Luann de Lesseps Urges Former RHONY Co-Star Bethenny Frankel to Respect Boundaries in Reality TV: “Why Turn Against Your Benefactor?”

Luann de Lesseps has, once again, blasted her former Real Housewives of New York City co-star Bethenny Frankel for attempting to ‘fight for systemic change’ and unionize exploited reality TV stars.

‘Now back to Bethenny. You know, listen, why bite the hand that feeds you?’ the 58-year-old singer said during her December 23rd cabaret show at 54 Below – according to Page Six.

‘Why bite [executive producer] Andy [Cohen]? Why bite NBC? You know, just go off into the sunset. You make millions and gazillions of dollars. If you claim you do, then why are you still harping on us? Why are you talking about us?’

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Luann (born LuAnn Nadeau) got the crowd on their feet cheering when she quoted the 53-year-old Skinnygirl CEO’s popular phrase: ‘Leave us alone! Go to bed! Go to bed! Go to bed!’

De Lesseps used to be close with Bethenny but, in an October 1st Instagram post, Frankel said she used to ‘adore’ her castmates until she began to ‘strongly dislike many of them.’

Luann de Lesseps (L, posted in 2018) has, once again, blasted her former Real Housewives of New York City co-star Bethenny Frankel (R) for attempting to ‘fight for systemic change’ and unionize exploited reality TV stars

The 58-year-old singer (pictured November 18) said during her December 23rd cabaret show at 54 Below: ‘Now back to Bethenny. You know, listen, why bite the hand that feeds you?’

‘Have they changed? Or is it the toxic environment designed for ratings?’ the Manhattan socialite – who boasts 7.6M social media followers – wrote.

‘Am I biting the hand that fed me? Perhaps but maybe that hand deserves to be bitten. We have fed the machine ratings, ad dollars, catch phrases, and content. We get filthy and they get filthy rich.’

Bethenny – who commanded $1M per season – famously only earned a $7,250 paycheck in 2008 to star with Luann in the first season of the Bravo reality show originally titled ‘Manhattan Moms.’

Frankel appeared in seasons 1-3 and 7-11 while de Lesseps – who was briefly downgraded to ‘friend’ status for season 6 – starred in seasons 1-13.

The BStrong founder began her union crusade with a July 19 Instagram video, inspired by the striking WGA/SAG/AFTRA members, during which she revealed Peacock had approached her about starring in The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy but ‘they can’t afford me.’

‘I have not hired lawyers nor am I suing,’ Bethenny clarified on October 1.

‘I have directed wronged talent and production members to legal representation and am fighting for systemic change in a damaged institution. The reality reckoning is true, real, and I’ll lead by example and evolve for myself and for my daughter [Bryn Casey Hoppy].’

Fans can catch more of the Connecticut-born socialite in the fourth season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy, which airs Thursdays on Peacock.

The Saint Barthélemy-set spin-off also features Sonja Morgan, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Dorinda Medley, Ramona Singer, and Kristen Taekman.

And tickets range from $120-200 for Luann’s four-date Countess Cabaret concerts, which kick off January 31 at 54 Below in Midtown Manhattan.

Luann continued: ‘Why bite [executive producer] Andy [Cohen]? Why bite NBC? You know, just go off into the sunset. You make millions and gazillions of dollars. If you claim you do, then why are you still harping on us? Why are you talking about us?’

De Lesseps got the crowd on their feet cheering when she quoted the 53-year-old Skinnygirl CEO’s popular phrase: ‘Leave us alone! Go to bed! Go to bed! Go to bed!’

The Connecticut-born socialite used to be close with Bethenny but, in an October 1st Instagram post, Frankel said she used to ‘adore’ her castmates until she began to ‘strongly dislike many of them’

The Manhattan socialite wrote: ‘Have they changed? Or is it the toxic environment designed for ratings?

Bethenny continued: ‘Am I biting the hand that fed me? Perhaps but maybe that hand deserves to be bitten. We have fed the machine ratings, ad dollars, catch phrases, and content. We get filthy and they get filthy rich’

Frankel – who commanded $1M per season – famously only earned a $7,250 paycheck in 2008 to star with Luann in the first season of the Bravo reality show originally titled ‘Manhattan Moms’ (pictured)

The BStrong founder appeared in seasons 1-3 and 7-11 while de Lesseps – who was briefly downgraded to ‘friend’ status for season 6 – starred in seasons 1-13 (posted in 2019)

Bethenny began her union crusade with a July 19 Instagram video, inspired by the striking WGA/SAG/AFTRA members, during which she revealed Peacock had approached her about starring in The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy but ‘they can’t afford me’

Frankel clarified on October 1: ‘I have not hired lawyers nor am I suing. I have directed wronged talent and production members to legal representation and am fighting for systemic change in a damaged institution. The reality reckoning is true, real, and I’ll lead by example and evolve for myself and for my daughter [Bryn Casey Hoppy]’

Fans can catch more of the Canada’s Drag Race guest judge in the fourth season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy, which airs Thursdays on Peacock

And tickets range from $120-200 for Luann’s four-date Countess Cabaret concerts, which kick off January 31 at 54 Below in Midtown Manhattan