Bethenny Frankel will be MIA this week while her Real Housewives of New York City co-stars promote the new season of the show, as she and her ex-husband, Jason Hoppy, began their custody trial over their 8-year-old daughter Bryn.
And according to numerous reports, the trial is already getting ugly with Bethenny making a number of alarming accusations against Jason, in her attempt to get full custody of Bryn.
For starters, Bethenny is accusing her former spouse of ‘manhandling’ Bryn… in addition to not flushing the toilet.
“[He was] physically pulling the child away from Ms. Frankel, leaving negative articles out about Ms. Frankel, [and] doesn’t flush the toilet,” Bethenny’s lawyer Allan Mayefsky alleged during his opening statements in a Manhattan court today, according to Page Six.
Her attorney also accused Jason of abusive behavior towards Bethenny’s dog Cookie, who passed away in late 2017.
“[He] locked up Cookie in a storage closet and wouldn’t reveal her whereabouts for hours,” he stated to a judge.
As Bethenny’s lawyer continued to argue that the current joint custody agreement is “no longer viable,” he also accused Jason of harassing Bethenny by disparaging her looks, age and mental health via emails, and also sending her over 500 emails during a 90-day period.
Bethenny’s lawyer alleges Jason once told her: “Ugh, that’s what 43 years old looks like, you’re a sad and miserable woman, you look desperate.”
“All of this abusive behavior is his refusal to take responsibility,” her lawyer added, via Radar Online. “The schedule must change.”
“Mr. Hoppy will continue to be controlled by his emotions,” he continued. “His need to sign up for every field trip, and hover her when she is in contact with her mother shows he is out for competitive parenting, not in the best interest of Bryn.”
As for Jason, his lawyer admitted he has behaved ‘wrongly’ in the past, but insisted he had a great relationship with his daughter.
“Simply put he acted inappropriately at times,” said Jason’s lawyer. “But there were times they were arguing over Bryn’s religious beliefs, or phone calls over Bryn. She takes that correspondence and goes to police with the packet of emails and has Jason arrested. But For the last year, the parties have continued to communicate and it’s worked greatly. Let’s talk about Bryn who turns nine in two months. Bryn is doing great.”
“Bethany seems intent about making this trial about her, Jason, and their issues,” he continued. “Bryn is happy, healthy, smart and well-adjusted, is [a] good student and has lots of friends.”
Jason, who was charged with harassing Bethenny last year, then took the stand to plead his case.
He first admitted that the period following their previous custody agreement was a “contentious time” but claimed to have changed from his previous ways.
“I’ve taken responsibility the past three years, I just want to move on,” said Jason. “I take full responsibility for my actions at the time. I regret a lot of things I sent her.”
Following Jason’s arrest for stalking and harassing Bethenny in January 2017, he accepted a plea deal last October, which required him not to contact Bethenny for a period of six months in exchange of having the charges dropped against him. Three days after Jason accepted the deal, Bethenny filed for full custody of Bryn on October 26.
Meanwhile, Bethenny will reportedly be forced to skip a scheduled appearance on WWHL this Wednesday in order to focus on the custody trial.
“RHONY is kicking off its new season on Wednesday, but Bethenny won’t be doing any press or interviews this week to promote the show,” a source told PEOPLE on March 4. “She’s really excited for the new season, but her focus this week is her daughter.”
Bethenny and Jason called it quits on their marriage just under three years in December 2012 but didn’t finalize their divorce until July 2016. Since then, they have been battling back and forth over custody arrangements for their daughter.
The Real Housewives of New York City season 11 premieres Wednesday, March 6 at 9 p.m. on Bravo TV.
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