James Kennedy: DJ Muppet Baby

[FozzyBear]

I always believed Rachel that James was abusive and honestly viewed a lot of her behavior during Scandoval through that lens. She struck me as a people pleaser without a particularly strong will who left an abusive relationship and sunk right into another relationship built on manipulation, poor boundaries, and some romantic idea about being the only person who really loved this troubled man, just like with James. I wish she’d gotten therapy instead but I was surprised that no one believed her and continued to back up James and his righteous anger bullshit. James sucks. He’s sucked every season and I have no idea why people find him charming.

[princelina]

9 hours ago, FozzyBear said:

I’m guessing it was Allie and James was drunk and he will recommit to his sobriety and Allie will stand by him and no one will learn any lessons at all. 🙄

I'm guessing Allie won't be around much longer now that the show's over!

[Gharlane]

12 hours ago, DeeReynolds said:

Vanderpump Rules' James Kennedy Arrested on Suspicion of Domestic Violence

😲

Quote

When the news broke, Kennedy’s ex-girlfriend and former VPR costar Kristen Doute took to Instagram to react, posting a screenshot of the TMZ article and writing, “Finally.”

Wow, that was cold! 

[ZettaK]

On 12/12/2024 at 5:25 PM, FozzyBear said:

I always believed Rachel that James was abusive and honestly viewed a lot of her behavior during Scandoval through that lens. She struck me as a people pleaser without a particularly strong will who left an abusive relationship and sunk right into another relationship built on manipulation, poor boundaries, and some romantic idea about being the only person who really loved this troubled man, just like with James. I wish she’d gotten therapy instead but I was surprised that no one believed her and continued to back up James and his righteous anger bullshit. James sucks. He’s sucked every season and I have no idea why people find him charming.

I never liked him. He pretended to be furious at Rachel and Sandoval at the reunion (his reaction was exaggerated) to benefit personally (he followed the viewers' sentiments), in order to become popular. He fooled many people the next season by playing the same game (attacking Sandoval), but not me.

He was abusive to Kristen (it seems that there was footage from that wedding Bravo didn’t show), Rachel, and now Ally. He was verbally abusive toward different people on the show since he joined the cast.

He hoped the show would continue with the old cast according to recent interviews, so I assume like others did that he was angry about the cancellation.

Edited Saturday at 02:36 PM by ZettaK
Grammar, etc

[FozzyBear]

3 hours ago, ZettaK said:

I never liked him. He pretended to be furious at Rachel and Sandoval at the reunion to benefit personally (he followed the viewers' sentiments). He fooled many people the next season by playing the same game (attacking Sandoval), but not me.

He was abusive with Kristen, Rachel, and now Ally. He was verbally abusive toward different people on the show since he joined the cast.

He hoped the show would continue with the old cast according to recent interviews, so I assume like others he was angry about the cancelation.

I never even understood why he was acting like the injured party. He and Rachel had broken up and he had moved on to Ally at the point. Because Sandoval had an affair with his ex? Didn’t he meet Sandoval because he was dating Sandoval’s ex (Kristin)? I think what Sandoval and Rachel did was terrible but the level of outrage from the cast was so over the top. Every person in the cast including Arianna had cheated or been involved with someone while they were cheating. The only exception might be Katie. For James to use it as an excuse to just go full ham on his ex girlfriend was gross.

[ZettaK]

4 hours ago, FozzyBear said:

I never even understood why he was acting like the injured party. He and Rachel had broken up and he had moved on to Ally at the point. Because Sandoval had an affair with his ex? Didn’t he meet Sandoval because he was dating Sandoval’s ex (Kristin)? I think what Sandoval and Rachel did was terrible but the level of outrage from the cast was so over the top. Every person in the cast including Arianna had cheated or been involved with someone while they were cheating. The only exception might be Katie. For James to use it as an excuse to just go full ham on his ex girlfriend was gross.

And let's not forget all those posts, blogs, podcasts, etc. about his supposed personal growth. He most probably received PR advice (like other cast members after Scandoval), and advice from Ally who has common sense. A reason he was liked is because he was funny at times.

There were cheating allegations about Katie and Schwartz before they were married. 

11 hours ago, Gharlane said:

😲

Wow, that was cold! 

Kristen said he physically abused her too. 

[Gharlane]

37 minutes ago, ZettaK said:

Kristen said he physically abused her too. 

I must have missed that, but I remember they used to bite each other during sex or something because I remember people commenting on it when they came to work one day.

[princelina]

40 minutes ago, Gharlane said:

I must have missed that, but I remember they used to bite each other during sex or something because I remember people commenting on it when they came to work one day.

I don't mean to shock you - but that was a different girl 😂

[Marley]

I did always think he was a douche but I will admit I got tricked last season thinking he had maybe grown up a bit clearly not tho.

[RealHousewife]

7 hours ago, FozzyBear said:

I never even understood why he was acting like the injured party. He and Rachel had broken up and he had moved on to Ally at the point. Because Sandoval had an affair with his ex? Didn’t he meet Sandoval because he was dating Sandoval’s ex (Kristin)? I think what Sandoval and Rachel did was terrible but the level of outrage from the cast was so over the top. Every person in the cast including Arianna had cheated or been involved with someone while they were cheating. The only exception might be Katie. For James to use it as an excuse to just go full ham on his ex girlfriend was gross.

It's funny when I heard of the scandal I thought wtf! Then when I watched the show I thought, you know, other than Katie, none of these folks are angels to act so high and mighty. I guess the scandal was especially bad, but it's not like cheating was super scandalous within the group. 

Regarding James specifically, as much as I hate the fact James used being the youngest and then Scandoval as a get of jail free card for everything, I kind of got his anger. He got with Kristen when he was around 21 and not close to Sandoval. A 40-year-old Sandoval got with Rachel like a decade later after they became close. James was also engaged to her, and Sandoval helped pay for the engagement from what appeared out of the goodness of his heart at the time. I would have been hurt in his shoes too. 

I do agree other than Ariana obviously, most of the rest of the cast had an OTT reaction to the scandal. I didn't get Lala in particular. You would have thought Sandoval or Rachel cheated on her. At first I thought it was out of loyalty to Ariana, but she was a terrible friend to Ariana the next season. 

I think sadly a lot of stuff both Kristen and Rachel said was dismissed because the powers that be wanted to protect James. Lisa Vanderpump seems to coddle the male cast members, and she can be brutal to Kristen. 

I had really hoped James had changed his ways. His behavior on the show was a lot better the last season or two compared to how mean he used to be. This is all very disappointing. I hope Ally is okay and ends it for good.

Edited Friday at 09:33 PM by RealHousewife

[AnnieBananie]

36 minutes ago, RealHousewife said:

I had really hoped James had changed his ways. His behavior on the show was a lot better the last season or two compared to how mean he used to be. This is all very disappointing.

A bunch of times last season I thought that James was the surprising new voice of reason. I feel sad that I'm wrong.

[princelina]

Both James and Jax were usually pretty good about pointing out other people's foibles, (takes one to know one?) and James was usually funny about it as well.  I DGAF about Jax but was rooting for James.

[RoseAllDay]

I just saw the story about James, and frankly, I’m not surprised. He’s always had an abusive streak to me. His texts to Rachel, when they were together, were disturbing, and his temper was always a problem.

He really seemed to have settled down, but he never took his issues and the work he had to do to get over them seriously. He was enabled by just about everybody. Lala was more committed to her recovery.

Throw the book at him, if need be. It’s long past time, and if Ally stays with him, she’s just as much of a fool. 

I’m pissed, because despite all his screw-ups, I came to like him. in the wise words of Tyra Banks on Top Model: “I was rooting for YOU! We were all rooting for YOU!” 

Get help, and get your life together, James. One day it will be too late.

[ZettaK]

I hope Ally is ok. I don't think it's the first time this happened because Ally said at the last reunion that she moved out for a couple of days (after filming for the season) because of his behavior. 

[RoseAllDay]

https://www.tmz.com/2024/12/13/james-kennedy-ally-lewber-not-splitting-after-domestic-violence-arrest/

Story is a little thin on details, but my point in posting it is this is classic abused partner behavior. Many DV victims and their partners downplay it, the victim refuses to press charges, or winds up dropping them. It’s almost always a “misunderstanding.” Next she’ll probably say was her fault. James has shown who he is with almost every woman he’s been with, as well as with others. (Schwartz, Katie, etc.) He flies into rages. He’s dangerous, IMO, and I’d want my daughter to have nothing to do with him.

Edited Saturday at 02:53 PM by RoseAllDay

[snarts]

He's lost his Vegas residency.

 https://people.com/vanderpump-rules-james-kennedy-removed-from-las-vegas-residency-following-domestic-violence-arrest-8761602

More details on the assault. She told cops that he threw her to the ground.

https://realityblurb.com/2024/12/14/ally-lewber-told-cops-james-kennedy-threw-her-to-the-ground-as-rachel-leviss-recalls-sickening-abuse-plus-james-dallas-dj-gig-is-canceled-as-new-report-shares-wh/

2 hours ago, RoseAllDay said:

I’m pissed, because despite all his screw-ups, I came to like him. in the wise words of Tyra Banks on Top Model: “I was rooting for YOU! We were all rooting for YOU!” 

So much this. I blame myself for recently commenting that he'd had the biggest glow up. 

Edited Saturday at 03:59 PM by snarts

[ZettaK]

1 hour ago, RoseAllDay said:

https://www.tmz.com/2024/12/13/james-kennedy-ally-lewber-not-splitting-after-domestic-violence-arrest/

Story is a little thin on details, but my point in posting it is this is classic abused partner behavior. Many DV victims and their partners downplay it, the victim refuses to press charges, or winds up dropping them. It’s almost always a “misunderstanding.” Next she’ll probably say was her fault. James has shown who he is with almost every woman he’s been with, as well as with others. (Schwartz, Katie, etc.) He flies into rages. He’s dangerous, IMO, and I’d want my daughter to have nothing to do with him.

And the neighbor who called 911 "overreacted".

Ally feels guilty about him possibly losing jobs, and future job offers, something which is happening already, so she is trying to protect him. 

Edited Saturday at 04:27 PM by ZettaK

[hoodooznoodooz]

I have compassion for Ally, of course. But I wonder if she will have less incentive to stay with James, since dating him no longer allows her to appear on a TV show.

[Gharlane]

19 hours ago, RealHousewife said:

James was also engaged to her, and Sandoval helped pay for the engagement from what appeared out of the goodness of his heart at the time. I would have been hurt in his shoes too. 

Hokey smokes! Was Sandoval fooling around with Raquchel at the time he paid for the engagement festivities? 🤯

 

3 hours ago, RoseAllDay said:

I just saw the story about James, and frankly, I’m not surprised. He’s always had an abusive streak to me. His texts to Rachel, when they were together, were disturbing, and his temper was always a problem.

He really seemed to have settled down, but he never took his issues and the work he had to do to get over them seriously. He was enabled by just about everybody. Lala was more committed to her recovery.

I wonder if him quitting sobriety made it worse or return? 

1 hour ago, snarts said:

https://realityblurb.com/2024/12/14/ally-lewber-told-cops-james-kennedy-threw-her-to-the-ground-as-rachel-leviss-recalls-sickening-abuse-plus-james-dallas-dj-gig-is-canceled-as-new-report-shares-wh/

Did Raquchel claim this earlier?

19 hours ago, RealHousewife said:

I do agree other than Ariana obviously, most of the rest of the cast had an OTT reaction to the scandal. I didn't get Lala in particular. You would have thought Sandoval or Rachel cheated on her.

He kind of did, in that LaLa was unable to make the season about her separating from Randal storyline.

[RoseAllDay]

1 hour ago, Gharlane said:

Hokey smokes! Was Sandoval fooling around with Raquchel at the time he paid for the engagement festivities? 🤯

 

I wonder if him quitting sobriety made it worse or return? 

Did Raquchel claim this earlier?

He kind of did, in that LaLa was unable to make the season about her separating from Randal storyline.

IIRC, because this is going back several years, I don’t think he was really committed to working a recovery program in the first place. It was only when he was forced to do so, either by Lisa firing him, or taking away his DJ gigs, or Rachel threatening to leave him, that he made an effort. But that’s not going to work for long if you don’t really want to do it. Him still taking drinks, his dad being a party buddy, were signs to me that he would probably never be sober. Combine that with his temper, no bueno. His rage texts to Rachel were probably made while he was drunk. 

Contrast him to Lala, who realizes she has to work at it everyday. I’ve known recovering alcoholics, and they’re open with the fact that all it takes is one drink and it’s over.

I’m having a hard time feeling sympathetic anymore. Been fooled too many times, and for Ally to put him and his career before her own well-being is just sad.

Edited Saturday at 06:02 PM by RoseAllDay

[ZettaK]

1 hour ago, hoodooznoodooz said:

I have compassion for Ally, of course. But I wonder if she will have less incentive to stay with James, since dating him no longer allows her to appear on a TV show.

She might be thinking that the DA won't file charges because there were no visible injuries on her (but bruises can appear later). His lawyer hopes so. This way his career can recommence eventually. Bravo said that the OGs could appear as guests on the VR reboot. He could be on other tv shows. Ally doesn't really have a career. She lives in his house, and he mostly (if not entirely) supports her. 

[RealHousewife]

1 hour ago, Gharlane said:

Hokey smokes! Was Sandoval fooling around with Raquchel at the time he paid for the engagement festivities? 🤯

 

I wonder if him quitting sobriety made it worse or return? 

Did Raquchel claim this earlier?

He kind of did, in that LaLa was unable to make the season about her separating from Randal storyline.

Yeah it’s possible they were already messing around then. 

Lala was definitely bitter no one really cared too much about the Randall scandal. 

[ZettaK]

1 hour ago, Gharlane said:

He kind of did, in that LaLa was unable to make the season about her separating from Randal storyline.

Yes, Sandoval cheated HER of a storyline- Randall's cheating. It had nothing to do with Ariana, but of course she claimed she cared about her. Their grievances (Lala and James') were misplaced, or maybe not after all!

Edited Saturday at 06:34 PM by ZettaK

[ZettaK]

1 hour ago, Gharlane said:

Hokey smokes! Was Sandoval fooling around with Raquchel at the time he paid for the engagement festivities? 

I doubt it. No guy pays for the woman he likes to get engaged to another guy. There is no evidence they were fooling around at that time, but there is plenty about the actual timeline. They could both leave their partners instead. Sandoval wanted to try to have a relationship with Rachel after Scandoval, but she didn't want to anymore. She would if there was no Scandoval. It seems they were both waiting for filming for S10 to end to perhaps try to do it before the new season started filming. Schwartz and Katie announced their separation during that time period the previous year.

Edited Saturday at 06:34 PM by ZettaK

[princelina]

On 12/14/2024 at 11:33 AM, hoodooznoodooz said:

I have compassion for Ally, of course. But I wonder if she will have less incentive to stay with James, since dating him no longer allows her to appear on a TV show.

This will be an unpopular opinion, but - like Brittany - Ally went out on purpose to meet a known abusive guy who had a tv show, and then got to be on tv.  l have compassion for them both, but they need to wise up.

On 12/14/2024 at 12:20 PM, RoseAllDay said:

His rage texts to Rachel were probably made while he was drunk. 

They definitely were - that's why she told him he had to quit and if not they'd break up.  And at the beginning of season 10 he was with Ally and drinking again, and said point blank that he stopped for Raquel but she left him anyway, so he was drinking again.  Then it sounds like he stopped for Ally for a while.

On 12/14/2024 at 1:33 PM, ZettaK said:

Sandoval wanted to try to have a relationship with Rachel after Scandoval, but she didn't want to anymore. 

I don't even believe that - I think it's how he decided to play it after she decided not to return to the show.  Poor heartbroken Tom - but when Andy asked at their previous "mea culpa" reunion if he was in love, he found it really hard to spit out "yeah".

[RealHousewife]

9 minutes ago, princelina said:

This will be an unpopular opinion, but - like Brittany - Ally went out on purpose to meet a known abusive guy who had a tv show, and then got to be on tv.  l have compassion for them both, but they need to wise up.

They definitely were - that's why she told him he had to quit and if not they'd break up.  And at the beginning of season 10 he was with Ally and drinking again, and said point blank that he stopped for Raquel but she left him anyway, so he was drinking again.  Then it sounds like he stopped for Ally for a while.

I don't even believe that - I think it's how he decided to play it after she decided not to return to the show.  Poor heartbroken Tom - but when Andy asked at their previous "mea culpa" reunion if he was in love, he found it really hard to spit out "yeah".

I think both Ally and Brittany must be good people if almost everyone likes them when the cameras aren't rolling. 

I remember how awkward it was when Andy asked if he was in love. Not to get too OT, but did Rachel ever say why she ended it? Was it because she felt groomed and taken advantage of?

I've always wondered if part of why these girls stay with James is not just the fame/show opportunities, but it sounds like he pays for everything. LA is an expensive town. Housing costs a fortune, and a lot of guys believe in 50/50 even when it comes to their wives/mothers of their kids. I'm not sure what percentage of men around James' age would want to take on the provider role for a girlfriend. 

[princelina]

15 minutes ago, RealHousewife said:

I think both Ally and Brittany must be good people if almost everyone likes them when the cameras aren't rolling. 

I remember how awkward it was when Andy asked if he was in love. Not to get too OT, but did Rachel ever say why she ended it? Was it because she felt groomed and taken advantage of?

I've always wondered if part of why these girls stay with James is not just the fame/show opportunities, but it sounds like he pays for everything. LA is an expensive town. Housing costs a fortune, and a lot of guys believe in 50/50 even when it comes to their wives/mothers of their kids. I'm not sure what percentage of men around James' age would want to take on the provider role for a girlfriend. 

I think they are nice girls, but they went after those men for a reason, and it wasn't because they looked like such great guys on tv.

According to what I've seen posted here, which includes outside articles (I am not an instagram/tabloid follower, and appreciate finding all of that news out on this site 😃) Raquel went into her "treatment facility", there was a willshe/won'tshe about her return, and then said she decided she wasn't returning to the show for mental health reasons.  On the show, Lisa reported their (supposed) conversations that she was done with Sandy and he wept and wailed and gnashed his teeth in heartbreak.  I always thought it was a load of crap, and something they came up with for storyline purposes afterwards, that she wasn't included in at all.  One thing we know about this group is their ability to get drunk and "bang" and then call it a relationship.  In the Scandoval episode - there was absotlutely NO chemistry between Sandy and Raquel - they were awkward as could be, and ditto at the reunion.  I figure she went off to the sanitarium and he went off with his band.  

Raquel and Ally may both "stay with James" because he pays for stuff, but they didn't need to move in with him in the first place.  Ally was from there, and went to the bar where he was DJing to "run into" him and become his girlfriend.  

Edited Monday at 03:23 AM by princelina

[hoodooznoodooz]

19 hours ago, princelina said:

This will be an unpopular opinion, but - like Brittany - Ally went out on purpose to meet a known abusive guy who had a TV show, and then got to be on TV.  l have compassion for them both, but they need to wise up.

 

I don't even believe that - I think it's how he decided to play it after she decided not to return to the show.  Poor heartbroken Tom - but when Andy asked at their previous "mea culpa" reunion if he was in love, he found it really hard to spit out "yeah".

I didn’t want to post it (I was nervous about the backlash I might receive, since Ally was recently a victim of James’s domestic violence). But I agree with you 100%. Ally sought out James. It was a hoot also, because I think James and Ally were having lunch with his mom. His mom says that she likes Ally so much more than Rachel, who hunted down James and infiltrated his life. But then we learn, I think during that lunch, that Ally met James in a similar way. She’s smart enough to claim that her friend wanted to go see James DJ, did she want to go with him? 

I agree with you again. Sandoval had no desire to continue dating Rachel. He wanted to control how she represented their relationship, so to that extent, he kept in contact with her. But he looked so uncomfortable when Andy asked him if he was in love. And what he liked was SNEAKING around behind Ariana’s back. [And under her nose.] That was the thrill and appeal.

Edited Monday at 10:02 PM by hoodooznoodooz

[ZettaK]

3 hours ago, princelina said:

This will be an unpopular opinion, but - like Brittany - Ally went out on purpose to meet a known abusive guy who had a tv show, and then got to be on tv.  l have compassion for them both, but they need to wise up.

They definitely were - that's why she told him he had to quit and if not they'd break up.  And at the beginning of season 10 he was with Ally and drinking again, and said point blank that he stopped for Raquel but she left him anyway, so he was drinking again.  Then it sounds like he stopped for Ally for a while.

I don't even believe that - I think it's how he decided to play it after she decided not to return to the show.  Poor heartbroken Tom - but when Andy asked at their previous "mea culpa" reunion if he was in love, he found it really hard to spit out "yeah".

I don't think Sandoval would dare to say he was in love with Rachel publicly and in front of Ariana a couple of months after Scandoval broke. He would be crucified, and he knew it.

Edited Monday at 06:20 AM by ZettaK

[RoseAllDay]

10 hours ago, ZettaK said:

I don't think Sandoval would dare to say he was in love with Rachel publicly and in front of Ariana a couple of months after Scandoval broke. He would be crucified, and he knew it.

But if he really loved her, he wouldn’t be afraid to say it out loud. Lala was right. It was a simple question. Why should he really care what anyone else thought, unless he knew he wasn’t being honest in the first place? He knew he was in the wrong with Ariana. If things were that bad for that long, why go on with it?

His shifty behavior at the reunion was a huge tell, as well as the way he acted right after Ariana found out (the scene at the house) as well as when he went to Rachel’s afterward. Lack of eye contact. He seemed stiff and self-conscious — and guilty. The smarmy asshole showed more genuine affection for Schwartz, TBH. Always did.

Rachel provided him one service — she scratched his itch. Period, full stop. She was probably dumb and immature enough to think it was twue wuv. Any other reason he used to convince himself (and everybody else — done poorly, BTW) otherwise was a joke. For all the pontificating and holier-than-thou attitude he’s always pulled, Sandoval is nothing more than an opportunistic poseur who can’t even bullshit properly.

I saw on Reddit a screenshot from his latest ex-squeeze saying that people were right, the tiger never changes his stripes, and he that “he loves the best friends, apparently.” So he’s done it again? Get help, Sandoval. You are almost halfway to 50 and you’re still acting like a damn teenager. 

[Judi Sunshine]

I could actually see Lala and Tom Sandoval getting together. He wants kids and yeah they've brawled, but I could see him actually enjoying someone mature and sober who won't take his shit, especially after what I've read about him and Victoria. And most alcoholics in recovery are pretty forgiving. She's not friends with Arianna anymore. And now they don't have to make drama for the show. I could see it.

Edited Monday at 06:00 PM by Judi Sunshine

[princelina]

3 minutes ago, Judi Sunshine said:

I could actually see Lala and Tom Sandoval getting together. He wants kids and yeah they've brawled, but I could see him actually enjoying someone mature and sober who won't take his shit, especially after what I've read about him and Victoria. And most alcoholics in recovery are pretty forgiving. She's not friends with Arianna anymore. And now they don't have to make drama for the show. I could see it.

And the main motivation for both would be to stay on tv!

[Judi Sunshine]

32 minutes ago, princelina said:

And the main motivation for both would be to stay on tv!

Heh, well that could be a benefit!

[snarts]

Seems Ally moved out...at least temporarily.

[AnnieBananie]

2 minutes ago, snarts said:

Seems Ally moved out...at least temporarily.

Good for her!