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Ryan Serhant is steadfastly supporting Bethenny Frankel as she faces a deluge of online backlash regarding the design of her new home in Florida.
In an exclusive chat with Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea,” the star of “Owning Manhattan” commended the former “Real Housewives of New York City” star, describing her as a visionary whose aesthetic and strategic foresight are far beyond what the public currently grasps.
“Bethenny Frankel is brilliant. She’s a master of marketing… She doesn’t just think ten steps ahead; she thinks ten miles ahead,” explained the founder of SERHANT. Real Estate.
“It’s challenging because no one else operates that way, so you have to catch up. By the time you do, she’s already succeeded and moved on to her next venture.”
Frankel’s latest endeavor—a chic property near Palm Beach, which Architectural Digest characterized as “a streamlined, contemporary take on classic Floridian design”—became a hot topic online following its feature in the magazine, with some social media users quick to criticize the interior style.
“What in the HomeGoods is happening here?” one critic wrote. “Made in China dupes is featured in Arch Digest now,” another mocked.
A separate user complained the spread demonstrated “not even bad taste, just an absence of taste.”
Others questioned why the glossy magazine showcased the home at all. “Roller blinds, accent wall wallpaper, a coffee table as a side table. I really am confused what about this is appropriate to run in ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST,” one person griped.
But Serhant, 41, insists the backlash misunderstands who Frankel, 55, is — and what she’s building.
“She, I think, will be one of the most prominent figures in residential real estate on the ownership side — which I don’t know if she’s talked about yet — in Florida,” he says. “She’s a beast. She’s great. She’s so smart and she’s been so successful. And she’s been really, really nice to me.”
Frankel herself addressed the controversy Sunday, posting an Instagram video in which she revealed she’s made at least $12 million in real estate profits in recent years.
She also clarified that, despite assumptions, there are no HomeGoods or Wayfair pieces in the home. However, she defended both as “multi-billion dollar brands” worthy of respect.
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The Skinnygirl mogul emphasized that she designs her residences with investment in mind, not simply aesthetics.
“Highs and lows, baby,” she told AD, explaining that mixing pieces — luxury or otherwise — is part of the fun. “There are so many things that are fun to mix in that no one will ever know where they’re from.”
And in Serhant’s eyes, that blend is precisely the mark of someone playing the long game — even if the internet hasn’t caught up yet.
“Owning Manhattan” Season 2 is available to stream on Netflix.