Star of Vanderpump Rules, James Kennedy has been sober for five months and says he “feels incredible.” James was not a fan of how he saw himself when season 7 aired and aimed to make drastic changes within himself.
During the show’s latest season, the matriarch, Lisa Vanderpump fired Kennedy for fat-shaming one of the server’s Katie Maloney-Schwartz which he had been warned about on numerous occasions. He was told that Vanderpump would not stand behind his words and the way he chose to speak to women was disgusting with Vanderpump saying that she could not have Kennedy as one of the faces of her company, swiftly letting him go.
The reality star opened up to People about his change in lifestyle, revealing that he’s been sober for the past five months. In a recent appearance on Vanderpump Rules, Kennedy showed some unfavorable moments that he now blames his drinking habits on. The 27-year-old announced at BravoCon that he does not drink anymore and was trying to live a sober lifestyle. The Bravo star said, “I never realized how much alcohol was slowing me down and making me procrastinate in big life things that I could be pursuing now.” He explained how much his life has changed, saying, “My career is getting even bigger and my deejaying is really taking off so I’m taking it seriously. I’m going to take over!”
The reality star did admit that living a sober life was not always the easiest decision for him. For him, choosing to be a deejay comes with lots of temptation as he was constantly surrounded by parties, alcohol, and smoking. Along with the persuasion of falling off the wagon, Kennedy also had to adjust to the pre-show butterflies and anxiety, saying, “I’m dealing with all the anxiety and pre-show jitters without drowning myself in vodka.” He revealed, “You’ll see this season what I do to actually get over alcohol, it was a process for sure. I take it day by day and keep it gangsta.”
Stronger words never rang truer for Kennedy since his last encounter with Vanderpump. On the season seven reunion his friends tried to explain that Kennedy’s angry outburst was caused by how he mixed his drinking with drugs such as marijuana and uppers. While filming the reunion, the Vanderpump Rules star did admit that he used alcohol in social situations for a crutch because he would be so nervous. For the young socialite, addressing that alcohol not only hindered him but also made him attack the people who were close to him, was a huge wake-up call. Kennedy’s goal now is to be more aware of his surroundings and what triggers him without using alcohol as a safety net. Fans can look forward to seeing a new and improved Kennedy this upcoming season.
Vanderpump Rules season 8 premieres January 7th at 9 pm EST on Bravo.
