James Kennedy Says He's 'Taking Time to Focus on My Sobriety' and 'Determined to Learn' After Domestic Violence Arrest

James Kennedy broke his silence after his arrest on December 10th.

The Vanderpump Rules star, 32, released a statement on his Instagram Stories on Tuesday, Dec. 17, when he spoke for the first time about his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence.

“I am committed to making significant changes in my life. I am taking time to focus on my sobriety, personal growth and being present for my loved ones,” Kennedy wrote.

“Overcoming challenging times is not easy, but I am determined to learn, grow and move forward with an amazing support system around me,” he added.

He signed the statement “James.”

Ally Lewber says she’s ‘fine’ and ‘taking the time’ she needs after boyfriend James Kennedy’s domestic violence arrest

James Kennedy, Instagram.

James Kennedy/Instagram

Kennedy was arrested on Dec. 10, a spokesperson for the Burbank Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE. A call came in around 11:30 p.m., saying Kennedy and an unnamed woman were arguing at the home Kennedy shares with girlfriend Ally Lewber and things got physical.

When authorities arrived at the scene, they told PEOPLE there were no visible signs of injury on the woman, but Kennedy was taken into custody anyway.

In an arrest log documenting the incident and seen by PEOPLE, the officer reported that a woman inside the residence stated that “her boyfriend picked her up and threw her to the ground.” It was not clear if the woman was Lewber.

Kennedy was then arrested and charged with domestic abuse of a spouse or roommate, records show. He was jailed in the early morning hours of Dec. 11 and later released on $20,000 bail.

Kennedy’s attorneys later addressed the arrest on behalf of the star in a statement released on December 13, saying, “We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations brought against James by the Burbank Police Department.”

“We understand that there were no injuries,” the statement continued, “and we hope that, after a careful review, city attorneys will decide not to file formal charges.”

James Kennedy.

Todd Williamson/Bravo via Getty Images

James Kennedy ‘barked’ at his friend hours before his domestic violence arrest, says Nick Viall

Earlier that evening, Kennedy and Lewber attended Kathy Hilton’s annual party together, though a source told PEOPLE they spent most of the night apart.

Another insider told PEOPLE, “James was acting super aggressive all night.”

“He was acting so weird, running back and forth to the bar and checking people out along the way,” the insider claims. “He looked tipsy. He spent most of the evening alone, but when he did talk to people he seemed irritated and rude.”

Kennedy’s rep did not respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment about his alleged behavior at the party.

James Kennedy and Ally Lewber.

Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

Kennedy struggled with alcohol for several years, documenting much of his journey VPR. In 2021, he celebrated two years of sobriety, which he then shared on Instagram.

“I’M 2 YEARS SOBER TODAY💜,” he captioned the post. “Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my journey so far. Here’s to many more alcohol free years #forlife (to all who struggle trust me the light at the end is brighter than anything I could have imagined. and if I can do it you can too) .”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

That same year, he explained that he was “California sober,” meaning that he did not consume alcohol, but still used certain substances in moderation, such as marijuana. His colleague at the time, Lala Kent (who is sober from alcohol and all substances) criticized Kennedy’s choice at the time, but he defended his position.

“It helped me quit alcohol for good, you know what I mean?” he said. “And I’m going to quit weed when the time is right… I don’t feel like I should quit now, you know? There’s no point.”

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or go to thehotline.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education