Bethenny Frankel is setting the record straight about her exit from Real Housewives of New York. The Housewives icon and entrepreneur famously left the show behind, seemingly for good, in 2019. Now she’s explaining why she made the decision to move on and just how far Bravo execs were willing to go to keep her.
As reported by People, Bethenny took to her TikTok and told her almost 788k followers that it wasn’t because of money. Bethenny stated, “If I stayed, it would have been because of the money. I left because I wanted to leave. I was ready to leave, and I used a technicality deal point as my excuse.” She added, “I had just lost someone very close to me, and I went to work when the show came back. I didn’t want to. Pros play hurt. I’m a professional. I show up on time, I deliver. That’s my reputation in business.”
Bethenny also explained that during that time, there was a “new point” added to the contract for Housewives. The new rule made it so that stars wouldn’t “be paid” if they didn’t in an episode. Regardless of the reason. She did note that the rule didn’t apply to her though. Said Bethenny, “The production company said that they ‘would never air an episode without you.’ They told me that directly, I have receipts.”
She continued, “I already knew that I’m a professional and there would just be no situation where I wouldn’t show up for work. But sometimes, these little things, if you’re thinking of leaving and you don’t want to be there, you know I’m the type of person where that one thing would give me an excuse. So I said no. And the reason for that term was because Housewives in other cities who weren’t filming, they just decided not to film. That was just my excuse.” Bethenny went on, “Then, the powers that be said, ‘We would’ve changed it,’ et cetera. But every little thing matters. And, you know, I don’t bluff. I just was looking for a reason, and that’s a good reason.”
To Bethenny, she considered the experience “a little ‘business is personal’ nugget.” She recalled, “I knew that I showed up for work every single day when I experienced a tremendous loss. So, obviously, I’m going to show up for work under any circumstance. There can be no more extreme circumstance and that the little, tiny, minute detail that would have never come to pass, it was the impetus. That was the catalyst that just said, ‘Boom. Not going back.’”
The philanthropist and author announced her exit by saying, “It’s time to move on and focus on my daughter, my philanthropy and my production partnership with Mark Burnett, producing and starring in shows which represent a shift in the conversation for women. My experience at Bravo has been an incredibly magical ride.” She concluded, “I am excited for my future. The best is yet to come.”
Regardless, it sounds like Bravo is still trying to keep the door open for her. After Andy Cohen announced that RHONY would be split into two different series, Bethenny claimed she was asked to join the RHONY Legacy version of the show. She shared, “I got a text from, you know, the powers that be in the Bravosphere saying, ‘Is there a chance? Is there a chance? Just asking, is there a chance?’ Meaning, would I come back.” She noted on her podcast that she “didn’t really understand” what it was supposed to be. And called it a “half-baked announcement.”
The straight shooting star revealed, “When asked, I say, ‘There’s a number, but I don’t think you can afford it.’” Bravo has not responded for comment.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK BETHENNY WILL EVER COME BACK TO BRAVO? DO YOU WANT HER TO? SHOULD SHE GET A SPECIAL CONTRACT? DO YOU BELIEVE HER CLAIMS?
[Photo Credit: Rodolfo Martinez/Bravo]