Trigger Warning: This article contains a discussion of domestic violence charges.
Last week, James Kennedy was arrested on domestic violence charges. The Vanderpump Rules star has been delivering outbursts since Season 3. But every time he found himself in trouble, he was saved by Lisa Vanderpump. There will be no saving this time as his outburst finally got him arrested. Even though fans love an underdog story, James’ is one of contempt and anger. The DJ really needs to figure out a path forward or risk being ostracized.
Vanderpump Rules fans were rooting for James Kennedy
I am relating to this post above. The moment Tyra Banks felt disrespected by one of her models lives rent-free in my head. The sentiment matches how I felt after learning about James’s arrest. On December 11, Burbank police responded to an altercation at James and Ally Lewber’s house. The arrest log showed the “Female stated that her boyfriend lifted her up and threw her to the ground” and confirmed that the arrest charge was “domestic battery upon spouse/co-habitant.”
A report from TMZ noted that while at Kathy Hilton’s holiday party, James was acting off shortly before the arrest, sharing, “He was acting so erratic, running back and forth to the bar and body-checking people along the way. He appeared inebriated. Spent the evening mostly alone, but when he did speak to people, he appeared irritated and rude.” Over the seasons, fans have watched James turn his life around. He started to control his outbursts and, for a little bit, stopped drinking. I dare say I was rooting for him to succeed. There was something about watching this pampered kid grow up in front of fans’ eyes that was so appealing. But he let us down big time.
James Kennedy can learn from this
The DJ took to his Instagram on Tuesday to finally address his arrest. He wrote in his Instagram Story, “I am committed to making meaningful changes in my life. I am taking time to focus on my sobriety, personal growth, and being present for my loved ones. Navigating challenging moments is not easy, but I am determined to learn, grow, and move forward with the incredible support system around me.” Vanderpump Rules fans have been waiting for him to speak out on the matter. For James, releasing a few words is the first step in addressing the issue.
Instead of burying his head in the sand, the Bravo star had to acknowledge the altercation since there were witnesses and a police report. If he had ignored the news any longer, I think fans would have started to turn against him. But James has more work ahead of him. A good starting point would be apologizing to the victim, whom many have assumed is Ally. Recent photos showed him helping her move out of their shared home. James also needs to look into rehab since it is clear he might be struggling with some issues.
News of James Kennedy’s arrest was triggering
James has had a history of extreme outbursts. During his time on Vanderpump Rules, he was often seen in altercations with other cast members. He became so irate once that he spat on Kristen Doute’s apartment door. He also would call her names as well as fat shame some of the other cast members. I’d argue James should also look into anger management. The reality star often acted like he couldn’t be touched, which probably gave him an over-inflated ego. Maybe it is a good thing the series was rebooted because, with this news, I think James would have been on the verge of being canceled.
Before his social media post, James’ lawyers reached out to multiple outlets with their own statements. “We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations levied by the Burbank Police Department against James.” His lawyers continued, “We understand that there were no injuries, and we are hoping that, after careful review, the city’s attorneys will decide not to file formal charges. The investigation determined it was a domestic incident, leading to Kennedy’s arrest.” Let’s hope James can learn from this and grow into a better person.
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TELL US – DO YOU THINK JAMES IS DOING THE RIGHT THING BY SPEAKING OUT?
