Ally Lewber Reveals James Kennedy’s Reaction to VPR Reboot

“Vanderpump Rules” personality Ally Lewber revealed her boyfriend of two years, James Kennedy‘s reaction to the Bravo series being completely rebooted after its 11th season.

While speaking to Us Weekly on December 3, Lewber, who joined the show’s cast during season 10, said Kennedy experienced a sense of grief when he was first told about the cast change.

“I was at the airport because I was flying to Hilton Head for Thanksgiving. James was at home, and he got a call from the producers saying it was a great run, but time’s up basically. I don’t know, something like that. It was much nicer than that,” said Lewber to Us Weekly. “I wasn’t there so I didn’t get to see him, but I would call and check in and he’d be like, ‘I’m fine.’ He was just going to the gym and doing his thing, but I could just tell he was a little low. But I think he was reflecting.”

Lewber also suggested that Kennedy, who began starring on “Vanderpump Rules” in season 2, had mixed emotions about Bravo’s decision to continue the show with a different cast.

“I think he was just like, ‘Wow, that was crazy.’ It was just an insane part of his life and such an important part of his life. I think he’s so proud — I know he’s so proud— of where he’s at now compared to where he started the show. So, I think it’s just gratitude and looking back and going, ‘Holy [expletive]. We just did that, and now we can move on,'” said Lewber during the Us Weekly interview.

In addition, Lewber said her life with Kennedy is “quiet” and “peaceful” without the “Vanderpump Rules” cameras. She said, however, that she does “miss seeing people and having those friendships and getting to see them every day.” She clarified that she often sees Scheana Shay and her husband, Brock Davies. In addition, she said that she and Kennedy are friends with Ariana Madix and her boyfriend, Daniel Wai.

Us Weekly reported that Kennedy released a statement about the “Vanderpump Rules” reboot in a November 26 Instagram upload. In the caption, Kennedy shared that he was “holding back some tears” while penning the statement.

“It’s been a pleasure being a part of Vanderpump Rules and filling your TV screens with our lives over the past decade. I’ve dedicated my life to this show and I’m forever grateful to everyone who tuned in,” read a portion of the statement.

Shay also uploaded a similar Instagram post about the recent changes made to the “Vanderpump Rules” cast. In Shay’s caption, she said she and her castmates “had one hell of a run.”

“I never could have imagined while shooting the pilot for VPR that it would become what it has, nor go on for as long as it did. To the fans who’ve been with us from the beginning, and to everyone who joined along the way, THANK YOU,” wrote Shay in the November 26 post. “Putting our lives out there isn’t always easy, but every time one of y’all reached out to say our stories resonated with you made it all worth it! To our amazing crew at @evolutionusa, @bravotv, and @nbcuniversal — thank you for the experience of a lifetime. I will forever be grateful for the opportunities this show has generated and for the memories we’ve made along the way.”

Madix also commented on no longer filming “Vanderpump Rules” in a November 27 Instagram post. She uploaded various pictures of her “Vanderpump Rules” castmates, with the exception of Lala Kent, Jax Taylor, her ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval, and Rachel Leviss. As fans are aware, Sandoval and Leviss had an affair while he was still in a relationship with Madix during “Vanderpump Rules” season 10.

In Madix’s caption, she thanked Bravo, Evolution Media, and “Vanderpump Rules” executive producer Lisa Vanderpump “for every experience over the last 10+ years.”

“thank you to every single crew member, producer, and our showrunners. seeing you guys every summer was like coming home to see family! that i will miss very much but you have my number so… just text me 😂,” continued Madix. “thank you especially to the fans. you’ve been the constant over the last decade your love and support is what I’ll miss the most about it ending. you made this show what it is. to the fans who have shown up for us, old and new, it’s all because of you that we are here.
im feeling at peace with closing this chapter and im excited for everything that is to come.”

“Real Housewives” producer and Bravo personality Andy Cohen gave his opinion about the “Vanderpump Rules” cast shakeup during the December 2 episode of his radio show, “Andy Cohen Live.” He said that he believed “revamping the show” is “the absolute right thing to do.” He referenced that the show’s new season 12 cast members will all be employees at Vanderpump’s West Hollywood restaurant SUR. Cohen noted that the original stars of “Vanderpump Rules” also worked at SUR until the show’s later seasons.

“I am so impressed with how production kept the show going over the last four years. When slowly but surely, none of them were working at SUR,” said Cohen on his radio show. “The entire point of this show morphed and changed as it went on. And it wound up that James Kennedy was the only one with any kind of footprint at SUR. Because he was DJing there occasionally.”