'Vanderpump Rules' Star James Kennedy Sets His Sights on Sobriety for Personal Growth

Since joining Vanderpump Rules in 2015, James Kennedy has been candid about both his triumphs and setbacks on the path to maintaining sobriety. From the outset, he found himself entangled in plenty of drama, largely due to his struggles with substance abuse.

In July 2020, James proudly celebrated a year of sobriety, albeit later specifying that he was "California sober," relying on marijuana to abstain from alcohol. However, following his highly publicized split from Rachel "Raquel" Leviss, the professional DJ admitted to a relapse into drinking.

Nevertheless, James appears more committed than ever to reclaiming sobriety once more. Keep reading to discover more about his journey!

During the Feb. 20, 2024, episode, James opens up about his newfound sobriety with Lala Kent (who's also sober) and explains his decision to give alcohol the boot once and for all.

"Obviously, when the Tom and [Raquel] stuff happened, a lot of emotions were flowing," he says regarding his co-star Tom Sandoval's high-profile affair with his ex-fiancée, Rachel Leviss.

"Ally and I were fighting a lot, especially when I would be getting drunk," the reality TV personality says of his current girlfriend and Bravo newbie, Ally Lewber. "Was it about me showing too much emotion about Tom and [Rachel]? And then she went and stayed at her friend's house for two nights. I came home, and the cats were gone."

James recounts being "so upset" upon finding his house empty, saying, "It wasn't the energy that was there before."

"I was willing in that moment to do anything to get her back," he confides in Lala. "I was like, 'I'm sorry. I'm not going to drink anymore. This is basically the deal.'"

Later, in a confessional, James, who reveals sobriety is "a forever thing" for him, clarifies why his current decision to abstain from alcohol differs from past attempts.

"Last time I quit, it was definitely for the relationship," James reflects on his prior romance with Rachel. "I quit drinking for two and half years and then thought, 'You know what? F--k it. I'm going to drink again because I'm single now. I can have a couple drinks.'"

"This time I'm doing it for myself," James discloses. "Because I'm doing it for myself, It's going to better my life, better my relationship, better my friendships, better my job, better my DJing career."

He continues, "I've seen those benefits before, and I definitely want to see them again. I'm 31 now, and I really do want to focus on my health. I don't want to be an alcoholic 40-year-old [who] loses everything."

Catch new episodes of Vanderpump Rules Wednesdays at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo. Stream the next day on Peacock.