James Kennedy returned to social media after his arrest for misdemeanor domestic violence.
Kennedy, 32, took to Instagram Stories on Tuesday, January 7, to share a photo of him with his dog, Hippie. In another post, Kennedy showed nine of his chips from Alcoholics Anonymous which read, “Keep Coming Back.”
The reality star previously revealed his plans to make “meaningful changes” in his life after his arrest.
“I am taking time to focus on my sobriety, personal growth, and being present for my loved ones,” he wrote via Instagram in December 2024. “Navigating challenging moments is not easy but I am determined to learn, grow and move forward with the incredible support system around me.”
Us Weekly confirmed earlier that month that police were dispatched to Kennedy’s home, where he lives with girlfriend Ally Lewber. The authorities received a call about an argument between a man and a woman and saw Kennedy allegedly grabbing the woman. Officers who responded to the scene did not see any visible injuries.
According to police records, the woman reportedly told the Burbank Police Department that “her boyfriend lifted her up and threw her to the ground.” Kennedy’s legal team subsequently released a statement on his behalf.
“We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations levied by the Burbank Police Department against James,” his attorneys said in a statement to Us after he was released on a $20,000 bail. “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.”
Lewber, 28, broke her silence after a source told Us that the couple were taking some space.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love and support and for checking in on me,” she wrote via her Instagram Story. “I’m OK and taking the time I need right now. I deeply appreciate all the kindness and respect for my privacy during this time.”
A source subsequently told Us about their status, saying, “James is trying to win everything back including Ally. If he doesn’t stay sober, he knows he has a lot to lose.”
Before the legal trouble, Kennedy discussed his sobriety journey on Vanderpump Rules. (He joined the cast in 2015 when he was a busser at Lisa Vanderpump‘s restaurant SUR.)
“Letting go of drinking was the best decision I ever made and I’m going strong. I don’t miss the booze …… I don’t miss the feeling …. I’m so grateful for everything now and life has become more beautiful in many ways,” Kennedy captioned an Instagram post in July 2020. “Thank you to my rock @raquelleviss for getting me here I couldn’t of done this without you my love.♥️ and thank you all for the support this past year.”
Kennedy confirmed he started drinking again after his broken engagement to Rachel “Raquel” Leviss. He recommitted to cutting out alcohol again after meeting Lewber. His girlfriend praised Kennedy for being the Vanderpump Rules cast member who “changed the most,” telling Bravo in January 2024, “James, he’s in therapy, he’s sober, I’m really proud of him.”
