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Vanderpump Rules star James Kennedy was accused of domestic violence and was taken into custody in Burbank, California on December 12, 2024. Local police responded to a call about a domestic disturbance between a male and a female on Thursday and arrested Kennedy. They classified the incident as domestic violence leading to the Vanderpump Rules alum's arrest for a misdemeanor charge.
While officers noted no visible injuries on the alleged victim, Kennedy was taken into custody and later released on bail. The woman's has not been disclosed, and charges remain pending as the investigation continues.
The arrest came two days after James and his girlfriend Ally Lewber were spotted attending Kathy Hilton's Christmas party in Los Angeles. However, it is unclear if she is the woman who was seen having an altercation with the former Vanderpump Rules star.
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James Kennedy began appearing as a guest star and friend on Vanderpump Rules in the show's second and third seasons. He started appearing as a full-time cast member in season four when he began working as a busboy in Lisa Vanderpump's restaurant, SUR.
Vanderpump Rules star James Kennedy's arrest: What we know so far
Two days before he was arrested, 32-year-old James Kennedy and his girlfriend Ally Lewber attended Kathy Hilton's Christmas party on December 10, 2024. The party was hosted by DIRECTV in Los Angeles and according to several eyewitnesses, Kennedy appeared to be in a positive mood when the party began.
An anonymous source told Us Weekly that James seemed "like he was in a good headspace, as he appeared to be having fun.
“[James] and Ally were cuddling together and taking photos. He seemed like he was in a good headspace and was dancing, singing, and having fun,” the person said.
However, other accounts indicate erratic behavior later in the evening. According to another source, there was a "huge scene" after one of Kennedy's friends dropped a lantern in the pool.
The person added that "James looked mad" as he ran away from a friend of his who was chasing him "from Kathy's basement all the way throughout Kathy's backyard." They noted that before dropping the lantern, Kennedy's friend was the one who almost fell into the pool.
The Vanderpump Rules alum reportedly skipped media interviews at the event, opting to head straight inside, where his demeanor reportedly shifted during the course of the evening.
Details of the arrest
The incident leading to Kennedy's arrest happened at a house in Burbank, California, on Thursday. TMZ reported that police were called after a fight between Kennedy and an unidentified woman. Responding officers described the incident as one of domestic violence but didn't see any visible injuries on the alleged victim.
Kennedy was taken into custody for a misdemeanor charge related to domestic violence and was released on bail later the same day. Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the involved woman, and no further details about the alleged altercation have been made public.
Us Weekly has confirmed that they reached out to Kennedy’s representatives for comment, but no official statement has been issued.
Previous allegations and reactions
It is worth noting that this isn't the first time Kennedy has been questioned in connection with his behavior.
In February 2024, Ally Lewber addressed speculation about alleged physical altercations on an episode of Scheana Shay's podcast Scheananigans. The speculation came from a 2023 incident that Teddi Mellencamp recounted.
However, Lewber clarified her position during the podcast interview, stating that she found it "crazy" that it was the "most asked question" for her. She added that it made her "really sad," because it had never happened and that she was "good."
“There was no physical altercation. Yes, we were in the car together. I thought we were having fun. We were having fun. But then James and I did get into an argument, but there was no physical assault.”
Following Kennedy's arrest, former Vanderpump Rules star Kristen Doute took to Instagram to say, "FINALLY," seemingly in response to a news article about the incident. Doute and Kennedy had dated intermittently between 2014 and 2015.
Vanderpump Rules season 12 is set to be released in the fall of 2025 and fans can watch all the previous seasons on Peacock.
