Bethenny Frankel Allegedly Said ‘No One’ Has Done More for Puerto Rico Than Her: What Is Her History With the Island?
Bethenny Frankel wants to remind people of her humanitarian work in Puerto Rico. The former Real Housewives of New York star faced backlash following her post about Bad Bunny’s halftime show — and her perceived backtracking in another post. In response to criticism, Frankel reportedly claimed no one has done more for Puerto Rico than her. What has she done for the territory?
Bethenny Frankel faced backlash for her reaction to Bad Bunny’s halftime show celebrating Puerto Rico
In a since-deleted TikTok, Frankel appeared to question Bad Bunny’s intentions with the Super Bowl halftime show.
“The question remains, should these entertainment vehicles, whether the Grammys, the Emmys, the Oscars, the Super Bowl, should this be the place for personal, cultural, political views to be expressed?” she asked. “Certainly, there are major world events that take place, whether COVID or tragedies, 9/11, and it’s unavoidable that it’s discussed. But where is the line?”
Frankel later deleted the video and posted another one praising the halftime performance.
“So my take on Bad Bunny and his performance at the Super Bowl is that he is an artist expressing himself, his music, and his experience as a Puerto Rican man in America,” she said, per Page Six. “Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican man in America on the largest stage in the world — which is very inspirational to people because that is him expressing his experience in his first language.”
She faced backlash for both videos.
Bethenny Frankel pointed out her involvement in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
In a screenshot shared on TikTok, Frankel allegedly responded to criticism of her second post by saying, “No one has done more for Puerto Rico than I have.” The former Housewife was heavily involved in humanitarian aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Two weeks after the hurricane made landfall in 2017, Frankel flew to Puerto Rico. She said that what she saw there devastated her.
“This is a forgotten island,” she told People. “People have been living on their roofs for 13 days. It is like nothing I have ever seen. People’s entire homes and cars are immersed in mud, the likes I’ve never seen.”
She raised millions to distribute food, water, medical supplies, and cash cards.
“We arrived in the first town before their own mayor,” she said. “We pulled onto a street with a truck of basic necessities, and you would have thought I was giving out diamonds. What struck me was people politely waiting in line patiently. They are so proud. I gave them cash cards in envelopes, and they were emotional yet still proud. Their faith is intact.”
Her former ‘RHONY’ castmate also came under fire for her comments
While Frankel has faced some criticism over her comments, her former co-star, Jill Zarin, is in even hotter water. In a since-deleted clip, Zarin criticized the halftime show.
“It was the worst halftime show ever,” she said. “I just don’t think it was appropriate to have it in Spanish, and, quite frankly … grabbing his G [groin] area … I think it was totally inappropriate. You’ve got all these young kids watching the Super Bowl, and he doesn’t have to be grabbing himself every five seconds because he’s so insecure. Seriously.”
She also complained about what she viewed as an inappropriate political statement.
“I don’t speak Spanish. I would’ve liked to have known the words he was saying,” she said. “To me, it looked like a political statement because there were literally no white people in the entire thing. I’m not taking a side, one way or the other … I think it was an ICE thing. I think that the NFL sold out, and it’s very sad.”
After Zarin posted her statement, she was fired from the upcoming show The Golden Life.
