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Credit: NBCUniversal Media, Charles Sykes/Bravo
Chanel Ayan has revealed the hilarious misunderstanding that marked her first meeting with Carole Radziwill, sharing the story during a Friday appearance on Scheana Shay’s podcast.
The Real Housewives of Dubai alum, 48, also appeared on Jeff Lewis’ radio show to discuss the voicemail she sent Jessel Taank, 46, regarding Erin Lichy, 39. The conversation addressed the message featured on a recent episode of The Real Housewives of New York City and clarified where Chanel and Erin stand today. While recounting her time filming The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th, Chanel admitted she initially confused Carole, 63, with another Real Housewives personality.
“I flew into New York to film [RHUGT], and [Carole] was sitting next to me. Everyone was introducing themselves because I didn’t know who she was, and she was like, ‘I’m from New York.’ Immediately, in my head, I thought she’s the woman that doesn’t have legs,” Chanel recalled on the September 18 episode of Scheananigans. She was referring to Aviva Drescher, 56.
Chanel explained that she does not regularly watch the Housewives series and had instead encountered memorable clips online. One of those clips showed Aviva throwing her prosthetic leg, leading Chanel to make an unfortunate assumption.
“So, I go to her, ‘Oh my God, nice to meet you. How is your leg?’” Chanel said. Carole, understandably confused, responded, “What do you mean?”
Chanel then doubled down, asking whether Carole had a “nice leg” and how she was able to walk. When Carole repeatedly told her, “I have legs,” Chanel continued asking whether the situation was new. “She probably thought I was psychotic because I thought she was the woman that threw the leg on the ground,” Chanel said.
At the time, Chanel interpreted Carole’s confusion as anger and assumed she was uncomfortable discussing her leg. “I thought she was mad at me because she really doesn’t want to talk about her leg, and I wanted to know how she walks with the leg,” she added.
During her appearance on SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live, Chanel also explained why she called Jessel to warn her about Erin.
Chanel said the warning came while the cast was filming the finale of Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th. She had become close with Jessel through her cousin, Ubah Hassan, 43, as well as Sai de Silva, 45, and said she regularly spent time with the New York cast when visiting the city.
She recalled that women from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills repeatedly asked whether she had heard what Erin was saying, particularly because they saw Chanel spending time with Jessel. Chanel said she ultimately called Jessel the following day and told her, “Hey, be careful.”
Chanel added that her ties to the RHONY cast extend beyond Ubah and Sai. Jessel’s cousin is also friends with both Chanel and Caroline Stanbury, creating what Chanel described as “so much connection there.”
Despite the warning, Chanel made clear that she does not have personal animosity toward Erin. “I like Erin,” she said.
She explained that her husband, Chris Pillott, even went out drinking with Erin’s husband, Abe Lichy, at BravoCon. “It’s nothing against her, it’s just I’m protecting my friend,” Chanel said.
The Real Housewives of New York City season 16 airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.