Bethenny Frankel says returning to the Real Housewives world simply isn’t worth it anymore.
The former Real Housewives of New York City star recently addressed why she won’t be joining E!’s upcoming Housewives-style spinoff series, The Golden Life, despite some of her former castmates reportedly asking if she would return.
In a video shared to Instagram, Bethenny explained that while reality TV once helped build her brand, her career has evolved in a way that makes a comeback unlikely.
“It used to be good when I was promoting my own business,” Bethenny said of her time on RHONY.
“But now that I work with a lot of other brands and have different types of equity deals and partners, they don’t look highly upon that genre. They kind of like that it’s in the rearview.”
Bethenny also said money would be another major factor.
According to the reality star, the amount she would require to return would likely create tension with the other women.
“Despite some of the women asking if I would come back, the amount of money it would take for me to come back — that E! could presumably never pay — would make the other Housewives resent me so much, which did happen before.”
Even though she’s choosing not to participate, Bethenny said she’s supportive of the women who are joining the show.
“I’m really happy for these women and I want them to thrive [and] succeed and I want the show to do well,” she said.
She even praised the network’s decision to launch the series.
Bethenny called the show a “savage, amazing move by E!” before explaining that her current lifestyle is another reason she’s stepping away from reality TV.
“I like my life now. I like not having to do anything anyone else tells me to do or be anywhere anyone else tells me to be,” she said.
“Protecting my peace and this stage of life is very important to me.”
For now, it appears Bethenny is content keeping Housewives firmly in the past — and focusing on the business ventures she says are better aligned with her current brand.
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