Larsa Pippen's Explanation for Attending Bethenny Frankel's Glamorous Dinner

Larsa Pippen and Bethenny Frankel. Getty Images (2)

Larsa Pippen, 49, revealed her reasons for attending Bethenny Frankel's star-studded dinner during a conversation on the "Gabbing with Gib" podcast.

“I attended the event because I received an invitation from my iHeart connection. Since I have a podcast with iHeart, it made sense for me to go as there were many other individuals with iHeart podcasts. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and had a great time at the event, it was incredibly enjoyable.”

Pippen joined former Bravo stars NeNe Leakes and Raquel Leviss, as well as actresses and personalities Jennie Garth, Tiffani Thessien, Melissa Rivers, Elisa Donovan, Tanya Rad, and Cheryl Burke.

Frankel captioned the Instagram photo with, "A dinner for no particular reason." She expressed gratitude to the ladies for a wonderful evening and mentioned: "I'm still dealing with the aftermath of spilled tea."

In response to inquiries from social media users regarding the unexpected gathering of celebrities, Pippen clarified that she hadn't even known Frankel before accepting the invitation.

"I had never actually met Bethenny face to face before, so it was my initial encounter with her," she proceeded. "I am aware that she harbors grievances against Bravo, but personally, I don't have any grievances with them. We didn't even have a single discussion about that."

Pippen asserted that the group didn't even broach the topic of reality TV, and further stated, "The conversations I engaged in were with individuals who have podcasts. They were lively and positive conversations focused on our respective podcasts."

Later in the episode, Pippen proceeded to express her admiration for Bravo.

"Personally, I have had an exceptional encounter with Bravo. My production company has also been a pleasure to work with. If I were dissatisfied, I would not have returned," she concluded. "Furthermore, if any issues arose, given my outspoken nature, it is certain that I would confront them. I am not one to back down from expressing my emotions."

Pippen first joined the cast of the Miami Housewives when the show debuted in 2011. She recently made her comeback for the Peacock revival in 2021. However, the upcoming season 6, which premieres on Wednesday, November 1, will be airing on Bravo instead of the streaming service.

Meanwhile, Frankel had a notable presence on eight seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City. During the summer, when the WGA and SAG-AFTRA went on strike, Frankel took the chance to voice her own concerns about the industry.

"We have always been at a disadvantage. When the previous writers strike occurred, it was us who provided all the entertainment, which ultimately triggered the surge of reality TV. I have never received any residual payments. So either I am overlooking something, or we are being unfairly treated as well," Frankel expressed in a video shared on Instagram in July. Undeterred by potential backlash, Frankel persisted in advocating for change, suggesting the formation of unions within the reality TV industry.

"I can confidently say that I am likely despised by everyone at Bravo, including Andy Cohen. This is because the situation is deeply personal and they have a duty to protect their reputation. I found myself entangled in a complicated situation, where I not only burned bridges but also appeared to criticize those who supported me. While I relied on my own efforts for success, there are many who did not receive the same support."

Bravo has not made any public statements addressing Frankel's remarks about her experience with the network. Additionally, Frankel mentioned that she has not received any communication from Cohen since her initial controversial comments.

"People often ask me, ‘Oh, wow, is Andy upset that you're doing this? Have you talked to him?’ My response is that I haven't spoken to him, but I can imagine he might be," she shared on an episode of her "Just B" podcast in August. "However, it's important to note that this is not specifically aimed at Andy or Bravo. It's about addressing a systemic problem within the entertainment industry."