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Andy Cohen is expressing discontent over the decision of several original Real Housewives stars to leave Bravo for E! Network.
In February, it was revealed that former RHONY cast members Luann de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, and Kelly Bensimon will feature in a new E! show titled The Golden Life. Although Jill Zarin was initially part of the lineup, she was removed following her controversial remarks about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.
‘RHONY’ alums are ‘dead’ to Andy Cohen
For Cohen, who is the creative force behind the Real Housewives franchise, this move feels like a significant betrayal.
“He considers this an outright betrayal,” an insider shared with Radar Online. “Andy was the architect of that franchise. In his eyes, they’ve crossed a line.”
Another source added, “You can’t just take the brand he developed, rebrand it, and make money elsewhere. Andy won’t let this slide.”
“You don’t take the brand he created, slap on a new logo and cash another check. He won’t forget it,” another source said.
Cohen is “fiercely protective” of the Housewives brand, a network source told Radar. “Cross that line, and the door doesn’t just close – it locks.”
Over 10 episodes, The Golden Life (WT) will follow the quartet of New Yorkers as they start fresh in the Sunshine State.
“In this new ‘golden’ era of life, the longtime friends are thriving in and around Palm Beach with fabulous second homes and a bustling social scene,” E! shared in a press release. “With their signature humor and non-stop hijinks, the series will follow the group as they navigate dating, family, and career milestones. Though skies are bright in Florida, unresolved drama looms as they reconnect after years of highs and lows.”
The show, which does not yet have a premiere date, recently began filming in Palm Beach, Page Six reports.
Bethenny Frankel weighs in on ‘The Golden Life’
One RHONY icon who won’t appear in the new show is Bethenny Frankel. In an Instagram post, she said some of the other woman asked if she would return to TV. But Frankel said she’s moved on and is focused on her various business ventures.
“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,” she said.
Nonetheless, Frankel said she was rooting for her former co-stars and impressed by E!’s willingness to take on Cohen’s reality TV crown, calling it a “savage, amazing move.”
“I’m really happy for these women and I want them to thrive [and] succeed,” she said. “and I want the show to do well.”
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