Hours before Vanderpump Rules’ James Kennedy was arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence, Nick Viall crossed paths with him at a holiday party.
“We saw James and [his girlfriend] Ally [Lewber],” Viall, 44, recalled during the Thursday, December 12, episode of his “Viall Files” podcast, noting Kennedy, 32, is “crushing his DJ career.”
Viall and his wife, Natalie Joy, were able to greet Kennedy and Lewber, 28, and pose for a joint photo during the occasion.
“I hope James is OK with me saying this, [but he] brought a friend. We met his friend, who seemed lovely,” Viall recalled to podcast guest Michael Rapaport. “Natalie and I were talking to some people, like, 15 minutes later. I’m the only one who saw this. … James walks by, and then, James turns around and he says to his friend — I forgot his friend’s name, but let’s say his friend’s name is Sam. He goes, ‘Sam, hold this now!’”
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Viall added, “I was, like, [shocked] and his friend just grabbed the drink and James kept walking. I was like, ‘That was insane.’”
Rapaport, 54, is a noted Bravo fan and added, “That’s the sober James Kennedy we all want to see.” (Kennedy quit drinking alcohol in 2019.)
According to the former Bachelor, he was “the only one” to witness Kennedy’s interaction with his friend.
“Ten minutes earlier, I met this guy who he introduced as his best friend and then, 10 minutes later, he’s barking orders,” Viall said on Thursday. “It was awesome. I really felt like I saw something precious, and I was the only one who saw it. Everyone else was in their own lane.”
Viall also had a positive interaction with Kennedy when they formally met.
“I said to him last night, other than Ariana [Madix], he ended on the highest of notes,” Viall said, referring to Vanderpump Rules bringing in an entirely new cast of stars for its forthcoming season 12. “He peaked at the right time.”
Rapaport agreed, noting, “He’s doing good and I wish them all well.”
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Us Weekly confirmed on Thursday, December 12, that Kennedy was arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence following an alleged altercation with an unknown woman the same night as Hilton’s holiday party. He was released on a $20,000 bond.
An eyewitness exclusively told Us that Kennedy appeared to be “in great spirits” at the DIRECTV “Christmas at Kathy’s” bash held in Los Angeles.
“[James] and Ally were cuddling together and taking photos,” the source told Us. “He seemed like he was in a good headspace and was dancing, singing and having fun.”
A second insider, however, remembered Kennedy “running” through the party and “causing a scene.”
“His guy friend was chasing him from Kathy’s basement all the way throughout Kathy’s backyard, and James looked mad while running away,” the second source claimed. “The guy who was chasing him almost fell into the pool and dropped a lantern in the pool causing a huge scene. Everyone was wondering what was going on.”
Kennedy’s attorneys addressed the situation in a Friday, December 13, statement.
“We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations levied by the Burbank Police Department against James,” the statement read. “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.”
If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
