Bethenny Frankel and NeNe Leakes Spill the Tea on Their Epic Feuds with Andy Cohen

Bethenny Frankel, NeNe Leakes and Andy Cohen. Getty Images (3)

Bethenny Frankel and NeNe Leakes revealed that their friendships with Andy Cohen were not as genuine as they appeared on TV. In a recent two-part episode of Frankel's podcast, "Just B," the former Real Housewives stars discussed the drama they experienced with Cohen. Frankel described it as a "game" to become "Andy's Favorite" among the Housewives stars.

She stated, "The questions always arise, such as 'Who texts you the most?' and 'Who do you text the most?' The reality is, we are all participants in the game. We all desire his approval and strive to be the favorite. Being able to say, 'I have appeared on the show the most' is like a symbol of prestige."

Frankel further emphasized the psychological dynamics at play within this group and the show, stating, "He has a background as an executive and producer, so there is this strategic power struggle. It's a complex situation to navigate."

The former participant of The Real Housewives of New York City gained attention when she claimed that Cohen had a dislike towards her for speaking up about the mistreatment of reality stars and advocating for the unionization of TV casts and crews. Her efforts to address these issues have garnered support from SAG-AFTRA during the ongoing Hollywood strike for fair compensation and improved contracts.

Frankel shared that her relationship with Cohen is a complicated one, where they both seem to harbor animosity towards each other while still participating in the same game. Despite her achievements, she feels that Cohen does not offer genuine congratulations. She believes that he resents her because they started their careers around the same time and he views her as inferior. Frankel eventually decided to overcome her fear and speak out, as she realized that she had been protecting Cohen at the expense of her own well-being.

Bethenny Frankel and Andy Cohen. Jim Spellman/WireImage/Getty Images

Leakes expressed agreement with Frankel, stating that she shares the same feelings and believes that he never had a liking for her. In April 2022, the former cast member of Real Housewives of Atlanta filed a lawsuit against Cohen and Bravo, alleging that they promoted a corporate and workplace environment tolerating racially insensitive and inappropriate behavior. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed in August, as Leakes and the defendants mutually reached an agreement before a scheduled hearing. Following this, Leakes has asserted that Cohen has hindered her opportunities in the entertainment industry.

“As a Black woman, I have to be capable of doing all tasks. By the end of the day, I'm doing cartwheels and flips,” she stated to Frankel on Thursday. “They put an end to my work. I am proficient in everything. So, are you implying that as a talented individual, there was no opportunity for me to host, act, sing, dance, jump, or even applaud—nothing?”

In a parallel situation, NeNe Leakes drew a connection with Vicki Gunvalson, former cast member of The Real Housewives of Orange County, who chose to remain on Bravo even after dropping her defamation lawsuit against her fellow castmate Kelly Dodd in 2019.

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“My feelings are they pretty much said, ‘F that Black bitch!’” Leakes stated. “They never respected me, no one, to even give me one call. … I want fair treatment.”

Cohen has not publicly addressed Frankel and Leakes’ podcast comments.

In this article

Andy Cohen

Bethenny Frankel

NeNe Leakes

The Real Housewives of Atlanta

The Real Housewives of New York City