Roxanne 
Jessel Taank is owning her part in the Carolyn Bessette Kennedy conversation with Carole Radziwill.
While appearing on SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live with Sai De Silva to promote The Real Housewives of New York City, Jessel addressed the backlash over her comments to Carole about Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and admitted she should have handled the moment very differently.
Jessel explained that she was so focused on defending her intention that she failed to fully hear what Carole was trying to tell her.
“I feel like I was defending what I was, what my intention was so much that I was losing what she was trying to tell me in response,” Jessel said.
Looking back, Jessel said she should have stopped trying to explain herself and simply acknowledged Carole’s pain.
“I should have just shut the f*ck up and been like, ‘Carole, I understand you went through a really hard time. We’re here for you,’” Jessel admitted.
Jessel explained that, in her mind, the conversation started from an innocent place because she was talking about Carolyn’s fashion and style. But she now understands that it was a deeply personal subject for Carole.
“I didn’t need to be like, ‘No, but we were saying she’s chic and like talking about the fashion of it all,’” Jessel said. “I think I was just, it was such a, in my head, an innocent comment that was made about someone that she obviously has a lot of, you know, and I do regret it.”
Jeff Lewis weighed in and said he understood that people sometimes reference Carolyn’s style, but he felt Jessel’s delivery was the issue.
“It’s interesting. Sometimes I see people try to, you know, imitate her style, which is honorable, whatever,” Jeff said. “But that’s not kind of, that’s not how you said it. I wish I was next to you.”
Jessel agreed, joking that she could have used Jeff coaching her through the moment.
“I wish you were, too,” Jessel said. “Next time we should just have like one of those little mics where you just like talk in my ear.”
Jessel also pointed out that the moment has continued to dominate the conversation even though RHONY is only a few episodes into the season.
“First of all, this has been like, I mean, we’re on episode four and we’re still talking about it,” Jessel said.
She then admitted that she wishes she had apologized immediately when Carole expressed how upset she was.
“I wish I had just apologized when she expressed how deeply sad she was,” Jessel said. “And I thought I did.”
Sai De Silva backed Jessel up, saying she believed Jessel did apologize during the seder.
“I really, I thought at the seder that you did apologize,” Sai said.
Jessel said it may have happened but not made it to air.
“I might have. It may not have been shown,” Jessel said.
Still, Jessel made it clear that the bigger point is that she should have shown more empathy to Carole in that moment.
“All that to say, I should have been more empathetic to her feelings,” Jessel said. “Like point blank.”
The conversation comes after Carole recently shared her own reaction to the scene, saying on Jeff Lewis Live that she felt Jessel’s comments were inappropriate and that filming the season was emotionally difficult for her.
Carole said she did not want to argue about Carolyn on camera and described the experience as traumatic, explaining that it was the first time in her adult life she had to navigate what she felt were inappropriate questions about her family.
