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Jessel Taank reflected on the way she grilled Carole Radziwill about Carolyn Bessette, her late cousin by marriage, on the latest episode of The Real Housewives of New York City during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live on Tuesday.
After questioning Carole, 63, about Carolyn’s fashion, wondering whether she was a “b*tch,” and suggesting the Kennedys were “cursed,” Jessel, 46, reacted to Erin Lichy, 39, suggesting she was a “clout chaser,” dished on her friendship with Sai De Silva, 45, and Sai’s divorce, and reacted to Erika Hammond, 35, renting clothes, despite being married to billionaire Ankur Jain, 36.
“Watching it back always plays differently,” Jessel began about RHONY on the September 15 episode of WWHL.
“I genuinely felt really bad that I was obviously talking about a subject that was very sensitive to her. What I meant was that, you know, Carolyn Bessette, in that moment, [Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette] had just aired on Hulu and she was being celebrated for her style, and listen, she was beautiful, she had such a chic, minimal of her, how to dress, and I think that’s what I was getting at,” she continued, admitting, “It didn’t land.”
As for asking if Carolyn was a b*tch, Jessel explained that she likes “to have an extra little bit of seasoning” on the show.
“The ‘b*tch’ thing was because she’s also, she’s a fashion publicist, and I’m also a fashion publicist,” she went on, confessing that she was “absolutely” a “b*tch.”
Moving on to Erin suggesting she was a clout chaser, Jessel replied, “I feel like she just says whatever the f*ck she wants to say.”
Jessel was then asked to answer a series of questions about Erin nicely. And, during the interview, she applauded Erin’s marriage to Abraham “Abe” Lichy, 43.
“They actually have a very good chemistry together, and they get each other’s humor,” Jessel pointed out.
She also gave a nod to Erin’s wild antics, saying, “Sometimes she takes her top off and, you know, does a little wild thing.”
From there, Jessel applauded Erin’s style, saying she “[looked] good,” before being asked what she envies of Erin’s lifestyle.
“Not the house on the Upper East Side, not the four kids,” she noted.
Jessel even struggled to come up with something nice to say about Erin’s business.
“Oh no, the interior design of it all. She has a nice stripey couch,” she reasoned.
When questioned about Carole and Daisy saying she and Sai won’t last as friends on last week’s WWHL, Jessel confirmed she would love to “prove people wrong.”
“Sai and I were together watching that, and listen, I think that our friendship is so genuine and I just will sit, wait, and watch, and yeah, we’re gonna prove everyone wrong,” she declared.
Later, on the WWHL: After Show, Jessel admitted to seeing “cracks” in Sai’s marriage to David Craig, as she offered an update on where her castmate stood with her own husband, Pavit Randhawa.
“I did know that there was potential cracks. I mean, she didn’t share exactly what was going on, but I knew they were having a tough time,” she shared.
Jessel then confirmed that Sai and Pavit apologized to each other, which was a great turning point for her.
“I’ve been trying to get them together for so long [and now] they’re besties,” she revealed. “They were FaceTiming yesterday. I was in the kitchen. I’m like, ‘Who are you talking to?’ He’s like, ‘Sai.’ I’m like, ‘What? What is happening right now?’ Who would’ve thunk it? Wild.”
Meanwhile, on the live broadcast, Jessel spoke of Erika’s rented clothing.
“I’m all about sustainable fashion. Don’t get me wrong. But I love that about her. I think she’s a humble queen and we love that she rents. I just, yeah, the dry cleaning bill must be [insane],” she suspected.
The Real Housewives of New York City season 16 airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.