Scheana Shay finally explained why she has not spoken out about her former “Vanderpump Rules” co-star James Kennedy’s domestic violence arrest.
Shay, 39, acknowledged during the Q&A portion of her “Scheananigans” podcast Friday that the majority of the questions she received were related to Kennedy, 32, being arrested on Dec. 10 after an alleged altercation with his girlfriend, Ally Lewber.
“I’ve seen the comments from all of you asking why I haven’t spoke out about this. So first off, I wanna say I was respecting Ally’s privacy as she requested, and I didn’t want to add to any headlines because she’s going through enough right now,” she began, referring to Lewber’s Dec. 14 statement.
Shay realized “staying silent” may lead people to believe she “supports [Kennedy’s] behavior,” which she “absolutely” does not.
“I do think it’s important to speak on this,” she continued. “I just was hesitant because sometimes I feel like if I say something, I get s–t for it. If I don’t say something, I get s–t for it. And it’s lose-lose. But this is a serious subject, so I need to say something.”
The “Good as Gold” singer then read a few statements she had prepared about the “very sensitive” subject because she wanted to “get it right.”
“I want to keep the line of communication and support open to Ally,” she shared. “I want her to know that she is supported. I don’t want to say something that then puts her in a position where it’s like she has to choose between a friendship or a relationship, and I just don’t want there to be one less mechanism of support for her, so that’s just only gonna make things harder.”
Shay also condemned the DJ’s alleged actions and expressed how she believes he should “get help.”
“I hope that James views this as a rock-bottom moment and is serious about committing to a healing plan versus just seeing this as something that’s gonna ruin the world tour or residency,” she said, quoting Justin Timberlake telling police that his DWI arrest this summer was “going to ruin” his Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
Shay said she wants Kennedy to be able to “live life with healthy relationships” and “deal with his trauma that doesn’t involve projecting it onto others.”
The former Bravolebrity also clarified that she has “spoken to Ally” and “check[s] in with her often,” but she did not expand upon her current relationship with Kennedy.
Ever since Kennedy’s arrest, fans have flocked to several “Pump Rules” stars’ Instagram pages to ask why they have not publicly addressed the news.
Former “Bachelor” star Nick Viall even called Lisa Vanderpump “embarrassing” for not speaking out.
Meanwhile, Kennedy’s ex-fiancée Raquel Leviss said the arrest was “not surprising,” while his former girlfriend Kristen Doute seemed to celebrate the news.
Kennedy later wrote via his Instagram Story that he is “committed to making meaningful changes.”
“I am taking time to focus on my sobriety, personal growth, and being present for my loved ones,” he continued. “Navigating challenging moments is not easy, but I am determined to learn, grow, and move forward with the incredible support system around me.”
It is unclear where Kennedy and Lewber currently stand romantically, but she was seen moving her things out of their shared home in San Fernando Valley, Calif., just a few days after the alleged incident.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
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