Rachel Leviss and James Kennedy on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Rachel Leviss Teases Real Reason She Left James Kennedy: ‘Didn’t Want to Ruin His Life’

Rachel Leviss was with James Kennedy from 2016 to 2021 before she decided to split from him, and now, she’s getting into the real reason she walked away.

During a recent episode of her new podcast, Rachel Goes Rogue, she recalled how she broke down on screen during season 10 of Vanderpump Rules while telling Katie Maloney, Lala Kent, and Kristina Kelly about separating from her then-beau.

What is the reason Rachel left James?

James Kennedy for Vanderpump Rules Season 11
Photo Credit: Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo

“I was really hungover while filming the girls’ trip, and I had anxiety,” Rachel recalls. “That conversation I had with the girls in the car was more of a type of conversation you would have with trusted friends. I knew in the back of my mind that these are not safe people for you to bare it all too.”

Which is why she left out a lot of the real reasons she was ending her engagement despite the hyperventilating and anxiety. And honestly, not baring all while filming for millions to watch is probably a good idea.

She just told them how she planned to break up with James by leaving the ring box on the counter and moving out. She didn’t go into details about why she could no longer be with him. Instead, she kept it simple and said, “We decided to break off the engagement. I think James has noticed that my heart hasn’t been fully in it.”

There might be more to the story

She kept it simple, but as time passed, she got into more details of their not-as-amicable split as they led everyone to believe. 

Rachel shared that James and her parents did not mesh well and that it was another contributing factor to the split. The reality is that she didn’t want to reveal all the reasons for their breakup during the time because she didn’t want to cast him in a bad light.

“Only a few people know the real story. I didn’t want to tell the world because I didn’t want to ruin his life,” she explained. “That’s what really brought on the panic attack because I wanted to say these things. That there was more to the story, and I was holding myself back and overthinking everything knowing I wasn’t in a safe space. That anxiety built up so much, and I couldn’t breathe, and I just started hyperventilating.”

At least she got out when she did, though what came next surely didn’t help the anxiety. After her split with James, Rachel was linked to Peter Madrigal, Tom Schwartz, and then, quite scandalously, to Tom Sandoval.

Vanderpump Rules Season 11 continues – without Rachel – Tuesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.

TELL US – DO YOU THINK RACHEL IS BEING FORTHRIGHT ABOUT HER REASONS NOW? IS IT A GOOD IDEA SHE ISN’T RETURNING TO VPR THIS SEASON?

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