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The Daily Dish Vanderpump Rules

We Finally Know Why James Kennedy Gets Under Kristen Doute's Skin So Much

Hint: The tension between Kristen Doute and James Kennedy may have something to do with Lisa Vanderpump.

By Laura Rosenfeld
Kristen Doute’s Fixation with James Kennedy

Kristen Doute and James Kennedy haven't dated for years, but it still seems like the very mention of his name enrages the Vanderpump Rules designer.

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Take the girls' trip to Solvang, California (featured in the latest episode of Vanderpump Rules on Monday night), for instance. The ladies were having a perfectly fine time tasting wine until Kristen found out that Lisa Vanderpump had given James the opportunity to DJ at PUMP once again. That news, coupled with some issues with boyfriend Brian Carter, caused Kristen to, well, not be in a great place during the vacay.

So why exactly does James seem to get under Kristen's skin so much, especially considering the fact that she has been able to move forward and be on good terms with her other exes, like Tom Sandoval and  (well, kind of) Jax Taylor? Could it be because Kristen still has feelings for James? When the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen audience was asked if they think Kristen still loves James, the poll was basically split 50/50. "Interesting," Kristen reacted to the poll results (clip above). "I'm completely shocked. James was a rebound, not a relationship."

Then during the WWHL After Show, one caller asked if it all had something to do with it seeming like Lisa hasn't afforded her the same number of second chances as James. "I would say like 70 percent, no, but like 30 percent, yeah. That definitely pisses me off," Kristen said. "So when I hear that he does get the chances, like what happened in Solvang, like when I heard he got rehired at PUMP, why does it affect me? Well, I like to go to PUMP. I remember when PUMP first got its olive trees in. I've been around for a long time. So that is definitely part of it, but it's mostly just the way James just treats everyone consistently just over and over and gets away with it and none of us, not even Jax, has gotten away with that."

Lisa explained why she has empathy for James when she appeared on WWHL in January. "One thing I have to say is there is another side to James Kennedy, and we do see he's been incredibly supportive of his family financially. Now in all that he's done at SUR and with women, I stand against and that's why I let him go, and also because of his drinking," she shared. "But he does have this incredibly soft, compassionate side, and he's really kind of stood up for his family." 

Kristen also had some thoughts about the situation with James' family during Monday night's WWHL After Show. See what she had to say below.

After Show: Birthday Wishes for a Teary-Eyed Kristen Doute
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