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 rapidly received wrapped up in loads of drama on display screen.
Kennedy was usually on the outs together 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 yr 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, what I imply? I’ll stop weed additionally when the time comes,” he mentioned on Watch What Occurs Reside With Andy Cohen in October 2021. “I don’t really feel like I ought to stop proper now, ? There’s no level.”
Kennedy added: “It doesn’t hurt me. It doesn’t, like, have an effect on my life in a unfavorable approach. So, why stop?”
After his high-profile break up from Rachel “Raquel” Leviss, Kennedy confirmed he began ingesting once more, saying on a February 2023 episode of Vanderpump Guidelines, “I realized rather a lot from not ingesting 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” through the years.
“James, he’s in remedy, he’s sober, I’m actually pleased 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 adjustments in my life,” he wrote by way of Instagram Story. “I’m taking time to give attention to my sobriety, private progress, and being current for my family members.”
Fees 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 felony expenses,” Lewber wrote by way of her Instagram Story, explaining that whereas she and Kennedy did get into an “argument” at his dwelling in December 2024 she was “not bodily damage.”
She added: “We’re not collectively, however I’ll all the time assist James and need him the very best together with his sobriety and therapeutic.”
Hold studying to see Kennedy’s candid quotes about sobriety:
Quitting Ingesting
Kennedy completely informed Us Weekly about the advantages of getting sober, sharing in August 2019, “I’m 10 weeks [sober] this Friday. It’s been actually good. Every part’s lovely. I’ve been specializing in my sobriety and it’s been going very well. … [My] music has been simply so good currently. 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 ingesting 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 approach,” 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 yr sober right this moment. Letting go of ingesting was the very 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 every part now and life has develop into extra lovely in some ways,” Kennedy captioned an Instagram put up in July 2020. “Thanks to my rock @raquelleviss for getting me right here I couldn’t of executed this with out you my love.♥️ and thanks all for the assist this previous yr.”
Happy with the Steps He Took
Forward of his two-year anniversary, Kennedy mirrored on the teachings he realized whereas sustaining his sobriety.
“It’s gratitude. It’s the sensation of being so grateful for my sobriety. I get up every single day thanking God that I’ve received it,” he informed E! Information in Might 2021. “My life has simply gotten so a lot better from quitting ingesting. I’m by no means hungover, I’m in a position to give attention to 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 cope with a sense of “lacking out,” including, “I received over that, within the first six months I used to be nonetheless battling the entire, ‘Effectively, everybody else is attending to exit and have enjoyable however I don’t.’ After I received over that hump and I spotted I’m really in a position to have simply as a lot enjoyable, if no more, than everybody else ingesting.”
He concluded: “It was like a lightbulb went off in my head and it’s simply a tremendous factor. Like I stroll right into a room now with individuals ingesting in every single place and I’m simply so f—king glad I don’t, ? I’m simply so grateful and I really feel so good about it. I can nonetheless be the lifetime of the celebration, 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 with the ability to keep the sobriety has fortunately been the simplest a part of it.”
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Attempting California Sobriety
In keeping with Kennedy, being “California sober” meant he nonetheless smoked marijuana each day and used edibles
“It’s wild and it’s a blessing. I thank God every single day for my sobriety, truthfully,” he mentioned on WWHL in October 2021. “Reducing out alcohol was the very best determination I’ve ever made, due to [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, however it’s truthfully so good.”
Reflecting on His Resolution
In December 2021, Kennedy and Leviss introduced their break up after 5 years of courting. 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. This can be a product of the reality. The second she mentioned, ‘We aren’t soulmates.’ For me, that was a f–king enlightenment. I spotted that we liked one another however we’re not in love with one another anymore. She has made her determination. Her dad and mom have all the time hated me. It has by no means been straightforward,” he informed Tom Sandoval. “Even turning into the person that stop ingesting and altered his complete f–king way of life 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 assumed I used to be getting married, I used to be engaged, have you learnt what I imply? In spite of everything I did to raised myself, it nonetheless clearly wasn’t sufficient,” Kennedy in the course of the season 10 premiere of Vanderpump Guidelines, which aired in January 2023. “And fairly frankly, it was a brand new f–king yr. It was 2022, , what am I doing? I’m f–king James Kennedy. Like, let me stay.”
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 Recent
“I’m not ingesting. Simply Crimson Bulls and Fiji water. I’m meditating every single 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 one hundred pc 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 variety of feelings had been flowing. Ally and I had been preventing rather a lot. Particularly after I could be getting drunk,” Kennedy recalled on Vanderpump Guidelines in February 2024 about what led to his sobriety. “Then she went and stayed at her buddy’s home for 2 nights. I got here dwelling 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 ingesting, it was for the connection. I stop ingesting 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’s going to 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 straightforward however I’m decided to be taught, develop and transfer ahead with the unbelievable assist system round me,” Kennedy wrote by way of Instagram.
Kennedy’s authorized staff launched an announcement on his behalf after the information of his arrest made headlines.
“We’re within the strategy 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 overview, the town’s attorneys will resolve to not file formal expenses.”
