James Kennedy Reveals the Shocking Way He Found Out About Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix's Split
Plus, find out if he thinks Tom and Raquel Leviss are going to last.
The Vanderpump Rules cast has spent the weeks since Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix's split reflecting on both the breakup and his alleged affair with Raquel Leviss, but what did they have to say the moment they first learned of both shocking revelations? For James Kennedy, the answer basically boils down to, "a lot."
Sharing exactly how he found out during Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on April 26, James explained, "Ariana texted me at 1 in the morning, and I woke up at like 7:30 in the morning and checked my text messages, and literally, I was shocked."
He didn't reveal what exactly Ariana said, but she apparently mentioned "Tom."
"I said to Ariana, 'Which Tom?' and she wrote back, 'mine,'" James said. "I was like 'Huh?! There's no way! I'm being pranked! It's April 1st!' But it wasn't. I checked the date."
Then, he attempted to call Sandoval — but he didn't answer, so Scheana Shay was next. "I thought she knew [about the affair], and I was like, 'How could you do this to Ariana?!" James explained before clarifying that wasn't actually the case and she had instead immediately blocked Raquel. "I was like, alright fine, Scheana's done. Then, I called [Tom] Schwartz and he just sounded like the lost puppy that he is. Like, 'I don't know, I don't know. James, I'd really rather talk about this in person.' I'm like, 'Oh god, how does it feel living in Sandoval's shadow your entire life?'"
Andy asked if James ever called Raquel, but he confirmed that he didn't.
Later reflecting on both their relationship and the one between Sandoval and Raquel, he said she "was always a big Sandoval fan." Still, he never actually thought they would get together — not even after he and his current girlfriend, Ally Lewber, spotted them together at The Abbey. As for who was suspicious, "It was all the girls," James said. "Katie [Maloney] was saying something, Lala [Kent] was like, '100 percent. Like, I wouldn't doubt it.' And Ally as well saw it and thought it was kind of sus."
Did he believe the notion that Sandoval and Ariana had an open relationship, though? No to that, too.
Finally, James revealed if he thinks Sandoval and Raquel are going to last. "In a weird way, I hope so ... As a couple, if they survive and go through it, I mean, f--king hats off," he responded. "I wish them both luck and I wish them the best."
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