Jessel Taank is addressing the rumors about her husband, Pavit Randhawa, that played out on The Real Housewives of New York City—and explaining why the speculation about his sexuality and alleged infidelity cut deeper than the show suggested.
“I think it was downplayed on the show a lot,” Jessel exclusively told Us. “I feel like it could have gotten to a really dark place. So I understand why we focused on making light of the rumor instead of going down this dark hole and really getting into all the details.”
The controversy unfolded during episode 6 of RHONY season 16. It intensified at BravoCon 2025 after Sai De Silva told Jessel that Erin Lichy was aware of rumors involving her family—information Sai said she had heard from her makeup artist.
“What upset me so much was that they were insinuating my husband was leading a double life, cheating and being unfaithful again, which was really hurtful,” Jessel said. “That insinuation bothered me probably more than the rumor itself.”
Jessel said she did not learn the full extent of the gossip until the cast traveled to Moskito Island. During the trip, she approached Erin to apologize for an earlier comment about Erin’s flooded Hamptons home. However, Jessel told Us that the cameras did not show the portion of their conversation in which she asked Erin what she had been saying about Pavit.
“That scene didn’t actually happen the way it played out,” Taank explained. “When I went to Erin to apologize about the insurance comment, I asked, ‘What have you been saying about my husband?’ She said, ‘I haven’t said anything. Sai has.’ So I went back to Sai. That’s the part viewers didn’t see.”
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Although the series highlighted the comedic side of Pavit’s response as he addressed the rumors about his sexuality and alleged cheating, Jessel applauded the way her husband handled the situation, calling his reaction “perfect.” Still, she believes the conflict could have been prevented.
“Living through it in real time was obviously very different from how it was portrayed on the show and how the audience interpreted it,” she told Us. “I didn’t realize that bringing something like that up on camera would be such a big deal because, honestly, I think it could have been resolved at the source. If Erin had told me when she first heard the rumor, it wouldn’t have snowballed into what it became.”
The dispute marked another moment in which Jessel questioned whether Erin could keep sensitive information private. Jessel recently told Us that friction between them began after the season 16 premiere, when RHONY newcomer Hailey Glassman confronted her about her IVF experience. Hailey had learned intimate details from Erin, prompting Jessel to criticize her costar for discussing personal information that Jessel felt was not Erin’s story to share.
Jessel also offered her theory about why Erin did not come to her directly with the rumors about Pavit. She believes Erin may have been saving the information as “ammunition.”
“I don’t know if she would do that to anyone else,” Jessel told Us. “I feel like her intentions toward me have always been really bizarre. I use the word ‘intention’ because I think she was holding on to the rumor as a way to weaponize something against me.”
The Real Housewives of New York City airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.