From left: Rachel Leviss and James Kennedy.Photo:Rachel Leviss/Instagram
Rachel Leviss/Instagram
Rachel “Raquel” Levissis reflecting on her past withJames Kennedyafter he wasarrested on suspicion of domestic violenceearlier this month.
“Being in an abusive relationship is confusing because you believe in the potential of your significant other and can’t comprehend how someone who says they love you is intentionally hurting you,” she explained without naming Kennedy, 32. “Bad times can be few and far between, it’s easy to minimize the abuse and want to believe the person is capable of change.”
Back in 2018, Leviss — who was in a relationship with Kennedy at the time — shared, “Tonight’s episode was an emotional one for me. Using the word dumb to describe why I choose to stay with James is completely inappropriate.”
Rachel Leviss' Dec. 18 Instagram Story.Rachel Leviss/Instagram
“I grew up not knowing I had a learning disability and wasn’t diagnosed with ADD until college. Learning was always difficult for me and not passing my ice cream multiplication test was one of the earliest challenges I faced,” she continued. “However I am NOT stupid. In fact in college I figured out the way I learned best and worked very hard for my degree graduating with honors. Words like STUPID and DUMB are just as offensive as the word FAT. Some other adjectives that more accurately describe the situation are patience, understanding, empathetic and forgiving.#pumprules”
In her follow up Instagram Stories, the former reality star detailed how she has “experienced so many emotions” in the week since Kennedy’s arrest.
“Feeling happy and vindicated and also so sad and broken,” she shared. “I don’t want this to be brushed under the rug like the times before. So much of my podcast talks about my experience with coercive control and gaining the insight to overcome it.”
After noting that “abuse can be heavy to talk about and re-examine,” she added, “I want to leave this on a positive note: There is so much to look forward to in the year to come. I am grateful for everyone who extended grace and kind words of encouragement through the tough times and the little victories.”
According toTMZ, who was first to break the news, citing a law enforcement source, a witness reportedly saw theVanderpump Rulesalum become physical with the unnamed woman, but authorities did not see any injuries when they arrived on the scene. He was released on $20,000 bail, the outlet reported.
James Kennedy DJ’s at the Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras performance at Hotel Cafe on November 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.Araya Doheny/Getty
Araya Doheny/Getty
When the news broke, it was unclear if the unnamed woman was the DJ’s girlfriendAlly Lewber, but the pair had been together earlier that night atKathy Hilton’s annual holiday party. Kennedy started dating Lewber in January 2022, six weeks after calling off his engagement from Leviss.
Three days after the arrest, Leviss posted a screenshot of aTMZstory with the headline: “James Kennedy DV [domestic violence] Arrest Was a Misunderstanding!!!! Gf Ally Standing By DJ.”
From left: Rachel Leviss and James Kennedy.Raquel Leviss/Instagram
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Leviss’ attorneys Mark Geragos and Bryan Freedman also addressed the incident in a statement to PEOPLE at the time and noted that this wasn’t the first time that violence allegations were brought against Kennedy.
“We are aware of James Kennedy’s recent arrest for domestic violence,” Geragos and Freedman said. “This news is, unfortunately, not surprising. Rachel’s lawsuit describes, in significant detail, Mr. Kennedy’s long history of erratic, violent behavior and substance abuse.”
“Just as troubling, however, is that NBC and Evolution (theVanderpump Rulesproduction company), who have known about Mr. Kennedy’s troubling behavior all along, have been engaged in a multi-year cover-up on his behalf. They, too, bear responsibility,” Garegos and Freedman alleged.
Evolution, Bravo and Vanderpump did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Earlier this week, Kennedy spoke out for the first time following his arrest.
“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,” Kennedy wrote on Instagram Story on Dec. 17. “Navigating challenging moments is not easy, but I am determined to learn, grow, and move forward with the incredible support system around me.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
