‘Perfect Match’: What Happened to Ally Lewber & ‘VPR’s James Kennedy?
Ally Lewber has never been on a dating show in the past, but that’s not stopping her from heading to Season 4 of Perfect Match. The astrologer and podcast host was previously a recurring character on Seasons 10 and 11 of Vanderpump Rules due to her past relationship with James Kennedy.
The former couple split in early 2025, and although Lewber was briefly romantically linked to a new man a few months later, she’s now looking for love on Netflix’s dating competition show. Viewers will get to see the beginning of her journey when the first five episodes drop on May 13.
Ahead of the premiere, scroll down for a refresh about Lewber’s relationship with Kennedy, why they split, and more.
How did Ally Lewber and James Kennedy meet?
Lewber and Kennedy started dating in early 2022 after Kennedy ended his engagement to Raquel Leviss. The two met in December 2021 while attending a concert for Tom Sandoval‘s band, which Kennedy was DJing.
Since Lewber had already watched Vanderpump Rules, she was familiar with Kennedy and his ups and downs over the years, but “gave him a chance to really show me who he is,” she said on the VPR Season 10 reunion.
When Lewber filmed her first season of the show in 2022, she and Kennedy were already living together. He bought a home in June 2023, which they continued to cohabitate in.
Why did Ally Lewber and James Kennedy split?
Lewber announced her split from Kennedy in January 2025 after three years of dating. The breakup came just over a month after Kennedy was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor domestic violence at the former couple’s home.
Police were called to Kennedy and Lewber’s home over an “argument between a man and a woman,” who were later identified as the reality stars. Kennedy was released on $20,000 bail, and no criminal charges were filed. “[The] diligent investigation confirmed what we have maintained from the beginning — there were no grounds for any charges to be filed against Mr. Kennedy,” the DJ’s lawyer said in a statement.
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After it was confirmed that Kennedy was not being charged, Lewber revealed that the two had split in a statement on her Instagram. “I am happy that prosecutors decided not to file against James as I never desired criminal charges,” she wrote. “We had an argument outside of his home related to him drinking again; however, I was not physically hurt. I’ll always support James and wish him the best with his sobriety and healing.”
In April 2025, Lewber gave more context to the split. She claimed that Kennedy, a recovering alcoholic, had started drinking again (which he later confirmed) behind her back while she was attending a work event. After she wrapped, she noticed his “demeanor” changed, which made her suspicious, she told People. However, it wasn’t until the car ride home that things “kind of spiraled.”
Lewber explained that Kennedy drinking was a “non-negotiable” in their relationship, which led to a fight. “The tension was high,” she admitted. “My friend Jack was with us also, so we’re all just really fighting. [Kennedy was] still gaslighting me. He’s like, ‘I’m not drunk, you’re drunk.’ And I’m like, ‘No.’ We were just fighting, and then when we got out of the Uber, the fighting just continued. I was like, ‘I don’t want to be here.’ We were just fighting outside.”
She clarified that she was “not hurt physically” during the argument and said she doesn’t know who ended up calling the cops when they got home. She moved out of the home she shared with Kennedy three days later. At first, she just planned to take “space” from her now-ex, but she ended up realizing the relationship needed to end for real.
“I never was physically hurt, and I never felt unsafe,” Lewber added. “I think it was more just walking on eggshells and feeling anxious about, when is his next blow-up going to be? And I didn’t even realize this really until I was out of the house for a while, but just how my nervous system just feels normal again. It was always kind of anxious of making sure that he doesn’t get upset. Monitoring someone’s behavior is not healthy.”
Where do Ally Lewber and James Kennedy stand now?
Four months after the incident, Lewber told E! Online that she and Kennedy had no communication. “But I believe we’re amicable,” she said. “There’s not been any ill will or anything, at least from my perspective. I can’t speak for him, obviously. I will always wish him the best.”
It was recently reported by TMZ that Kennedy is expecting his first child with his new girlfriend, whom he’s been dating for about seven months.
Perfect Match, Season 4, Episodes 1-5, Wednesday, May 13, Netflix
