Bethenny & Luann Real Housewives of New York Season 11 feud explained

Bethenny Frankel snapped at Luann de Lesseps in an infamous ‘cabaret fight’. Here is what you need to know about the RHONY Season 11 feud.

Real Housewives fans are used to chaotic fights within the cast, but this confrontation between the Real Housewives of New York cast truly shocked everyone.

During the 2019 girls’ trip to Miami, Bethenny tested her friendship with Luann by confronting her about her past actions. The confrontation started because Luann didn’t check in on Bethenny when her long-term friend and ex-boyfriend, Dennis Shields, died.

The Housewive also expressed that she was more hurt over it because Bethenny and Dennis helped Luann a lot when she returned to rehab for the second time. The conversation got heated quickly, ending with Bethenny shoving a drink in Luann’s face.

Luann’s actions triggered Bethenny

During Season 11, Bethenny yelled at Luann across a table: “Every day it’s about you! Every f**king second it’s about you. ‘Oh, because I didn’t get a massage.’ Because you’re an asshole that didn’t even have lunch with us today because you go to look at your own poster!” 

Co-stars Ramona Singer and Dorinda Medley agreed with Bethenny and argued that Luann was not understanding her friend’s pain. Bethenny also brought up the time she helped her friend get into rehab, only for her to leave to attend a cabaret.

“Life is not a cabaret. Life is actually not a cabaret!” Bethenny yelled her infamous one-liner at Luann across the dinner table.

Bethenny appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in June 2019 where she said Luann’s behavior during the confrontation triggered her explosive response. It was Luann’s deflection from accountability that made Bethenny lash out.

“So I just felt like, what the hell are you doing? Who are you? Like, how are you so not self-aware?” She said. “And even right after that moment, she was like, ‘Well, I’ve been going through a lot.’ I don’t want to be like, ‘I’m going through a lot,’ but I’ve been through a little bit this year.”

Bethenny was not proud of her behavior at the restaurant, admitting it was inappropriate, but was also grateful that people understood her and gave her space to grow.

“It was an explosion and a reaction to many things, obviously. No one acts like that in a restaurant, no matter what’s happened. There was a boiling point,” she explained.

Since the feud, the two reality stars have mended their relationship and again are close friends.