“It was kind of a farewell”: James Kennedy reacts to Scandoval drama featured in Vanderpump Rules finale

Vanderpump Rules star James Kennedy is not going to get over "Scandoval" anytime soon. He doesn't seem to have been able to recover from the "heartbreaking" Vanderpump Rules finale and even called it a "farewell." The show's finale, which was released on May 17, 2023, saw James Kennedy break down in tears when the affair between Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss was revealed.

James Kennedy recently spoke to Us Weekly about the season finale and said that he didn't think it was something the cast will ever recover from. He added:

"So it was kind of a farewell almost."

Describing the situation as a "classic story of betrayal," James Kennedy seemed to have a strong reaction to Scandoval. He said that he had that reaction as it involved Tom Sandoval who Kennedy thought of as a brother who he grew up with on the show. He said that it was a "backstabbing move" that the cast might never recover from.

One of the reasons James Kennedy had such a strong reaction to the affair was that he had been in a relationship for nearly five years with Raquel Leviss. Although they had a very public breakup that was played out on the show, things didn't seem to have ended there.

Vanderpump Rules season 10 introduced viewers to James' new flame, Ally Lewber. This only added an extra layer of complexity to the already tangled relationships. However, the bombshell news of Tom and Raquel's secret affair shattered the trust of everyone involved. It led to Ariana Madix breaking up with Tom after being together for nearly a decade.

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Vanderpump Rules season finale: James Kennedy, tears, confrontations, and broken friendships

In the finale episode, emotions ran high and words were thrown like daggers. Fueled by his sense of betrayal, James Kennedy confronted Tom and Raquel in a no-holds-barred manner.

The expletives flew as James labeled Tom a "backstabber" and a "piece of sh*t."

Even Tom's ex Ariana Madix didn't hold back and told the former that she regretted every moment that she had stood up for him, defended him, and supported him. She told him that he was worth nothing and added that it was something that she wanted him to feel deep in his soul. Ariana said that she wanted him to hear the words coming out of the "mouth of a woman who stood by" him, loved him, and was willing to build the rest of her life around him.

The raw emotions in the confrontations held the fans' attention as they empathized with Ariana and how hurt she was.

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James Kennedy invited costars Lala Kent and Katie Maloney just to discuss the drama but ultimately ended up on a confrontational phone call to Raquel. The British Bravo star said that he hasn’t spoken to Tom or Raquel since the bombshell Vanderpump Rules finale aired.

He said that the whole episode was crazy but it was heartbreaking to watch everyone's perspectives and how it affected everyone individually.

The drama will continue with a three-part reunion special, which was taped in March.

During his appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, James Kennedy spoke about the reunion. He said that he got everything off his chest and that he needed to get it out to let Tom know how the affair had affected the former.

The sneak peeks show James delivering epic one-liners, calling Tom and Raquel "poo-poo heads" and even calling Tom a "worm with a mustache."

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Vanderpump Rules finale had fans feel a range of emotions

After the release of the Vanderpump Rules finale, it has been quite clear that fans haven't been able to keep calm about it. They seemed to feel a range of emotions from shock to betrayal to hurt and more.

As fans eagerly await the first part of the reunion, it remains to be seen how the cast will navigate the aftermath of the scandal. The future of their friendships and the show itself hangs in the balance, leaving viewers and the cast uncertain of what lies ahead.

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Part 1 of the Vanderpump Rules reunion airs on Bravo Wednesday, May 24, at 9 pm ET.