James Kennedy has not shied away from discussing his successes — and his failures — on the journey to staying sober.
Bravo viewers had been launched to Kennedy when he joined Vanderpump Guidelines in 2015. After beginning out as a busser at Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurant SUR, Kennedy shortly received wrapped up in loads of drama on display.
Kennedy was usually on the outs along with his costars — from a tumultuous relationship with Kristen Doute to his feud with Jax Taylor and questionable feedback about quite a few costars — and his relationship with alcohol didn’t assist. After Vanderpump fired Kennedy quite a few occasions, he made an effort to handle his substance abuse points.
In July 2020, Kennedy introduced that he celebrated one 12 months of sobriety. The skilled DJ later admitted that he was “California sober” as a result of marijuana helped him to not use alcohol.
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“It helped me stop the alcohol for good, you understand what I imply? I’ll stop weed additionally when the time comes,” he mentioned on Watch What Occurs Stay With Andy Cohen in October 2021. “I don’t really feel like I ought to stop proper now, you understand? There’s no level.”
Kennedy added: “It doesn’t hurt me. It doesn’t, like, have an effect on my life in a detrimental means. So, why stop?”
After his high-profile break up from Rachel “Raquel” Leviss, Kennedy confirmed he began consuming once more, saying on a February 2023 episode of Vanderpump Guidelines, “I discovered loads from not consuming these two years.”
Kennedy thought of slicing out alcohol after assembly now-girlfriend Ally Lewber. Earlier than season 11 of Vanderpump Guidelines began airing in January 2024, Lewber mentioned in an interview with Bravo that Kennedy “modified probably the most” over time.
“James, he’s in remedy, he’s sober, I’m actually happy with him,” she gushed that very same month.
Kennedy addressed his sobriety in December 2024 days after being arrested for misdemeanor home violence. “I’m dedicated to creating significant modifications in my life,” he wrote by way of Instagram Story. “I’m taking time to concentrate on my sobriety, private development, and being current for my family members.”
Prices towards Kennedy had been dropped one month later and that very same month Lewber confirmed their break up.
“I’m glad that prosecutors determined to not file towards James, as I by no means desired prison costs,” Lewber wrote by way of her Instagram Story, explaining that whereas she and Kennedy did get into an “argument” at his residence in December 2024 she was “not bodily harm.”
She added: “We’re not collectively, however I’ll all the time help James and need him one of the best along with his sobriety and therapeutic.”
Preserve studying to see Kennedy’s candid quotes about sobriety:
Quitting Consuming
Kennedy solely advised Us Weekly about the advantages of getting sober, sharing in August 2019, “I’m 10 weeks [sober] this Friday. It’s been actually good. All the pieces’s lovely. I’ve been specializing in my sobriety and it’s been going very well. … [My] music has been simply so good these days. I haven’t been procrastinating on s—t.”
Making a Change
Throughout an look on WWHL in March 2020, Kennedy credited Alcoholics Nameless conferences for serving to him.
“Due to all of the consuming I used to be doing and stuff, I used to be actually hiding away from my true feelings and simply blaming no matter I wished to get out the straightforward means,” he defined. ”I’m going onto 9 months sober. I haven’t had a drink in practically 9 months, and I simply really feel fully completely different.”
Kennedy continued: “I’ve actually taken maintain of my life and attempt to change it for the higher and alter our relationship for the higher. I do know I must be doing this for me, however I’m additionally doing it for my relationship with Raquel.”
Celebrating a Milestone
“Hey everybody simply wished to allow you to all know I’ve made it to my one 12 months sober in the present day. Letting go of consuming was one of the best determination I ever made and I’m going robust. I don’t miss the booze …… I don’t miss the sensation …. I’m so grateful for all the things now and life has grow to be extra lovely in some ways,” Kennedy captioned an Instagram submit in July 2020. “Thanks to my rock @raquelleviss for getting me right here I couldn’t of accomplished this with out you my love.♥️ and thanks all for the help this previous 12 months.”
Happy with the Steps He Took
Forward of his two-year anniversary, Kennedy mirrored on the teachings he discovered whereas sustaining his sobriety.
“It’s gratitude. It’s the sensation of being so grateful for my sobriety. I get up day-after-day thanking God that I’ve received it,” he advised E! Information in Might 2021. “My life has simply gotten so significantly better from quitting consuming. I’m by no means hungover, I’m in a position to concentrate on my music a lot extra. My relationships and friendships are excelling. After I see these wonderful issues occurring proper earlier than my eyes, why would I need to return?”
Kennedy admitted he needed to take care of a sense of “lacking out,” including, “I received over that, within the first six months I used to be nonetheless fighting the entire, ‘Effectively, everybody else is attending to exit and have enjoyable however I don’t.’ After I received over that hump and I noticed I’m truly in a position to have simply as a lot enjoyable, if no more, than everybody else consuming.”
He concluded: “It was like a lightbulb went off in my head and it’s simply an incredible factor. Like I stroll right into a room now with individuals consuming in all places and I’m simply so f—king glad I don’t, you understand? I’m simply so grateful and I really feel so good about it. I can nonetheless be the lifetime of the social gathering, I can nonetheless be my charismatic self and I nonetheless find yourself chatting much more than most individuals do to drink, they drink simply to get extra chatty. However I’ve by no means wanted that and I by no means actually realized that I didn’t want alcohol till I stop it. So having the ability to keep the sobriety has fortunately been the best a part of it.”
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Attempting California Sobriety
Based on Kennedy, being “California sober” meant he nonetheless smoked marijuana every day and used edibles
“It’s wild and it’s a blessing. I thank God day-after-day for my sobriety, truthfully,” he mentioned on WWHL in October 2021. “Reducing out alcohol was one of the best determination I’ve ever made, because of [Raquel]. … It’s simply f—king wonderful. I get up each morning by no means hungover, simply prepared for all times. And I do know that sounds cliché, nevertheless it’s truthfully so good.”
Reflecting on His Choice
In December 2021, Kennedy and Leviss introduced their break up after 5 years of relationship. Kennedy mentioned how his relationship with Leviss influenced his life whereas filming the season 9 reunion, which aired one month later.
“This isn’t a product of me f–king up my life, Tom. It is a product of the reality. The second she mentioned, ‘We’re not soulmates.’ For me, that was a f–king enlightenment. I noticed that we cherished one another however we aren’t in love with one another anymore. She has made her determination. Her mother and father have all the time hated me. It has by no means been simple,” he advised Tom Sandoval. “Even changing into the person that stop consuming and altered his complete f–king life-style for this relationship [wasn’t enough]. It wasn’t sufficient. I nonetheless have these anger points, and I’m by no means doing this once more.”
Strolling His Alternative Again
“After two and a half years of not a single drop, I made a decision to drink once more, have a pair drinks. After Raquel left, I believed I used to be getting married, I used to be engaged, have you learnt what I imply? In any case I did to higher myself, it nonetheless clearly wasn’t sufficient,” Kennedy throughout the season 10 premiere of Vanderpump Guidelines, which aired in January 2023. “And fairly frankly, it was a brand new f–king 12 months. It was 2022, you understand, what am I doing? I’m f–king James Kennedy. Like, let me reside.”
In a separate dialog with Leviss, Kennedy mentioned he received sober due to her, including, “If I’m gonna stop once more, it will likely be for me subsequent time and never an ultimatum in a relationship.”
Beginning Contemporary
“I’m not consuming. Simply Purple Bulls and Fiji water. I’m meditating day-after-day. I don’t assume I’ll ever drink once more,” Kennedy revealed on the season 11 premiere, which aired in January 2023. “Ally undoubtedly didn’t give me an ultimatum this time. That is 100% my determination. Technically I’m nonetheless California sober. It simply makes my day higher.”
Making a Change
“Clearly, when the Tom and Raquel stuff occurred, a number of feelings had been flowing. Ally and I had been preventing loads. Particularly after I can be getting drunk,” Kennedy recalled on Vanderpump Guidelines in February 2024 about what led to his sobriety. “Then she went and stayed at her good friend’s home for 2 nights. I got here residence and the cats had been gone. I used to be so upset as a result of it was empty and there wasn’t the power that was there earlier than. I used to be keen to do something in that second to get her again.”
He added: “Final time I stop consuming, it was for the connection. I stop consuming for 2 and a half years after which determined, ‘F—okay it.’ This time, I’m doing it for myself. As a result of I’m doing it for myself, it can higher my life, higher my relationships, higher my friendships and higher my profession. I’ve seen these advantages earlier than and I undoubtedly need to see them once more.”
Specializing in Himself
“Navigating difficult moments will not be simple however I’m decided to be taught, develop and transfer ahead with the unimaginable help system round me,” Kennedy wrote by way of Instagram.
Kennedy’s authorized group launched an announcement on his behalf after the information of his arrest made headlines.
“We’re within the technique of conducting our personal investigation into the allegations levied by the Burbank Police Division towards James,” his attorneys mentioned in an announcement to Us after he was launched on a $20,000 bail. “We perceive that there have been no accidents and we hope that, after cautious assessment, the town’s attorneys will resolve to not file formal costs.”
