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James Kennedy lucked out when he met Ally Lewber. As a budding astrologist, musician and certified Swiftie, Lewber — who is now on her second season of Vanderpump Rules — is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise hostile eleventh season of the hit reality show, which was filmed mere months after Tom Sandoval was caught cheating on Ariana Madix with their mutual close friend and now former co-star Rachel “Raquel” Leviss (who also happens to be Kennedy’s ex-fiancée).
The Scandoval drama continues in tonight’s new episode, titled “Jax Attack,” as Scheana Shay and Sandoval get into a heated tiff at Kennedy and Lewber’s house that ends in the bar owner brutally reminding the “Good As Gold” singer that she was once “the other woman” in a relationship, referring to her infamous 2006 affair with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Brandi Glanville‘s then-husband Eddie Cibrian.
“I think that that was really out of place and not called for and, like, stop making digs at people. You fucked up,” Lewber told DECIDER of the tense moment, which she “hopes” will bring critics back to Shay’s side. “That was upsetting and especially because Scheana has worked so hard to get over that.”
The new episode also finds Kennedy in the hot seat as Madix, Lala Kent, Katie Maloney and Shay give him a lesson on compromising with Lewber, who admitted to DECIDER that she was “a little bitter and a little upset” when his and Leviss’ dog Hippie (formerly known as Graham Cracker) came back into their lives. “I was pretty upset at that time because Hippie came in, I wasn’t really ever asked if it was OK,” she explained, noting that they have since figured out a way to make their living situation work with all their fur babies. Despite the couple’s momentary hiccup, Lewber insisted to us that she is still “very much in love” with Kennedy — and that he does put her first in their relationship.
Lewber visited DECIDER’s offices ahead of the new episode, where she dished on her future plans with Kennedy, her first impression of Jax Taylor and how she reacted to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce jamming out to Kennedy’s Coachella set. Keep reading for the full interview.
Have you seen the videos of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce jamming out to James’ Coachella set? What were your reactions?
Oh my god. Yes, I’ve seen the videos. Ariana sent them to me the next morning because I didn’t know at the moment, which I’m glad. I’m really glad that I did not know. I was freaking out as you can imagine. I was like, “This is so cool.” James was freaking out and I haven’t let him forget. I bring it up every day. Like, “Taylor Swift was at your show!” It’s just crazy. Of all people, you know? They were making out. They were, like, feeling it and enjoying it and that’s just so cool.
You had another big Coachella moment. What was it like to have Emma Roberts fangirl over you and James when you ran into her?
It was so funny. I was standing in a group with some friends and she kind of walked past and was like, “Ally, I love you on Vanderpump.” And I was like, “Thank you.” And then I was talking to my friend. I was like, “Woah, that looked like Emma Roberts.” And he was like, “Ally, that was Emma Roberts.” And I was like, “Shut up.” So I turned back around and luckily she was talking to James at that time so I came over and I was like, “Wait, we have to get a photo. I love you.” And then we fangirled over each other, which was really weird and wild. I love her. Have you seen Holidate? That’s our comfort movie. James and I watch it all the time.
You recently dropped your first single “Girl’s Girl” and it’s a bop! Can you tell us how it all came together?
I love writing music. It’s always been a hobby of mine. And I wrote the song but we actually had a friend who’s been in the music industry for a really long time – he brought us into the studio and we recorded it. It was originally just acoustic and then James added his little spin on it and popped it up a bit. And yeah, that’s how it kind of came to be.
It’s really a love song to my girlfriends. I wrote it after the Barbie movie so I was just feeling really, you know, just female empowerment and just how being in L.A. can be really hard and how grateful I was for my core group of friends that had been there from the beginning.
Your love for Taylor Swift is well-documented. Do you have a favorite track off of “The Tortured Poets Department”?
“I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.” I think that one’s my favorite right now. I also really liked “Down Bad,” that one’s really great. But “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” because I just remember when she started the Eras Tour but Joe [Alwyn] and her had broken up and it’s like, “How is she doing that?” I wouldn’t be able to do that. I would be in bed with ice cream. But she was putting on the show of a lifetime. So just to hear her version. That song is so badass. I love it.
You’ve been such a breath of fresh air to Vanderpump Rules. How are you able to navigate all the drama – especially with coming into the group during the era of Scandoval?
I don’t really know. I honestly feel like everyone has been going through a lot and like they’re all in their own different emotional [paths]. Scheana has had her journey. James had his journey with Sandoval. And so I think just really being able to be there and let them vent and get it all out … I guess I just try to be as understanding as possible because like, I don’t know, I don’t have that relationship. This whole group has quite the past history together. It’s been fun though overall.
You and James had a super candid conversation about kids and marriage in last week’s episode. After that episode aired, a lot of people on social media seemed to think you’re not that into James, which is ridiculous. What is your response to that? And where do you stand on your future plans now?
Well, first of all, I am very much in love with James and I’m honestly just so happy with where we are. I know he feels the same way too – and I do know that he does want a family. I do too. But right now I feel like we’re so content and truly happy that it’s like why add another thing to our plate? Why rush into something if we have forever? Like, I’m not in a rush. I’m a Pisces rising. I’m never in a rush. He’s a Sagittarius rising. So he’s always a little more rushed than me. I’m like, “Chill, it’ll happen when it’s meant to happen.”
We have Hippie, we have the cats and I’m building my astrology career, which I’m loving. He’s DJing freaking Coachella and Stagecoach next weekend. So he’s so busy. So I’m just really living in the moment of where we’re at right now.
You guys are also so young.
Thank you. I’m 28. It’s not that I don’t want kids. It’s just that I don’t feel called to do that yet. And if it happens, then it happens. It changes every day. Some days I’m like, “OK, I could see that.” Usually when I see Summer Moon, I’m like, “OK, I want you. You’re so cute.”
That’s the best way to do it. Hang out with your friends’ kids then give them back.
Exactly. And then I can go home to my cats.
Speaking of you and James, Lala says in tonight’s episode that it seems like James comes first and you come second in your relationship. Do you agree with her? And have you guys figured out a way to compromise with your fur babies?
We have figured out a way to compromise. I do think we compromise very well. I really do. I don’t necessarily agree with [what Lala said]. But I do think at that moment, it was feeling like that. I was pretty upset at that time because Hippie came in, I wasn’t really ever asked if it was OK. He loves that dog more than anything – I do too now, by the way, [I’m] obsessed. It all worked out, which is really good.
But at the time, I think I was a little bitter and a little upset because I was like, “Wait, the cats were the rulers of the house. And now they’re not even sleeping with me.” It was a really tough time figuring out how we’re gonna make everything work, but we did, which is great. And that’s all that matters. But I think I come first.
As you should!
Yeah, he really does put me first. He does. Yeah, but we compromise. He has his moments where he can come first too.
You also share your first scenes with Jax in tonight’s episode. What do you think of him?
He’s a lot. But so is my boyfriend so I’m used to it. He’s very nice. But he’s a lot. I think he’s very different when it’s just me, James and him versus the whole cast. They kind of all feed off each other’s energy. But I haven’t had any bad encounters with him. So I thought he was kind.
James was the only one to call out how weird the Katie/Tom Schwartz/Tori love triangle was. What were your thoughts on the whole situation? What did you think of their lunch in tonight’s episode where they were joking about it?
Listen, I love Katie and Schwartz. I thought the whole love triangle thing was kind of entertaining and funny. I didn’t take it too seriously. I thought it was kind of badass of Katie. It’s just kind of funny. But I like their friendship. Like, watching them on the episode where they’re having lunch – and it was always like that throughout filming. You can tell they’re comfortable together and they really are friends. It’s sweet. It’s kind of refreshing to see that, you know? I think that they’re good as friends. I didn’t know them when they were together so I’m like, “They seem great. Why did they break up?”
People have been accusing Scheana of playing the victim when it comes to Scandoval. In tonight’s episode, Sandoval says the same thing – then takes it a step further by telling her she was once the other woman in a relationship too. What went through your mind when that exchange went down? And do you think the fans are going to be back on Scheana’s side after they see him make that remark?
I hope so, yeah. I remember when he said that and I was like, “Who invited him here again?” James did. But I think that that was really out of place and not called for and, like, stop making digs at people. You fucked up. That was upsetting and especially because Scheana has worked so hard to get over that. Yeah, not cool. Not cool.
I feel like Tom Sandoval was trying to get James going in last week’s episode by bringing up his past with Rachel – but James flat out shut it down and said he was done talking poorly about her. Can we credit you for this growth in James?
Aw, I don’t know. That’s sweet. Honestly, when you take alcohol out of his system he really is wise. He really is a kind person and he doesn’t really like to talk badly about anyone. He’s very positive and optimistic. And if someone crosses him then we can see him get upset and very emotional. But he has a kind heart. He has nice things to say about people, which I think people will be surprised to hear. But he is very wise and sweet. But I’ll take a little credit. Thank you.
There have been a lot of rumors about Ariana eviscerating Lala at the reunion. What can you tell us about that?
I don’t think I can say much. But yeah, the reunion was emotional from what I saw.
Is there anything else you can tease about the rest of the season?
San Francisco’s a trip. It kind of all escalates. I feel like it just all escalates from [tonight’s episode].
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Vanderpump Rules airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
