In the world of reality television, drama often spills off-screen, and the latest incident involves Taja Abitbol, star of the Netflix series Members Only: Palm Beach. Abitbol has come forward with claims that Jill Zarin, a former star of The Real Housewives of New York City, attempted to join her show without her knowledge.

Credit: Michele Eve Sandberg/MEGA, “SJWORK” / MEGA

Speaking candidly to Us Weekly, Taja, 53, alleged that Jill Zarin, 62, tried to “weasel her way” into a role on the Netflix series by bypassing her completely. This alleged move has disrupted their relationship, with Taja expressing disappointment over Jill’s approach. “Jill tried to weasel her way onto my show behind my back. We don’t even talk anymore because of that,” she revealed. Taja elaborated, “You know what she could have said? ‘Hey Taja, you know, would love to be on your show.’ I mean, it’s not my show, it’s [producer Johnny Gould’s] show. But why would you try and do that behind my back? Why didn’t you discuss it with me? I would never do that.”

Jill, on the other hand, has countered these allegations, suggesting she has evidence that contradicts Taja’s claims. The tension between the two underscores the competitive nature of reality TV casting, where friendships can be tested by the desire for screen time.

Interestingly, Florida has become a popular spot for various Real Housewives alumni, including Jill and others like Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan, and Bethenny Frankel, who have all taken up residences near Boca Raton. Despite the proximity of these potential guest stars, Taja asserts that her show has no need for the additional drama they might bring, suggesting confidence in her current cast and storyline.

As fans may know, a number of RHONY alums have homes in Florida, including Jill, who lives near Boca Raton, and Ramona Singer, 69, Sonja Morgan, 62, and Bethenny Frankel, 55. But according to Taja, she and her castmates don’t need any of them on their series.

“We don’t need Ramona, Jill,” she explained. “They’ve already been there, done that. Bye-bye. Next. They’re done, has beens, over. Nobody wants to see more of that. They’ve had their time, and they don’t need to be with us. None of them.”

In response to Taja’s claim against her, Jill, who is friends with Taja’s co-star, Hilary Musser, 60, shut down the idea that she and Taja were close and revealed that she was asked to be on Members Only: Palm Beach by a producer.

“Taja met Hilary at my house last year, not longtime friends as she said on the show. They were strangers and I put that together. The producer of her show came to my house to ask me if I would even be interested in being on the show. After careful consideration, we felt it wouldn’t be the right fit as I am already an established reality star for almost 20 years and they really wanted the cast to be new faces,” she explained, adding that she had “multiple texts to back up” her story.

“There is no animosity between [Taja and me], so I’m not sure where this is coming from,” she noted.

As for her ties to the RHONJ cast, Taja, who hung out with Teresa Giudice, 53, on a recent episode, said that she knew Teresa and others due to the time she spent in New York.

“I know [Dolores Catania], I know [Margaret Josephs]. I know them all because I lived in New York, and I was part of the charity world for a very, very long time,” she shared. “Margaret said, ‘Taja, I want to congratulate you on the show. I think it’s great. You did a great job, and it is what Housewives should be. We are too much drama. You guys did it right.’ How do you like that?”

While Taja made it clear that Members Only: Palm Beach was a different vibe from Real Housewives, she noted that she was grateful that Teresa and other Bravo stars had been supportive.

Members Only: Palm Beach season one is currently streaming on Netflix.