Related: Stars Who’ve Gotten Sober
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James Kennedy has not shied away from discussing his successes — and his failures — on the journey to staying sober.
Bravo viewers were introduced to Kennedy when he joined Vanderpump Rules in 2015. After starting out as a busser at Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurant SUR, Kennedy quickly got wrapped up in plenty of drama on screen.
Kennedy was often on the outs with his costars — from a tumultuous relationship with Kristen Doute to his feud with Jax Taylor and questionable comments about numerous costars — and his relationship with alcohol didn’t help. After Vanderpump fired Kennedy numerous times, he made an effort to address his substance abuse issues.
In July 2020, Kennedy announced that he celebrated one year of sobriety. The professional DJ later admitted that he was “California sober” because marijuana helped him to no longer use alcohol.
“It helped me quit the alcohol for good, you know what I mean? I will quit weed also when the time comes,” he said on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in October 2021. “I don’t feel like I should quit right now, you know? There’s no point.”
Kennedy added: “It doesn’t harm me. It doesn’t, like, affect my life in a negative way. So, why quit?”
After his high-profile split from Rachel “Raquel” Leviss, Kennedy confirmed he started drinking again, saying on a February 2023 episode of Vanderpump Rules, “I learned a lot from not drinking those two years.”
Kennedy considered cutting out alcohol after meeting now-girlfriend Ally Lewber. Before season 11 of Vanderpump Rules started airing in January 2024, Lewber said in an interview with Bravo that Kennedy “changed the most” over the years.
“James, he’s in therapy, he’s sober, I’m really proud of him,” she gushed that same month.
Keep reading to see Kennedy’s candid quotes about sobriety:
Kennedy exclusively told Us Weekly about the benefits of getting sober, sharing in August 2019, “I am 10 weeks [sober] this Friday. It’s been really good. Everything’s beautiful. I’ve been focusing on my sobriety and it’s been going really well. … [My] music has been just so good lately. I haven’t been procrastinating on s—t.”
During an appearance on WWHL in March 2020, Kennedy credited Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for helping him.
“Because of all the drinking I was doing and stuff, I was really hiding away from my true emotions and just blaming whatever I wanted to get out the easy way,” he explained. ”I’m going onto nine months sober. I haven’t had a drink in nearly nine months, and I just feel completely different.”
Kennedy continued: “I’ve really taken hold of my life and try to change it for the better and change our relationship for the better. I know I should be doing this for me, but I’m also doing it for my relationship with Raquel.”
“Hey everyone just wanted to let you all know I’ve made it to my one year sober today. Letting go of drinking was the best decision I ever made and I’m going strong. I don’t miss the booze …… I don’t miss the feeling …. I’m so grateful for everything now and life has become more beautiful in many ways,” Kennedy captioned an Instagram post in July 2020. “Thank you to my rock @raquelleviss for getting me here I couldn’t of done this without you my love. and thank you all for the support this past year.”
Ahead of his two-year anniversary, Kennedy reflected on the lessons he learned while maintaining his sobriety.
“It’s gratitude. It’s the feeling of being so thankful for my sobriety. I wake up every day thanking God that I’ve got it,” he told E! News in May 2021. “My life has just gotten so much better from quitting drinking. I’m never hungover, I’m able to focus on my music so much more. My relationships and friendships are excelling. When I see these amazing things happening right before my eyes, why would I want to go back?”
Kennedy admitted he had to deal with a feeling of “missing out,” adding, “I got over that, in the first six months I was still struggling with the whole, ‘Well, everyone else is getting to go out and have fun but I don’t.’ When I got over that hump and I realized I’m actually able to have just as much fun, if not more, than everyone else drinking.”
He concluded: “It was like a lightbulb went off in my head and it’s just an amazing thing. Like I walk into a room now with people drinking everywhere and I’m just so f—king happy I don’t, you know? I’m just so thankful and I feel so good about it. I can still be the life of the party, I can still be my charismatic self and I still end up chatting even more than most people do to drink, they drink just to get more chatty. But I’ve never needed that and I never really realized that I didn’t need alcohol until I quit it. So being able to maintain the sobriety has thankfully been the easiest part of it.”
According to Kennedy, being “California sober” meant he still smoked marijuana daily and used edibles
“It’s wild and it’s a blessing. I thank God every day for my sobriety, honestly,” he said on WWHL in October 2021. “Cutting out alcohol was the best decision I’ve ever made, thanks to [Raquel]. … It’s just f—king amazing. I wake up every morning never hungover, just ready for life. And I know that sounds cliché, but it’s honestly so good.”
In December 2021, Kennedy and Leviss announced their split after five years of dating. Kennedy discussed how his relationship with Leviss influenced his life while filming the season 9 reunion, which aired one month later.
“This is not a product of me f–king up my life, Tom. This is a product of the truth. The second she said, ‘We are not soulmates.’ For me, that was a f–king enlightenment. I realized that we loved each other but we are not in love with each other anymore. She has made her decision. Her parents have always hated me. It has never been easy,” he told Tom Sandoval. “Even becoming the man that quit drinking and changed his whole f–king lifestyle for this relationship [wasn’t enough]. It wasn’t enough. I still have these anger issues, and I am never doing this again.”
“After two and a half years of not a single drop, I decided to drink again, have a couple drinks. After Raquel left, I thought I was getting married, I was engaged, do you know what I mean? After all I did to better myself, it still clearly wasn’t enough,” Kennedy during the season 10 premiere of Vanderpump Rules, which aired in January 2023. “And quite frankly, it was a new f–king year. It was 2022, you know, what am I doing? I’m f–king James Kennedy. Like, let me live.”
In a separate conversation with Leviss, Kennedy said he got sober because of her, adding, “If I am gonna quit again, it will be for me next time and not an ultimatum in a relationship.”
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images James Kennedy has not shied away from discussing his successes — and his failures — on the journey to staying sober. Bravo viewers were introduced to Kennedy when he joined Vanderpump Rules in 2015. After starting out as a busser at Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurant SUR, Kennedy quickly got wrapped up in plenty
Us Weekly Read More
The film industry, once a beacon of creative opportunity and stable careers, is facing an unprecedented crisis. From Hollywood’s production decline to the vanishing “middle class” of filmmakers, professionals and aspiring creatives alike are asking: Is it still possible to make a living in film in 2025 and beyond?
Recent reports from major outlets like the LA Times and Film LA reveal a stark reality: filming in the greater Los Angeles area dropped by 22% in the first quarter of this year, with total shoot days down nearly 25%. This isn’t just a local issue—Hollywood’s struggles are a warning sign for the global industry.
The rise of streaming platforms has fundamentally changed how content is produced and consumed. Tech-driven companies like Netflix use vast amounts of viewer data to determine what gets made, leading to a glut of similar content—true crime, celebrity docs, and reality shows—at the expense of originality. While this approach maximizes short-term profits, it stifles creative risk-taking and makes it harder for new, innovative projects to get greenlit.
Shooting in California has become prohibitively expensive, with permits and labor costs driving productions overseas to cheaper locations like Hungary and Ireland. Even with recent tariffs aimed at protecting domestic filmmaking, the economics remain challenging for all but the biggest studios.
Perhaps the most devastating trend is the erosion of the “middle class” in filmmaking—those who built steady careers on commercials, network TV, and mid-budget features. As budgets shrink and studios play it safe, these jobs are vanishing, leaving only high-end blockbusters and low-budget, scrappy productions.
Despite the doom and gloom, the demand for high-quality visual content is stronger than ever—just not in the traditional places. The future belongs to those who can pivot:
One professional filmmaker recounts how, after years of working on high-profile documentaries for Netflix and HBO, he shifted focus to smaller, more agile projects for commercial clients like Coinbase. Despite smaller crews and less gear, these jobs proved more profitable than many traditional gigs, demonstrating that adaptability and reputation can open new doors—even in a shrinking market.
The dream of professional filmmaking isn’t dead—but it has evolved. The middle ground may be disappearing, but opportunities abound for those willing to adapt, learn new skills, and straddle both the high and low ends of the market. The industry’s future belongs to the flexible, the creative, and the entrepreneurial.
Tyler Perry, the acclaimed filmmaker and media mogul, is facing a $260 million lawsuit filed by actor Derek Dixon, who appeared in Perry’s BET series “The Oval” and “Ruthless“. The lawsuit, filed in June 2025 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleges a pattern of sexual harassment, assault, and professional retaliation spanning several years.
Year | Event Description |
---|---|
2019 | Dixon meets Perry at a studio event; receives acting opportunity |
2020 | Alleged first assault at Perry’s home in Georgia |
2021 | Further alleged incidents, including at Perry’s private island |
2023 | Dixon moves to California, claims continued harassment and promises of a show |
2024 | Dixon files complaint with the EEOC and resigns from “The Oval” |
June 2025 | Lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court |
Tyler Perry is currently embroiled in a high-profile legal battle over allegations of sexual harassment and assault brought by actor Derek Dixon. The case centers on claims of abuse of power, coercion, and retaliation, with Perry strongly denying all accusations and vowing to contest the lawsuit vigorously.
Bolanle Media Press Room
The film industry stands at a crossroads in 2025, facing rapid technological changes, economic uncertainty, and evolving audience habits. While some professionals fear for the future, others see opportunity in the turbulence. Bolanle Media Press Room explores the reality behind the headlines, drawing on candid conversations with working filmmakers, directors, and crew members.
Industry professionals report a landscape marked by inconsistency1. Many crew members and directors experience long periods without work, followed by intense bursts of activity. Budgets have tightened, leading to more unpaid hours and increased pressure on freelancers and production companies.
The rise of AI and social media has fundamentally changed how films and advertising content are produced and consumed. Brands now often opt for influencer-driven campaigns over traditional big-budget productions, shifting opportunities and budgets away from established production pipelines.
Those thriving in the current climate are often those who have diversified their skills and roles1. The advice to “niche down” is less relevant, as industry professionals find success by working across multiple sectors and job functions.
Despite the challenges, many in the industry remain optimistic. Passion for storytelling and adaptability are cited as crucial for survival and success.
The film industry is not dying—it is transforming. While shrinking budgets, new technologies, and changing workflows create discomfort and unpredictability, they also bring new opportunities for those willing to adapt. The need for compelling stories and passionate storytellers remains unchanged, ensuring a future for those who embrace change and stay curious.
For more insights and interviews with industry professionals, follow Bolanle Media Press Room for the latest updates on the evolving world of filmmaking.
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