Scheana Shay is speaking out about James Kennedy’s arrest for the first time.
Earlier this month, the 32-year-old Vanderpump Rules alum was taken into custody for misdemeanor domestic violence after a witness reportedly saw James in a heated argument and grabbing a woman at his Burbank, California home.
In the December 27 episode of her Scheananigans podcast, Scheana, 39, finally addressed the situation and shared her reasons for remaining “silent” until now.
“I did write out what I wanted to say because I want to try and be just as eloquent as possible. I want to get what I want to say out without stumbling over my words,” Scheana explained.
She mentioned that she initially held back from speaking out due to James’ girlfriend, Ally Lewber.
“I was respecting Ally’s privacy — as she requested,” Scheana explained. “So I wasn’t going to say anything on the podcast, but I now see how that’s coming off by staying silent. So I have spoken to Ally. I check in with her often. I always have. But I know it seems like if I stay silent, you all somehow think I support his behavior, which I absolutely do not.”
Following James’ arrest, his ex-girlfriend Kristen Doute and ex-fiancée Rachel “Raquel” Leviss shared their own statements about their experiences with him.
Scheana expressed her hope that this incident will prompt James to make some positive changes in his life.
She urged him “to get help,” emphasizing, “And not just to prevent Ally — or some other girl — from being subjected to abusive behavior in the future. But to give himself a chance to live life with healthy relationships. I know he wants those things for himself and he needs to give himself the proper tools to deal with his trauma that doesn’t involve projecting it onto others.”

Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
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