Lisa Vanderpump denies Raquel Leviss' allegations about Dog Graham
Lisa Vanderpump continues to be unaffected by it Rachel 'Raquel' Leviss' claims dog Graham Cracker was used to get her moving again Vanderpump Rules.
At the Vanderpump Rules season 11 premiere party on Wednesday, January 17, Vanderpump, 63, spoke with We weekly about Leviss, 29, accusing her of deliberately rehoming Graham James Kennedy for a storyline.
“Well, she also said she's Ariana [Madix]'s best friend. That's how I respond to that,” Vanderpump joked, referring to Leviss' affair with Madix's now ex-boyfriend. Tom Sandoval.
'I think if she's going to shout something, she should know the story. I take foundation for my dog [The Vanderpump Dog Foundation] and taking dog rescues very seriously. That dog was brought to my attention so I would not use that dog,” Vanderpump continued. “It's been delivered to Vanderpump Dogs, but you'll see how it develops [when season 11 airs].”
Graham Cracker performed occasionally Vanderpump Rules during the seasons after Leviss received the pet as a gift from her parents. Then-couple Leviss and Kennedy, 31, co-parented the dog until Leviss became Graham's primary guardian after ending her engagement to Kennedy in late 2021.
James Kennedy and Raquel Leviss with dog Graham.
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty ImagesLeviss later made the decision to rehouse Graham when she checked herself into a mental health facility in the aftermath of Scandoval. Graham initially stayed with her family, but after injuring her mother, Leviss surrendered Graham to trainers at California Doodle Rescue in April 2023.
“I transferred all rights to Graham when I brought him in to be placed with a good family that has experience with dogs that exhibit aggressive behavior,” Leviss said earlier this month on an episode of her “Rachel Goes Rogue” podcast. “And Lisa is going to adopt him, take him to Lake Tahoe and surprise James with Graham.”
Vanderpump Rules has officially been renewed for season 11 – and viewers are in for a messy return in the wake of Raquel Leviss and Tom Sandoval's cheating scandal. Us Weekly confirmed in March 2023 that Sandoval and Ariana Madix had called it quits after nearly a decade of dating due to his infidelity. If […]
Leviss claimed Vanderpump tried to convince her to come back to the show to tell her side of the story. Despite being tempted by the offer, Leviss chose not to film any scenes for season 11 of Vanderpump Rules.
Lisa Vanderpump and Raquel Leviss.
Charlie Steffens/Startraks/Cover images; Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Bud Light“The story they are putting out is that Lisa told everyone that I had surrendered my dog to an animal shelter and he was hours away from being euthanized,” Leviss alleged.
Vanderpump, for her part, isn't concerned about Leviss' comments. 'She needs to know all the facts before she makes these statements. And I don't think anyone really trusts what she says,” she shared Us on Wednesday. “The lion doesn't care what the sheep do.”
Kennedy confirmed that Graham was back under his care in July 2023 while production on season 11 was underway. “Look who went back home, back into my life. I will take care of you forever, and I love you,” he captioned an Instagram photo of him with the dog, which he later named Hippie.
While some things never change, the cast of Vanderpump Rules is used to a shakeup… and a retouch. Vanderpump Rules was introduced to Bravo viewers during a special episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in January 2013. Season 1 starred Lisa Vanderpump, who was a Beverly Hills housewife at the time, Stassi. […]
Kennedy has since discussed how Hippie has been doing well in his home with his girlfriend Ally Lewber.
“[He is] awesome. He's great,” he enthused Us in November 2023 before Lewber added, “He's so amazing. I love him. He is so happy and we have a garden. He's been a great kid.”
Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules premieres on Bravo Tuesday, January 30 at 8pm ET and will be available to stream on Peacock the following day.
With reporting by Hannah Kahn