I was always fascinated by the fun and breezy friendship between Bethenny Frankel and Carole Radziwill on Real Housewives of New York. When it first bloomed back in 2016, Bethenny declared, “Carole’s amazing. I would leave the show before I would leave Carole.” Ah…good times.
Many RHONY viewers were perplexed when the friendship between the duo started to fall apart during Season 10. Was it because Bethenny had some drama with Carole’s then-boyfriend, Adam Kenworthy? Bethenny certainly seemed ticked off by Carole’s new friendship with co-star Tinsley Mortimer. Or was Carole just over Bethenny?
During the anxiety-inducing Season 10 RHONY reunion, Bethenny and Carole went to war over who bashed who on the show. Host Andy Cohen interjected and showed clips of them dissing each other. Andy insisted that the toxic duo attacked each other. Carole yelled, “Shut up, Andy. You’re so full of sh*t!” Carole later spoke out about how Andy backed Bethenny during the reunion fireworks. It did seem like Andy sided with Bethenny, his favorite.
Carole announced her departure in July 2018. Her statement read in part, “I have worked with amazing producers, made great friends, and I’m thrilled to leave frenemies behind.” (Ahem…Bethenny.) Bethenny gleefully said that Carole was fired. And here we go again!
RELATED: Real Housewives Of New York Alum Heather Thomson Was Not Surprised, “Not Even A Little Bit,” By Demise Of Bethenny Frankel And Carole Radziwill’s Friendship
In an interview with Life After Bravo, Carole explained how her friendship with Bethenny was a life-changing experience. And not in a good way. Carole began by explaining their friendship dynamic. “I think we developed sort of a genuine friendship. I think you know Bethenny- she’s high energy and she’s very strategic and she talks a lot, which was great because I wasn’t a big talker,” Carole stated. “So, you know in a friendship like that, I would listen, listen, listen, listen.”
Carole wasn’t shocked that their friendship blew up. After that, she said, “I think she was very… she liked the friendship the way it was. I think I said on the show, it was too much Bethenny and not enough Carole in that friendship,” the writer shared. “There were definitely things that she did that any girl, any friend, would have been like… you know… very upset by.”
RELATED: Carole Radziwill Says Bethenny Frankel Was “So Mean To Everyone” On Real Housewives Of New York; Shades “Bravo Invented” Friendship With Tinsley Mortimer
Her relationship with Bethenny left a lasting impression. Carole explained, “I will say now I’m much more careful about who I spend time with. But I definitely do…cannot spend time with people who aren’t a 100% straight and honest and real.” She continued, “And it does linger with me, like now I really stay away… like I can recognize narcissists like from a mile away. Like I just… I recognize these traits,” Carole remarked. (Shout out to Bethenny!)
“Now I’m much more careful not only in friendships but in romantic relationships, too. You know, it was a bumpy lesson… you know, but I think at the end of the day, it was something I needed to focus on,” Carole added.
RELATED: Carole Radziwill Disses Andy Cohen & Thinks He Sided With Bethenny Frankel During Their Feud
TELL US- ARE YOU TEAM BETHENNY OR TEAM CAROLE? DO YOU MISS THEM ON RHONY? IS BETHENNY A NARCISSIST?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
