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Lisa Vanderpump condemned James Kennedy’s behavior after previously downplaying his domestic violence arrest.
The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum defended giving Kennedy “second chances” but clarified she has had a change of heart since his December 2024 detainment over an argument with then-girlfriend Ally Lewber.
“I’ve had so much patience with him,” she told Us Weekly in an interview published Wednesday. “I was so happy to see him with Ally and doing so well. I know it’s a disease, but at some point, you’ve got to say, ‘I cannot support this anymore’ with some people when they keep making the same mistakes.”
When asked if she’s “been in touch” with Kennedy, 33, since his arrest — and since he was cleared of domestic violence charges in January — Vanderpump, 64, explained that he “reached out” post-arrest, but she wanted to speak to Lewber, 29, first.
“I did talk to Ally at great length, and she reassured me that nothing happened physically,” she recalled, calling the altercation “drunken nonsense.”
Vanderpump previously faced backlash from fans and her former co-stars after she called Kennedy and Lewber’s disagreement and his subsequent arrest “ridiculous” in a February interview with the same outlet.
“I needed to hear from Ally, too, from her mouth, what happened. She told me categorically he didn’t hurt her. He never hurts her. They were both drinking,” Vanderpump claimed of the night the duo got into a fight after attending Kathy Hilton’s annual holiday party.
The restaurateur alleged the pair were “both being ridiculous and arguing” when a neighbor overheard and called the police.
“She basically said, ‘Oh yes, take him away. It’ll teach him a lesson,’” Vanderpump said in February. “But no, he didn’t hurt her categorically. … She regrets what happened with how this blew up.”
Former “Vanderpump Rules” star — and Kennedy’s ex — Kristen Doute subsequently called Vanderpump “absolutely and disgustingly diabolical” for “enabling” his behavior.
While Lewber never directly reacted to either comment, she recently revealed that Vanderpump allegedly tried to “convince” her to stay with Kennedy after the arrest.
“She called me, and she did make sure, like, ‘Are you OK?’ I mean, this was, like, two months later, but she called and made sure … maybe a month? I don’t know. Certainly not the next day,” Lewber said on an episode of the “Viall Files” podcast last week.
The “StarStruck” podcast host explained that Vanderpump felt “very protective” and “motherly” towards Kennedy.
“She was basically like, ‘Ally, he needs you. You’re really good together,’” Lewber claimed. “She was like, ‘You should go travel with him to his [DJ] shows this weekend.’ I’m like, ‘First of all, what shows? He’s canceled right now. And also, no? I just moved into an apartment. We’re not together.’”
She admitted that Vanderpump’s comments initially made her feel “weak” and led her to “question” ending the relationship.
However, Lewber remained firm and ultimately broke up with Kennedy after three years of dating.
Although Lewber has gone on to clarify that she “was not hurt physically,” she did claim the DJ broke his sobriety and was “drinking behind [her] back.”
In late January, Kennedy marked 48 days of sobriety with an Instagram Story selfie.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
