Bethenny Frankel (Image via Getty)
The Real Housewives of New York City alum Bethenny Frankel said she will not appear in a new spinoff connected to The Real Housewives of New York City. The reality show spinoff, titled The Golden Life, is planned by E! and will feature several former cast members from the original series.
Frankel shared her decision in a video posted on Instagram on March 3. She said returning to the franchise would not work with her current business deals. Frankel explained that her work now includes partnerships with several brands and equity agreements.
“It wouldn’t be good for my business,” Frankel said in the video. She added that reality television once helped promote her own brand earlier in her career. However, she said the situation has changed as she now works with outside partners.
Frankel also spoke about salary discussions related to the new show. She said the payment required for her return would create issues with other cast members.
Despite declining the offer, Frankel said she supports the project and the women who will appear on it. The upcoming show will include former cast members Dorinda Medley, Ramona Singer, Luann de Lesseps, Kelly Bensimon and Sonja Morgan.
Frankel first joined the series in its debut season and later returned after a break.
Why Bethenny Frankel declined the spinoff
Frankel said her current business partnerships influenced her decision not to return to the franchise. She explained that the type of reality television featured on the show does not fit with how her business relationships work today.
“It wouldn’t be good for my business,” she said on Instagram. Frankel explained that earlier in her career, the show helped her promote her own brand. She said that situation changed as her work expanded to include deals with different companies and partners.
Frankel said those partners do not view the reality show format in the same way. She explained that the show now belongs to an earlier period in her career. “They don’t look highly upon that genre,” she said, adding that some partners prefer that the show remain “in the rear view.”
Frankel also said her schedule and personal life are different now. She said she prefers a routine where she controls her time and commitments.
“I like my life now,” Frankel said. “I like not having to do anything anyone else tells me to do or be anywhere anyone else tells me to be.”
Frankel added that protecting her peace at this stage of her life matters to her, which also influenced her decision to stay away from the new show.
Salary discussions and cast tensions
Frankel also spoke about salary negotiations connected to the spinoff. She said discussions about her possible return affected conversations among the other cast members.
According to Frankel, some of the women used her potential salary as a comparison point during contract talks. She said this created tension among the group.
“They were trying to renegotiate their contracts,” Frankel said. She added that some cast members asked producers to give them a higher salary than her. “Give me a dollar more than Bethenny Frankel gets,” she said while describing those requests.
Frankel said the difference in pay could create resentment among the cast if she joined the show. She said this situation had happened before when she appeared on the original series.
Because of that possibility, Frankel said the amount required for her return would be high enough that the network would likely not agree to it. “The amount of money that it would take for me to come back, that E! could presumably never pay,” she said.
Even though she declined the offer, Frankel said she hopes the project succeeds. She said she wants the women on the show to do well and continue their work on television.
_____________________________________________
Stay tuned for more updates.