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Andy Cohen is the father of The Real Housewives franchise and he is credited as a producer in all of its iterations. As the new season of The Real Housewives of New York City premiered, alum Bethenny Frankel made comments about the show that are not so positive. This negative criticism got to Cohen and he is reportedly “livid” with the former housewife.

Andy Cohen and Bethenny Frankel
Andy Cohen and Bethenny Frankel | Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images / John Lamparski/Getty Images

What did Bethenny Frankel say?

Frankel walked away from RHONY just ahead of the start of filming of season 12 of the show. The reality star quit the series as she wanted to prioritize her development deal with Mark Burnett Productions.

Season 12 opens up with the ladies reacting to Frankel’s exit and the latter was not amused with what her former co-stars had to say about her.

“The beginning of the show was the proverbial middle finger to me,” she said in an interview with Extra. “The women have definitely had some unpleasant things to say about me… I wish them well.”

However, the worst part came after when she said that RHONY was not inspiring viewers anymore. She also mentioned that the ratings have been going downhill in television painting a dark future for the franchise.

“The ratings overall in television have never been higher and perhaps the ratings on Real Housewives aren’t doing well because it’s sort of not maybe the content that is inspiring people to do what they need to do right now,” Frankel added. “Or maybe they want to watch the news or something uplifting or some way to pay it forward.”

Producers and Andy Cohen react to Bethenny Frankel’s claims

After Frankel’s interview was published, a source closed to the production said Cohen was not happy with what the former Bravo star had said.

“As much as Bethenny pretends to be a producer, creator, mogul and even philanthropist, she will always be a Real Housewife and reality star. She was a no-one before RHONY — why would someone be so desperate as to bash the franchise that built her brand? Andy [Cohen] is livid!” a source told Page Six.

Another source said that Frankel might be questioning leaving the series and that’s why she’s lashing out.

“Every second of every day she thinks about the error she made in walking away from the only show that was ever a success for her,” an insider told DailyMailTV.

“Her extreme narcissism has meant that she can’t handle the spotlight being taken away from her,” the source added. ‘The women know it kills her that this season is going to be a success without her. You’ve got to feel sorry for her really. She lost on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, her talk show bombed, her Sirius radio show failed, and every time Bravo has attempted another show with her – they’ve tanked too.”

What does the ‘RHONY’ cast think of Bethenny Frankel’s exit?

One thing is for sure, the ladies of RHONY are happy that Frankel is gone. In several interviews, the cast has expressed they have been able to be more free.

“I think the whole cast is relieved, in a way, and it also leaves breathing room for other women to shine and show their personalities because a lot was Bethenny coming in and kind of stealing the show,” Luann de Lesseps said on a SiriusXM show. “But guess what, she can’t steal our show. This season is amazing and I can’t wait for everyone to see the new season.”

Ramona Singer was also relieved Frankel was out.

“We couldn’t really be ourselves,” Singer told Entertainment Tonight. “She’s such a big personality, she kind of took over the room. No air left for us. And I think, this season, the fans will be surprised to see a different side of most of us. And listen, we still have our arguments, we still fight, but there’s a bond that’s different. There’s something so special and unique. Very unique.”

The Real Housewives of New York City airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.

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