Bethenny Frankel Says She’ll Miss This the Most About ‘Real Housewives Of New York’
Skinnygirl founder and now former reality star Bethenny Frankel hit the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards on September 22. Frankel recently announced her departure from Bravo TV’s Real Housewives of New York, leaving fans wondering if there is any hope she will one day return to the franchise.
The entrepreneur recently commented on what she will miss from the reality show now that she is now longer a cast member.
Making a statement
Last month, Frankel released the news that she would no longer be one of the Real Housewives of New York. “I have decided to leave the Housewives franchise to explore my next chapter. 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,” Frankel said in a statement to People, referring to her 9-year-old daughter Bryn whom she shares with ex Jason Hoppy.
Frankel went on to give a glimpse of her upcoming projects, and extend her appreciation to Bravo TV. “With the changes in modern culture, I want to highlight the strength, confidence and unstoppable power that women have. My experience at Bravo has been an incredibly magical ride,” she said. “I am so grateful to them for highlighting my entrepreneurialism and allowing me to pave the way for many women to achieve their goals. I am excited for my future. The best is yet to come.”
Frankel joined RHONY in Season 1, departing in Season 3. She rejoined during Season 7 and has remained on the show until announcing her departure.
Can’t beat ‘Housewives’ humor
When Frankel was asked what she would miss the most about working on the reality show franchise, she pointed to the show’s levity. “I miss the humor,” Frankel said, according to People. “I miss the satire.”
The entrepreneur is currently working on two shows in partnership with Mark Burnett. According to People, one show is a ‘soft-scripted’ series focusing on women in power, and the other program is what Frankel describes as “a continuation of my story.”
Since announcing her departure, Frankel has been concentrating on her philanthropical work through her bstrong platform, a disaster relief initiative that she launched in 2017. Most recently her efforts have been focused on bringing aid to the victims of the Amazon rainforest fires, and those affected by Hurricane Dorian in Florida and the Bahamas.
Cohen’s keeping his fingers crossed
Executive producer of the Real Housewives franchise Andy Cohen shared some of his thoughts on Frankel’s departure on his SiriusXM radio show, Andy Cohen Live, earlier this month. “My overwhelming feeling about Bethenny leaving RHONY, and I told her this six weeks ago were she going to leave, that I am so grateful that she came back. She already left is what we need to remember,” Cohen said. “We were so lucky to have these last seasons with her on it. And it was just so fun to have her back and she brought so much to the show that I just am living in the gratitude of her second return.”
Cohen went on to say that he’s holding out hope that she’ll be back for a third time. “I will hopefully live in the gratitude of her third return, because we are much like the mob — you can’t get out. I do hope and think that she will come back sometime,” Cohen said. “Who knows? She now, she’s so still a part of everything that’s still going on that you almost could see her dropping in and it’s like, ‘Oh my god. Okay! Bethenny’s at a party! Bethenny’s on this trip!’ You never know. I look forward to her in any capacity on the show and I’m just grateful that she was back.”