Nick Viall sheds new light on James Kennedy’s behavior the night he was arrested.
During the December 12 episode Viall files, Viall, 44, shared an anecdote about an interaction he witnessed at Kathy Hilton’s holiday party on Tuesday, Dec. 10, that involved Kennedy and a friend he brought to the party.
Hours after the party ended, Kennedy, 32, was arrested at his LA home on misdemeanor domestic violence charges, police told PEOPLE. (Viall’s episode was taped and aired before news of Kennedy’s arrest broke on Dec. 12.)
Viall said at the party that he and his wife, Natalie Joy, saw Kennedy and his girlfriend, Ally Lewber, took photos with them and met a friend Kennedy brought to the party, who he “introduced as his best friend.” Minutes later, Viall said he saw the DJ walk by and start “barking orders” at a friend he brought to the party.
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“I’m the only one who saw this. Natalie didn’t even see this. Natalie was immersed in a conversation with the other person we were talking to,” Viall recalled. “James walks by, and then James turns and says to his friend—I forgot his friend’s name. Let’s say his friend’s name is Sam. And [James] says, ‘Sam! Hold this! Now.’ … And his friend just grabbed a drink and James kept walking and I was like … That was crazy.”
“I was like, 10 minutes earlier I met this guy who he introduced as his best friend, and then 10 minutes later he was barking orders,” Viall added.
PEOPLE has reached out to Kennedy for comment.
James Kennedy at DirecTV Christmas at Kathy’s at the Hilton’s private residence on December 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
JC Olivera/Variety via Getty
The revelation about Kennedy’s behavior Tuesday night comes after the Burbank Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that they responded to a 911 call “regarding an argument between a male and a female” at Kennedy’s home around 11:30 p.m. It is unclear at this time if the woman involved is Lewber.
“The investigation established that it was a family incident that led to [Kennedy’s] arrest,” a police spokesman said.”[Kennedy] was reported for the offense of domestic violence, and later paid bail. Formal charges are pending review by the Burbank City Attorney’s Office.”
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James Kennedy and girlfriend Ally Lewber.
Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images
TMZ first broke the news, citing law enforcement sources, and reported that a witness had seen Vanderpump Rules alum performed a physical on the unnamed woman, although authorities did not see any injuries when they arrived on the scene. He was released on $20,000 bail.
Following the news of Kennedy’s arrest, an insider told PEOPLE that he was “acting super aggressive all night” at Hilton’s party.
“He was acting so weird, running back and forth to the bar and checking people out along the way,” the insider said. “He looked tipsy. He spent most of the evening alone, but when he did talk to people he seemed irritated and rude.”
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Kennedy and Lewber did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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.
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Source: HIS Education