Bethenny Frankel is changing her tune about Andy Cohen.
The “Real Housewives of New York City” alum, 53, has been engaged in a one-sided feud with Cohen, 55, amid her ongoing “reality reckoning” — but she had nice things to say about the Bravo honcho on Monday’s “Just B with Bethenny Frankel” podcast episode.
“I see Andy Cohen in the distance in a flannel talking to some guys, just like drinking a beer, I think,” she said of spotting her former boss at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball concert in New York City last week.
“And … it’s too soon, you know for both of us I’m sure. But it’s like I know that we both have fond memories and it’s confusing all around,” Frankel continued, acknowledging that she did not approach him.
“And I’m sure it’s confusing for him.”
The Skinnygirl founder emphasized that she has made it “fairly clear” that she has “no personal vendetta against” Cohen.
Rather, Frankel said that the “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” host “reflects a sort of world” that she feels “got a little, in [her] opinion, out of control.”
She said seeing Cohen at the Christmas-themed music event incited warm feelings.
“It’s the holidays and feeling sentimental. There’s no reason to, like, burn everything down to the ground,” Frankel explained.
“It’s not like I don’t find Andy very pleasant, very charming, very amusing and [I] have, like, fond memories.”
Perhaps aware of the myriad unkind things she’s said about Cohen in 2023, the businesswoman assured her listeners, “I’m not delusional.”
Frankel recently made cutting comments about Cohen in ABC News’ “Impact x Nightline: Reality Reckoning?” special.
“He didn’t make me a star,” said the ex-Bravolebrity, who appeared on “RHONY” as a full-time apple holder for a total of eight seasons.
“He made himself a star on the backs of all of these women.”
Earlier this year, Frankel questioned why reality TV stars weren’t including themselves in the Hollywood writers and actors’ guild strikes for fair pay and better contracts. She encouraged fellow unscripted personalities to unionize.
Subsequently, she assembled a team of lawyers to pen a letter to NBCUniversal — Bravo’s parent company — that included claims that the network’s reality stars are manipulated, plied with booze and are the victims of revenge porn.
“NBCUniversal is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows,” an NBCUniversal spokesperson previously told Page Six in part, responding to the accusations.
“At the outset, we require our third-party production partners to have appropriate workplace policies and training in place.”
Frankel later revealed on Team Coco’s “Literally! With Rob Lowe” podcast that her friendship with Cohen suffered due to her attacks against Bravo.
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“I can tell you with great certainty that everyone at Bravo likely despises me, including Andy Cohen,” she said in August, “because it’s very personal and because they have to protect the realm.”
NBCUniversal has since strengthened its workplace guidelines for reality shows.
Frances Berwick, Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment, sent a note — obtained by Deadline in September — to external production companies, informing them of the changes, starting with alcohol.
“Building on our current protocols, we will require that you deliver an expanded alcohol-related training to the cast, crew and production team,” Berwick wrote in part, “which must include details on how production will monitor alcohol, including when consumption limits may be appropriate and when and how to intervene to maintain cast and crew safety.”
Frankel reacted positively via Instagram.
“The change is happening… the reality reckoning is here,” she wrote in a caption, applauding Berwick for being a “strong example” to women. “PS. This conversation is far from over. We are just getting started…”
She later participated in a Vanity Fair exposé — published in November ahead of BravoCon 2023 — that continued to rail against the network.
Cohen, for his part, branded the lengthy article “a factually inaccurate rehash” when speaking to Variety at the three-day fan convention in Las Vegas.
Source: NewsFinale
