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The Daily Dish Vanderpump Rules

Dayna Kathan Saw James Kennedy and Raquel Leviss' Relationship Change “Dramatically” Since He Got Sober

The Vanderpump Rules cast member explains the shift she's witnessed over the past nine months.

By Hannah Fusaro
Dayna Kathan James Raquel

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As a SURver working alongside her friend Raquel Leviss, Vanderpump Rules newcomer Dayna Kathan is privy to the details of Raquel and James Kennedy's relationship. And while she's definitely seen the highs and the lows (as we all have over the seasons), she has seen a change... and she explained where she was coming from during her lunch with Raquel in an interview with The Daily Dish podcast.

"I feel like I was just trying to give her a perspective of, like, objectively, if someone — I don’t care if it’s the guy or the girl — anyone’s talking to their partner this way, it’s not OK, and you shouldn’t accept that behavior, and you should draw a line in the sand and if it doesn’t change, you should move on. Like, that’s — you think it’s gonna get better in time with kids and getting married and all the other life milestones that happen," Dayna said.

However, she's definitely seen a change in the couple's dynamics since then — and she thinks she knows why.

"James is sober. He’s almost nine months sober which is so incredible," Dayna noted, adding that she has seen their relationship change "dramatically" since.

"I feel like that really needed to happen, and I wasn’t as close with him or them at the time, but I have gotten to know them more and what I see now is just so positive," she said. "They hosted this really great Christmas party around the holidays and you could just tell they were in a good space and he was so happy and being outgoing and his funny James self, but he was sober, and living and everyone else was drinking and having a good time."

And she definitely approves of how Raquel is supporting his sobriety. She said she "loved and thought it was so smart that Raquel brought up Al Anon and what an interesting perspective to be there for your partner in the way that loved ones of people who have substance abuse problems can get their own education and have their own support as a way to be there for their partner more."

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