James Kennedy’s Most Controversial Moments: SUR Firings, Arrest

James Kennedy he came like a wrecking ball when he joined The Vanderpump Rules in Season 3 — and his wild antics weren’t included in the reality show.

During his time VPRKennedy stirred the pot, ruffled feathers (Jax Taylor can confirm) and caused drama after cheating on both of them Kristen Doute and Rachel “Raquel” Leviss.

“If you took the wrong one.” James Bond villain and like making him sweaty and drunk with fireballs and then having him play a scrawny Muppet would be less annoying than James Kennedy,” costar Stassi Schroeder he once said

Both on and off the show, so did Kennedy he struggled with his sobriety. When a girlfriend Ally Lewber entered the picture in 2022, it seemed to be going in the right direction.

However, My Weekly in December 2024 he confirmed it Kennedy was arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence after he was allegedly seen grabbing an unnamed woman. The charges were dropped a month later, but Lewber confirmed their split at the time.

Scroll down to see Kennedy’s biggest highs and lows over the years:

Kristen Doute cheating

Kennedy was introduced to fans on the day VPR during season 3 in 2014 when he was dating Doute. The couple had a tumultuous relationship that played out during seasons 3 and 4. “F- you, Kristen! Everybody’s talkin’ — you, and it’s true,” Kennedy yelled at Doute during a Season 3 episode after they got into an argument.

He called her “unmanageable” and Doute later punched him in the face. “You’re a lying whore!” Kennedy said in response.

While the two had a verbally abusive relationship, it was Doute’s insecurities about cheating that led to their breakup. Her fears were justified Kennedy confessed during season 4 to sleep with a SUR employee Jenna Willis after lying about it to Doute’s face.

Drinking DJ

After being promoted from SURver to DJ at Lisa Vanderpump‘s restaurant, Kennedy’s drinking problems became increasingly evident. During a Season 4 episode, he surprised the cast by ripping the Fireball from its handle. “James obviously had a lot – I didn’t know he had that much to drink – but he’s over the edge,” Doute said at the time.

Fat Shaming Katie Maloney

During season 5 VPR in 2016, Kennedy hurled insults at several fellow actors, including Scheana Shay and Maloney. “I haven’t talked to anybody,” Kennedy claimed during one episode, before asking Shay, “Did you do any work? You look good.”

After Lala Kenovát told the group, “I see everyone here hasn’t worked on their summer bodies,” Kennedy added. “Wait, are you pregnant?” Maloney said, calling her fat. “Oh my god, congratulations!”

Multiple expulsions from SUR

Kennedy started out as a SUR busser before becoming a DJ for Vanderpump. During season 3, Kennedy was fired by Vanderpump for drinking on the job and fighting, but returned to work the next day. Peter Madrigal then fired him again because he wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place.

During Season 5, Kennedy once again raised eyebrows at work after making rude comments to some of his co-workers. “It’s a petty drama that these bastards (started). They’re thirsty, thirsty little girls who need a drink and I can’t give them water,” Kennedy Vanderpump said at the time, and she called him an “a-hole.”

Later that season, Kennedy was accused of to be drunk at work again and husband Vanderpump, Ken Toddcalled him out for “disrespecting” his wife. Kennedy was later fired. After working his way back into Vanderpump’s good graces, Kennedy was reinstated he was fired during season 7 after calling Maloney fat again.

Feud with Jax Taylor

Since Kennedy joined VPR, Taylor didn’t like himsuggesting that Kennedy was using then-girlfriend Doute for fame. During season 5, Taylor inserted himself into a conversation between Kennedy and Kent, resulting in Kennedy yelling at him during work hours.

“He’s got to take orders,” Kennedy shouted, referring to Taylor’s job of making people’s curly drinks. “We need to get more cosmopolitans! Pumptinis!”

During the same season, the couple got into a fight after one of Kennedy’s DJ gigs. Taylor threw a glass at him and Kennedy retaliated by throwing his own glass at Taylor. Both were escorted from the scene by security. In June 2017, the costars were back as friends, but their relationship continued ebb and flow.

Becoming “California Sober”

Kennedy announced in July 2020 that he had celebrated a year of sobriety. He later clarified that he was “California sober” because smoking marijuana helped him quit drinking.

“It’s wild and it’s a blessing.” I sincerely thank God every day for my sobriety,” he continued See what happens live with Andy Cohen in October 2021. “Quitting alcohol was the best decision I ever made, thanks (Rachel). … 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.”

A short-lived engagement to Rachel Leviss

Kennedy and Leviss announced their engagement in May 2021 after he proposed in Palm Springs, California while hosting a “Rachella” party for all his friends. Seven months later, the couple revealed that they did not together anymore.

“After 5 wonderful years together, we’ve decided we have two different goals and have decided to call off our engagement,” Leviss shared on Instagram in December 2021. “We love each other very much, but we’re not in. already love We want nothing but the best for each other, so please keep positive thoughts. Sending love.”

Fall off the wagon

Kennedy revealed during season 10 VPR premiered in January 2023 that he started drinking again after breaking up with Leviss. “After two and a half years without a drop, I decided to drink again, have a few drinks,” he said. “I thought I was getting married, I was engaged, you know what I mean? After all I had done to improve, it still clearly wasn’t enough.’

He added: “And to be honest, it’s been a new year of life. It was 2022, you know what I’m doing? I’m f—ing James Kennedy. Like, let me live.”

Sleeping with Lala Kent

Kent and Kennedy revealed during the season 10 premiere VPRwhich aired in February 2023 that they got together during her past romance with Leviss. “James and I, both very new to our relationships, definitely bonded,” Kent said. “We went to Chicago (in 2016) and started drinking before we got on the plane. That’s why he said I do handstands, because I definitely do handstands.”

Kennedy wasn’t the only one taken when Kent was dating Randall Emmett when she crossed the border with Kennedy. (Kent broke up with Emmett in 2022.)

Tom Sandoval everyone

Kennedy and Sandoval started out as friends — and were almost roommates — before that Kennedy dated Dout shortly after she and Sandoval called it quits in 2013. During season 3, tensions began to rise between Kennedy and Sandoval after Sandoval gained protection over Doute and tried to warn her about DJing.

Once Sandoval started walking Ariana Madix at the end of 2013, renewed his friendship with Kennedy. The pair became close when Kennedy opened for Sandoval’s band Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras in the summer of 2022.

However, when news broke in March 2023 that Sandoval had an affair with Leviss while still dating Madix, his relationship with Kennedy suffered. Kennedy took the connection as a slap in the face as he was previously engaged to Leviss.

Getting sober again

During season 11 VPRKennedy revealed that he was sober after his past problems with substance abuse.

Rumors of physical abuse

In February 2024 Lewber silenced the rumors that Kennedy had been abusive towards her during their two-year relationship. “James and I got into an argument, but there was no physical assault,” Lewber said during an appearance on the “Scheananigans” podcast after the alleged incident after the MTV Movie & TV Awards came to light. “I wasn’t bleeding and they didn’t have to get out of the car and separate us. So that didn’t happen. That’s all I’ll say about that.”

Lewber claimed that Kennedy never “physically injured” or “assaulted” her.

“We are good. we are happy He works on himself. I know from the past that he has anger issues. So I get it,” she continued. “But I just want people to know that I’m good and I’m safe and I love him.

During the same interview, Shay brought up the claim that Doute and Leviss had made in the past about Kennedy’s alleged behavior. Lewber thanked Shay for providing a “safe space” for her to speak, but stuck to her story.

“I’m like, should I go on my Instagram and say, ‘Am I good, guys?’ I don’t know how to navigate things like that,” Lewber told Shay. “And this is something that is very serious. And I appreciate that everyone is worried about me. But I want everyone to know that I’m good.”

Arrest for alleged domestic violence

Our in December 2024 he confirmed that Kennedy was arrested for domestic violence after law enforcement responded to a call about an argument between a man and a woman. Kennedy was reportedly seen grabbing the woman’s arm. He was later released after posting $20,000 bail.

“We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations made against James by the Burbank Police Department,” his attorneys said in a statement to Us. “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.”

Lewber subsequently confirmed their split. “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.”