The Vanderpump Rules cast is no stranger to messy hook-ups and relationship swaps among members of the group. Just look at how it all began. Jax Taylor and Stassi Schroeder were living together. As were Tom Sandoval and Kristen Doute. Which quickly devolved with the infamous Jax and Kristen hook-up. While Sandoval was in the next room, I might add.
This led to Kristen dating James Kennedy and bringing him in to the fold. While Stassi explored different relationships on both coasts. And Jax began dating, well basically everyone… until he settled down and married Brittany Cartwright.
Only Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz started the show as a couple and ended the last season as a married couple. Don’t get me wrong, there was plenty of messiness along the way, but there was no couple swapping here. A happy turn of events, in the VPR universe for sure. Oh wait, never mind. Too soon?
Once the Titanic sized disaster that was Kristen and James‘ relationship was over, James started dating Raquel Leviss. Raquel seemingly had a good impact on James, who eventually embraced sobriety thanks to her ultimatum influence. Even Lisa Vanderpump said so.
We watched last season as Sandoval James planned a proposal, wrote a thank you speech, and celebrated his engagement with Raquel. Regardless of how many times Brock Davies and Scheana Shay tried to make it all about them. Seriously.
Which is why it was even more shocking to watch Raquel give the ring back during the reunion. According to E! News, Raquel takes full accountability for the break-up. And while James and Raquel played the happy couple for Pump Rules, things between them had been anything but for the past several years.
James seemed visibly affected during the reunion, which is why it was somewhat of a shock to see him holding hands with a mystery woman less than 4 weeks later. I was surprised for sure. So was Raquel. Who threw an unengagement party in protest. As you do.
Katie asked Raquel how she really felt about the situation on an episode of her podcast, You’re Gonna Love Me. Katie started off with, “I’m judging you if…”
To which Raquel responded, “…you have a girlfriend after your engagement has ended in a one-month period.” Ouch. Same girl, same.
While James has since gone Instagram official with Ally Lewber, and the relationship is still on-going, I think it was too much too soon. And a slap in the proverbial face, if you will. A la Stassi to Kristen. And now we’ve come full circle.
TELL US- DID JAMES START DATING ALLY TOO SOON AFTER BREAKING UP WITH RAQUEL? DO YOU JUDGE JAMES FOR MAKING IT SO PUBLIC? DO YOU THINK HE WAS TRYING TO GET BACK AT RAQUEL?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]