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Bethenny Frankel’s name seems to be popping up everywhere, and the SkinnyGirl founder isn’t bothered by it one bit. In fact, she loves “being part of the conversation.”
Online rumors began to swirl after fans believed they spotted The Real Housewives of New York City alum in the background of a video posted to Instagram by her former co-star, Ramona Singer. The video captured the cast of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy on their way to film the latest installment of the franchise in St. Barts.
Eagle-eyed fans zoomed into the clip. They believed they could see Bethenny’s reflection in Ramona’s sunglasses, wearing her signature Hamptons attire — a floppy hat and sunglasses. Followers were convinced that she was aboard the plane.
“Bethenny is going on 36 hours with no Insta stories. She can’t go an hour! She has to be one of the apples not announced,” one fan theorized.
Another added, “I know no one wants to hear this but I would love if [Bethenny] did a surprise visit.”
Unfortunately, Bethenny dashed fans’ hopes on a recent episode of her Housewives podcast, ReWives, telling listeners that she was not in St. Barts filming for the series.
“I am not in St. Barts. I did not go to St. Barts,” she said matter-of-factly, though she was “flattered” to be included in the speculation.
“I have to thank you all and people that write this stuff that really want me to be there,” she said. “I love that I’m someone that people really just think of as part of it.”
Bethenny continued to address that issue, and she said she didn’t comment on the speculation immediately because she wanted to see “how far this stupid thing could go.”
“I do often wear a hat and glasses, so everyone started saying that I was there, that I was going to St. Barts, and I didn’t correct immediately, because I was watching what was happening,” she continued.
The RHONY OG couldn’t help but hark back to co-star Jill Zarin’s surprise, ill-received impromptu appearance during the franchise’s third season. She agreed that a “surprise” appearance would make for “a great story.”
Bethenny left RHONY for good in 2019 and has repeatedly stated that she has no plans to return.
“I think that horse has left the farm,” she reiterated during the June podcast. “But I love being part of the conversation.
Speaking of conversations, Bethenny’s name popped up in a scripted conversation between actress Sarah Jessica Parker — aka THE Carrie Bradshaw — and her on-screen friend, Seema Patel, played by Sarita Choudhury.
“I almost rented a house in the Hamptons six times, but I always found a reason not to do it,” Carrie tells her friend. Seema responds, “Is that reason Bethenny Frankel?” The ladies then burst into laughter.
Bethenny has faced criticism and backlash for her alleged rude behavior and for being an ornery beachgoer in the past, specifically in the Hamptons. She’s denied the claims.
With such a high-profile namedrop, Bethenny had to respond in the most Bethenny way. She took to her current favorite social media platform, TikTok, to share her reaction and boast about her successful businesses.
“CURRENTLY sipping my new Forever Young rosé wine from my house in the Hamptons paid for by my last spirit’s venture,” she captioned the clip. “Cheers ladies SATC is forever young.” She then tagged Sarah Jessica and HBO.
The video shows Bethenny sipping her wine from a porcelain teacup while writing over the clip, “When you’re off tv for years…AND JUST LIKE THAT…catty Housewives are still talking about you.”
@bethennyfrankel CURRENTLY sipping my new Forever Young rosè wine from my house in the Hamptons paid for by my last spirits venture. Cheers ladies SATC is Forever Young… @And Just Like That… @HBO Max @Sarah Jessica Parker andjustlikethat hbo hbomax carriebradshaw satc sexandthecity rose foreveryoung