Crystal Kung Minkoff is sharing her side of the drama with Joey Zauzig on Still Flipping Out, revealing that she believes their disagreement went far beyond brand deals.
During an exclusive interview with Roxanne and Shantel, the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star addressed reports suggesting that her argument with Joey wasn’t entirely about business opportunities and that viewers hadn’t seen the full picture.
Crystal acknowledged that there were deeper feelings involved but maintained that the brand deals were still part of the disagreement.
“I think he thinks that Jeff and I were getting closer,” Crystal explained.
According to Crystal, she believes Joey was struggling with the changing dynamics of his friendship with Jeff Lewis.
“I think the overall sense was like, you guys are so close now. I used to be so close with Jeff.”
Crystal explained that the business opportunities she shared with Jeff naturally brought them closer, something she believes contributed to Joey’s frustration.
“The brand deals was sort of the scapegoat to that feeling he was having,” she said.
She continued, “Through that you get close because we film commercials together, we’re always on the phone together, talking about it, getting together.”
Crystal also addressed Joey’s suggestion that she had gotten close to Jeff because she wanted to appear on his Bravo show.
“That would bother me because I didn’t want to do this,” she explained, referring to her unexpected involvement in Still Flipping Out.
However, Crystal admitted that Joey wasn’t aware of her private conversations with Jeff about filming.
“But the part that really does bother me is like, why does it bother you?” she questioned.
Crystal said she had actually been one of Joey’s biggest supporters within Jeff’s friend group and was disappointed when their friendship took a turn.
“I saw Joey as like a little brother. So I was like, you guys leave him alone. He’s the young one here.”
She continued, “Of all people, like, I’m the one that’s backing you.”
Crystal explained that she had spent months supporting Joey while others in the group expressed concerns about him.
“I’m like, it’s been like months that I’ve been really helping you out.”
Despite her frustration, Crystal acknowledged that Joey may have felt isolated within the group and began viewing her as part of the larger conflict.
“I think he felt just ganged up by everybody. And so I just became part of that category.”
Although Crystal believes jealousy over her closeness with Jeff contributed to their falling-out, she emphasized that this was her interpretation of Joey’s feelings.
The two have since reconciled, with Crystal revealing that Joey apologized privately and took accountability for his behavior.
Still, her explanation offers a different perspective on one of the biggest friendship conflicts to emerge from Still Flipping Out.
Still Flipping Out airs on Mondays at 9pm ET.
Listen to the full interview with Crystal Kung Minkoff on the Roxanne and Shantel podcast, where she opens up about her time on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, her unexpected return to Bravo on Still Flipping Out, her friendship with Jeff Lewis, and where she stands with her former castmates.