‘Vanderpump Rules’: Lisa Vanderpump Called James Kennedy Every Day To Make Sure He Was Sober
Lisa Vanderpump from Vanderpump Rules admits she called James Kennedy every day for months to make sure he was still sober and to offer her support.
Vanderpump took Kennedy under her wing the minute he started working as a busboy at SUR. He quickly dove into his passion for music, becoming a sought-after disc jockey, who plays shows throughout the world. He got his humble start at SUR and created a huge following during his infamous “See You Next Tuesday” gig.
Unfortunately, his gig was yanked away from him when his excessive drinking interfered with his behavior. He was not only fired from SUR but banned from the restaurant. While he took it as a punishment, Vanderpump did it to save his life. He finally has decided to get sober once and for all. And Vanderpump is doing everything she can to help him to succeed.
Support means checking in on Kennedy
Vanderpump shared during the Vanderpump Rules After Show that she called Kennedy every day for months. “For the first few months I think I called him nearly every day,” she shared. Cameras flashed back to Vanderpump on a FaceTime call with Kennedy to ensure he was still sober. “I just wanted to make sure … of course I can’t be calling him every day for the rest of his life. Because he’s got to take his own responsibility for himself. But I just wanted to really re-assure him, even if it was a text, how are you doing.”
“And I used to say to him, ‘James, if you’re going to screw up, you’ve got to tell me. You can’t be lying to me.’ Because I’m here and it’s OK. I don’t want you to screw up, of course. And I hope you don’t. I’m not saying I give you permission to but if you screw up, you gotta tell me,” Vanderpump insists.
She adds, “Don’t lie to me. If you lie to me, we’re done.” This isn’t Kennedy’s first attempt at sobriety. He’s insisted that he was sober on a number of occasions but always fell back into bad habits. “So yeah, it’s kind of tough but it’s what he needed,” she says.
He agrees the support has been invaluable
Kennedy says Vanderpump did call him every single day. “For months after that,” he says. Kennedy says her phone calls helped him stay on track too. “It really helps,” he says. “You know, I know this thing here is to do it for yourself, and it’s only going to better my life. Well, that’s not true. It’s going to better the people around me.”
“But I wanted to do it for Raquel [Leviss] and I wanted to do this for Lisa,” he continues. “And I wanted to do this for my family and for my close friends. Because I know I’m a better James when I’m sober. I’m 100 times better. And it’s like, I’m not only doing it for myself, but I’m also doing it for all those people.”
He lists all the people in his life he is staying sober for, but adds, “Especially Lisa though and Raquel. Because those are my two ladies. And my mother obviously. But these are the people I care about most in my life.”
Vanderpump Rules airs on Tuesday at 9/8c on Bravo.
