Real Housewives star Luann de Lesseps attends “Gory849” Halloween Ball at Kimpton Hotel Eventi on 30 October 2021 in New York City. (Getty/John Lamparski)
Real Housewives of New York City star Luann de Lesseps has denied claims that she was kicked out of a gay piano bar for drunken singing.
On Thursday (17 March), Page Six reported the reality TV star was allegedly intoxicated when she took over the microphone, sang a series of songs and was booed by patrons. A source claimed de Lesseps “yelled” at people on the microphone and was “thrown out for getting aggressive with the bar’s customers”.
De Lesseps, who has publicly battled with sobriety, told Page Six that she was in a “celebratory mood” and “drinking champagne” with “Broadway producers” after finishing a day full of referrals for her upcoming cabaret show.
She said she went out to the Townhouse with Kinky Boots producer Kim Kierstead at around 10.30pm, and she recalled how there was a “fun, boisterous crowd” present in the bar. De Lesseps said she sang a “few Broadway songs” and later realised she was a “little bit tipsy”.
She recalled Kierstead needed to go home to get ready for an “early rehearsal” so they “left around midnight, 11.30pm”.
The Real Housewives star has denied reports that she was booted from the gay piano bar in a statement to the Daily Mail.
“I went out and I was feeling all Jovani but clearly money can’t buy you class, especially with an audience who doesn’t appreciate my music,” she said, adding there is “certainly no girl code anymore”.
She said she has lived to “see another day – chic cest la vie”, referencing her single “Chic C’est la Vie”.
“Long live fun nights out in New York City,” de Lesseps said.
Similarly, Kierstead told Page Six that the pair left the bar on their own, instead of being kicked out as Page Six reported.
Kierstead said they went to the Townhouse “for a nightcap” after a “birthday party for a NY theatre personality”. When they arrived at the bar, the producer said de Lesseps was “convinced to sing” by “legions of her fans” at the location.
“I was finally able to bring her home as I had an early morning Thursday for the workshop of a new musical,” Kierstead added. “Of course she was the belle of the ball as usual.”
A source told People that Luann de Lesseps “works very hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle”, but they said she “made a mistake and fell off the wagon”.
The source said the Real Housewives star is using the incident as a “valuable lesson” and will be “taking steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again”.
De Lesseps has been open about her struggles with sobriety. She entered an alcohol treatment centre in 2017 after being arrested for battery, trespassing and disorderly intoxication.
De Lesseps returned to rehab the following year and told People in November that she was in a “great place” with her sobriety.