes, why would I want to go back?
Kennedy admitted that he had to deal with it feeling “left out” adding: “I did it, the first six months I was still struggling with, ‘Well, everyone else is going out to have fun, but I’m not.’ When I got over that hump and realized that I could actually have as much fun, if not more, than everyone else drinking.’
He concluded: “It was like a light bulb went off in my head and it’s just an amazing thing. Like now I walk into a room with people drinking everywhere and I’m so f–king happy, don’t you know? I am so grateful and feel so good about it. I can still be the life of the party, I can still be my charismatic self and I still talk more than most people when they drink, they drink just to talk more. But I never needed it, and I never really realized I didn’t need alcohol until I quit. So being able to stay sober was the easy part, thankfully.”
While some things never change, the cast of Vanderpump Rules is used to shake-ups… and tweaks. The Vanderpump Rules were introduced to Bravo viewers during a special episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in January 2013. In Season 1, Lisa Vanderpump, who was a Beverly Hills woman at the time, played Stassi (…)
Trying California Sobriety
According to Kennedy, being “California sober” meant he still smoked marijuana and used edibles on a daily basis.
“It’s wild and it’s a blessing.” I sincerely thank God every day for my sobriety,” he continued WWHL in October 2021. “Quitting alcohol was the best decision I ever made, thanks (Raquel). … It’s just amazing. I wake up every morning with a hangover, ready for life. And I know it sounds like a cliché, but it’s honestly so good.”
Reflecting on His Decision
In December 2021, Kennedy and Leviss announced their separation after five years of dating. Kennedy discussed his relationship with Leviss influenced his life while filming season 9 reunion that aired a month later.
“This is not a product of me changing my life, Tom. This is a product of truth. In another, she said, “We’re not soul mates.” It was a royal enlightenment for me. I realized that we loved each other, but we are no longer in love with each other. She made up her mind. Her parents always hated me. It was never easy,” he said Tom Sandoval. “Even becoming a man who stopped drinking and changed my whole celebrity lifestyle (wasn’t enough) for this relationship. That wasn’t enough. I still have anger issues and I will never do it again.”
Walking his choice back
“After two and a half years without a single drop, I decided to drink again, have a few drinks. When Raquel left, I thought I was getting married, I was engaged, you know what I mean? After everything I did to get better, it still obviously wasn’t enough,” Kennedy stated during the season 10 premiere The Vanderpump Ruleswhich aired in January 2023. “And frankly, it was a new f-king year. It was 2022, you know what I’m doing? I’m King James Kennedy. Like, let me live.”
In a separate interview with Leviss, Kennedy said he got sober because of her, adding: “If I quit again, it will be for me next time and not a relationship ultimatum.”
Running Fresh
“I don’t drink.” Just Red Bulls and Fiji water. I meditate every day. I don’t think I’ll ever drink again,” Kennedy revealed on the Season 11 premiere, which airs in January 2023. “Ally definitely didn’t give me an ultimatum this time. This is 100% my decision. I’m technically still sober in California. It just makes my day.”
Making a change
“Obviously when things happened with Tom and Raquel, there were a lot of emotions flowing. Ally and I used to fight a lot. Especially when I got drunk,” Kennedy recalled on Vanderpump Rules in February 2024 about what led to his sobriety. “Then she left and stayed at her friend’s house for two nights. I came home and the cats were gone. I was so upset because it was empty and didn’t have the energy that was there before. At that point I was willing to do anything to get her back.”
He added: “The last time I stopped drinking it was for a relationship. I stopped drinking for two and a half years and then I decided, ‘F—k it’. This time I’m doing it for myself. Because I am doing it for myself, it will improve my life, it will improve my relationships, it will improve my friendships and it will improve my career. I’ve seen the benefits before and I definitely want to see them again.”
Focus on yourself
“Going through tough times is not easy, but I am determined to learn, grow and move forward with an incredible support system around me,” Kennedy wrote via Instagram.
Kennedy’s legal team issued a statement on his behalf after news of his arrest made headlines.
“We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations made by the Burbank Police Department against James,” his attorneys said in a statement to Us after he was released on $20,000 bail. “It is our understanding that there were no injuries and we hope that after careful consideration, city officials will decide not to file formal charges.”
