Summary
- Vanderpump Rules season 11 brings drama between close castmates, showcasing tensions between James Kennedy and Ariana Madix.
- The scandalous Scandoval affair has been the main focus of season 11, making it different from past seasons with unique storylines.
- James felt hurt when his relationship was scrutinized more than Ariana's, leading to tensions among the Vanderpump Rules cast during the reunion.
Vanderpump Rules season 11 has created drama between castmates who were close in the past, and the reunion is no different with tensions rising between James Kennedy and Ariana Madix. Though Vanderpump Rules season 11 has been different than anything viewers have seen from the series in the past, the difference is fitting for the season after one of the most dramatic reality TV storylines in history. Scandoval, the name given to the affair between Tom Sandoval, Ariana’s former partner, and her close friend Rachel “Raquel” Leviss, has been the driving force of Vanderpump Rules season 11 throughout the season.
"She was like the it girl, and me and Ally were [brushed off].”
In an exclusive clip from E! Online of Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules season 11 reunion, James and Ariana appear to get into it a bit about the timeline of their relationships and why their friend group wasn’t as supportive of James as they are of Ariana. James, who was engaged to Rachel until late 2021, got into a relationship with Ally Lewber just a few months after his engagement ended and was met with judgment from the Vanderpump Rules cast.
“Why do you think your relationship was more scrutinized than Ariana’s,” host Andy Cohen asked James, who replied, “Well, because when [the] breakup [between me and Rachel] happened, everyone chose [Rachel’s] side instead of my side, right? She was like the it girl, and me and Ally were [brushed off].” He shared that he felt he got far more flack from the group for beginning to date Ally after months separated from Rachel when Ariana, who allegedly began dating Daniel Wai just days after her split with Tom, didn’t get much pushback but wasn’t exactly sure why.
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James Kennedy Claims It Was Hard Being Friends With VPR Cast
While James was explaining that he had a tough time understanding where his friends were coming from when they seemingly chose Rachel over him, it became clear that the Vanderpump Rules cast likely didn’t realize they’d treated him poorly. While Ariana and James seemed to be fighting, the rest of the cast sat back regarding the news, with Scheana Shay’s husband Brock Davies even offering James an apology. “Obviously, it was harder for me to even try to be friends with you at that point…I knew through time, you know, you all were going to love Ally,” James explained.
A truly hurt James shared that when his relationship with Rachel ended, he felt that the group chose her over him, which is why it was more difficult for them to accept Ally than it’s been for them to accept Daniel. The group struggled with the same grace they gave Ariana for James. Though he shared that he’s over the issue now, it was hurtful for him to see Ariana get very little pushback about dating again so soon when James was questioned about his decisions consistently. Though he claimed he was over it, James got heated by the question.
While James and Ariana will likely be able to move forward with the Vanderpump Rules season 11 reunion without issue, it’s clear that there will be bumps in the road for the majority of the cast. James, who’s been a consistent part of the friend group for years, truly felt hurt when he believed he was being pushed away for Raquel. After the fallout of Scandoval, it’s been difficult for Vanderpump Rules viewers to keep up with what’s happening in the group’s dynamic.
Vanderpump Rules airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on Bravo, then streams the following day on Peacock.
Sources: E! Online, Bravo/YouTube, Bravo/Instagram
Vanderpump Rules is a reality-drama series created for Bravo that stars Lisa Vanderpump, a former star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, as she expands her restaurant empire and staff. The cast consists of Lisa's staff members across her various establishments in West Hollywood as they try to build their futures and establish relationships that range from friendly to romantic. All of which frequently turn messy as mixing with business pleasure, as they are warned, doesn't always end well.
