Vanderpump Rules' Rachel Leviss breaks silence on ex-fiance James Kennedy's domestic violence arrest

Rachel Leviss broke her silence via her attorneys on Thursday, after her former fiancé James Kennedy was arrested for domestic violence.

Kennedy, 32, was arrested on Tuesday in his Burbank home after attending Kathy Hilton's holiday party with his girlfriend Ally Lewber, 28. 

Leviss, 30, previously dated Kennedy from 2016 until the end of their engagement in 2021. 

It was reported that Kennedy was detained after local police responded to a call about an argument between the Vanderpump Rules alum and a woman.

On Thursday, attorneys for Leviss — who first appeared on the show as Kennedy's then-girlfriend and made her last appearance in season 10 as Tom Sandoval's mistress — exclusively shared a statement with DailyMail.com.

'We are aware of James Kennedy's recent arrest for domestic violence,' the statement read from Mark Geragos and Bryan Freedman. 'This news is, unfortunately, not surprising.'

Her statement also referred to her ongoing lawsuit against Sandoval and his ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix following the infamous Scandoval drama.

'Rachel's lawsuit describes, in significant detail, Mr. Kennedy’s long history of erratic, violent behavior and substance abuse,' Leviss' statement continued. 

DailyMail.com has reached out to Bravo for comment. 

Months before Kennedy's arrest, Leviss accused him of violence in the lawsuit she filed against Sandoval and Madix. She claimed Kennedy exhibited abusive behaviors during her past relationship with him prior to their split.

In the suit she filed in February, she claimed he was 'prone to violent outbursts' and also '[grappled] with long-standing substance abuse issues and emotional dysregulation.' 

She alleged he would 'regularly berate' her, 'falsely accuse her of cheating' and 'act in a generally unhinged manner.'

The suit read: 'Some of this was captured on camera; some was not. Leviss eventually warned Kennedy that she would leave him if he did not stop drinking. However, she soon learned that his despicable behavior was not solely a function of alcohol abuse.' 

'At Thanksgiving with Leviss’s family in Arizona, Kennedy erupted at Leviss’s mother and father and kicked her family dog four times in an uncontrollable rage. In 2021, Leviss ended their relationship and broke off their engagement. Kennedy's history of violent and dangerous behavior was well-known by Bravo, Evolution, and the cast,' the lawsuit continued. 

'Kennedy once physically assaulted then-cast member Kristin [sic] Doute on camera; the footage, however, never aired,' the filing continued. 'Nor has Kennedy faced any repercussions for his actions — which would otherwise be fireable, at a minimum — due in part to the intervention of his powerful ally, Lisa Vanderpump, who served as his protector.'

Leviss started dating Kennedy in early 2016 and got engaged in May 2021.

At the end of that same year, however, the pair called off their engagement and shared the news during that season's Vanderpump Rules reunion episodes.

Earlier this week, The Valley star and Vanderpump Rules alum Kristen Doute also shared her reaction to her ex's arrest.

Doute, who previously dated Kennedy from 2014 to 2015, posted a screenshot of his arrest news on Instagram and wrote: 'Finally.' 

Both Leviss and Doute had previously indicated that Kennedy was abusive during their separate relationships with him. 

Kennedy has been dating his current girlfriend, Lewber — who was not specifically identified as the woman Kennedy was arguing with at the time of his arrest — since 2022, following the end of his engagement to Leviss. 

On Tuesday, a witness claimed to have seen Kennedy and the woman arguing, and the reality star is said to have at one point grabbed the female, per TMZ. Officers say they did not see any visible injuries on the woman. 

The authorities determined it was a domestic violence incident following an investigation, and Kennedy was subsequently arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence. 

People reports that the cops were called to Kennedy's Los Angeles home on Tuesday at approximately 11:30 p.m. 'regarding an argument between a man and a woman,' a police spokesperson said. 

'The investigation determined it was a domestic incident, leading to [Kennedy's] arrest,' the spokesperson said. '[Kennedy] was booked for misdemeanor domestic violence and later posted bail. Formal charges are pending review by the Burbank City Attorney's office.' 

He was released after paying a $20,000 bail. The Burbank City Attorney's Office is now looking into the case for potential charges. 

While it's unknown if the alleged victim is Lewber, People reports that the duo were not seen spending much time together at Hilton's holiday party, nor were they observed being particularly affectionate towards one another. 

A source told the outlet: 'James was acting super aggressive all night long.' 

'He was acting so erratic, running back and forth to the bar and body-checking people along the way,' the source alleged. 

'He appeared inebriated. Spent the evening mostly alone but when he did speak to people, he appeared irritated and rude.'

The news comes weeks after it was revealed that the longtime Bravo show will be starring a completely new cast for the upcoming season 12 in a major reboot. 

The new cast consists of 'close-knit SUR-vers who are as complicatedly involved with one another as their iconic predecessor,' the network said when they announced the show's renewal. 

Kennedy was a member of Vanderpump Rules's core cast, which last consisted of Madix, Sandoval, Tom Schwartz, Katie Maloney, Lala Kent and Scheana Shay.