Bethenny Frankel: Skinny Girl

[Aunt Kiki]

I don't want to belabor the points I've already made and bore everyone, and I promise I am not trying to change your mind. But in the interest of answering your question, I will just say that I think Bethenny was explaining herself to Jason when she said what she said, not making excuses.  There is a difference.  And it is my opinion that Jason was throwing Bethenny's self-acknowledged troubled past in her face for no other reason than to make her feel like she needed to do things his way because his way was normal while her way of doing things was sick, wrong, inferior, "damaged" or "not normal."   I don't see that as "communication."  I see that as being manipulative.  JMHO

That's the feeling I got as well.  

[Celia Rubenstein]

If Bethenny's childhood is being used as a weapon against her, she put that weapon in Jason's hands herself. 

 

Do you really think Bethenny should not be allowed to talk about her own life, lest she justify it being used against her by someone trying to make her do something she doesn't want to do?  

 

I don't agree with that at all.

Edited May 20, 2015 by Celia Rubenstein

[hottesthw]

If Bethenny's childhood is being used as a weapon against her, she put that weapon in Jason's hands herself. But I disagree that it is being used as a weapon against her.

Yes! And 25 years later she is still bad mouthing her parents and dragging her stepfather on tv to rehash shit and she's got the nerve to complain that someone else is using her words against her? Puhhleeze. If she's so damaged from her past she needs to take her SG crap, find a real therapist and get off my tv. I no longer have sympathy for or give a shit about her tragic, rich girl childhood.

[Celia Rubenstein]

I didn't say it was okay. In fact, I said that I don't think that is what happened. Re-read my post.

 

You said if her childhood was being used as a weapon, she put it in Jason hands herself.   I took that to mean you were blaming Bethenny for Jason saying those things to her, because if she hadn't talked about her childhood so much Jason would not have had the information to use against her. Was that not what you meant with that sentence? I realize in the next sentence you say you don't think her past was used as a weapon, but given your "if" in your first sentence, it suggests you accept that it is a possibility. 

 

 

If she's so damaged from her past she needs to take her SG crap, find a real therapist and get off my tv. I no longer have sympathy for or give a shit about her tragic, rich girl childhood.

 

What does her being rich have to do with it?  

[Aunt Kiki]

You said if her childhood was being used as a weapon, she put it in Jason hands herself.   I took that to mean you were blaming Bethenny for Jason saying those things to her, because if she hadn't talked about her childhood so much Jason would not have had the information to use against her. Was that not what you meant with that sentence? I realize in the next sentence you say you don't think her past was used as a weapon, but given your "if" in your first sentence, it suggests you accept that it is a possibility. 

 

 

 

What does her being rich have to do with it?  

Exactly.  She grew up as part of the racetrack life until she was a teen - not exactly high society and $$$ - then Bobby Frankel became successful and sent her to boarding schools.

[sleekandchic]

Just a general comment, offered without rancor, but I dont think its right to specifically personalize our discussions here just because a sister poster shared personal history. JMO.

Theres something interesting about BF that I remembered based on reading tonight. When Dr Xavier Amador was first introduced to the audience on B's spinoff, and we were told her sessions would be part of the show, B did a TH in which she said she was glad to get the therapy, which she had NEVER sought out before!

I found that completely shocking. B's childhood misery seems part of her fabric. She's educated and well-traveled, and she lives in NYC! Everybody (or close to) sees a shrink in NYC!

I am lost with B's motivations and machinations. Jmo.

[Aunt Kiki]

Just a general comment, offered without rancor, but I dont think its right to specifically personalize our discussions here just because a sister poster shared personal history. JMO.

Theres something interesting about BF that I remembered based on reading tonight. When Dr Xavier Amador was first introduced to the audience on B's spinoff, and we were told her sessions would be part of the show, B did a TH in which she said she was glad to get the therapy, which she had NEVER sought out before!

I found that completely shocking. B's childhood misery seems part of her fabric. She's educated and well-traveled, and she lives in NYC! Everybody (or close to) sees a shrink in NYC!

I am lost with B's motivations and machinations. Jmo.

That didn't surprise me because she has a similar personality to her biological father, who, until later in life, was a grade A asshole who probably thought therapy was a waste of time. JMOO

[WireWrap]

Just a general comment, offered without rancor, but I dont think its right to specifically personalize our discussions here just because a sister poster shared personal history. JMO.

Theres something interesting about BF that I remembered based on reading tonight. When Dr Xavier Amador was first introduced to the audience on B's spinoff, and we were told her sessions would be part of the show, B did a TH in which she said she was glad to get the therapy, which she had NEVER sought out before!

I found that completely shocking. B's childhood misery seems part of her fabric. She's educated and well-traveled, and she lives in NYC! Everybody (or close to) sees a shrink in NYC!

I am lost with B's motivations and machinations. Jmo.

After tonight's show I question Bethenny's reasoning/sanity. Haven't we heard for years how awful her childhood was, how destructive, how bizarre and how unhappy she was yet we see her tonight wanting to reconnect with a man that is a major player in that life and she wants him to get to know Bryn. A man that not only beat her mother all the time, did it in front of her, but also beat her at least 1 time and she wants him in Bryn's life! Am I misunderstanding her? I am confounded  and sickened by what I just saw.  JMO

[ZoloftBlob]

I disagree in that I see this playing out in my own family. Family member X feels Family member Y is abusive and to blame for how Family member X has problems. Yet, when X has child A, the first thing on X's agenda is making sure that Y is involved in child A's life. As family member Z I try to point out why this is bad but I don't get listened to because X wants Y to change and magically be that super person A who is a magical fantasy who doesn't exist.

[car54]

It's Bethenny Frankel day at Radar online--another story about her financials.

 

http://radaronline.com/celebrity-news/bethenny-frankel-divorce-documents-bravo-luxury-lifestyle-net-worth/

[LilaFowler]

What's going on with Bethenny and her mother?  Is the hate mutual or is it mostly coming from one side?  I haven't really followed. 

[Celia Rubenstein]

I disagree in that I see this playing out in my own family. Family member X feels Family member Y is abusive and to blame for how Family member X has problems. Yet, when X has child A, the first thing on X's agenda is making sure that Y is involved in child A's life. As family member Z I try to point out why this is bad but I don't get listened to because X wants Y to change and magically be that super person A who is a magical fantasy who doesn't exist.

 

I think this situation is more common than people think.  Much more common.  Abused and neglected kids grow up to be adults who trot their children right back into the scene filled with very people who were so hurtful to them, thinking/hoping/believing it is all going to be different. 

 

This isn't an effort by Bethenny to change the script in my opinion.  Instead I think it is based on a genuine desire to overcome the past by creating a future that involves some of the original players and have it all work out to be fine and dandy.   And it may work to an extent.  Who knows?  Sometimes people who were ghastly parents make okay grandparents.  I'm not sure I would roll the dice on such a gambit where my child is concerned and I certainly wouldn't want my past abusers involved in my present life.  But many people choose to do exactly that.  Every day. 

 

What's going on with Bethenny and her mother?  Is the hate mutual or is it mostly coming from one side?  I haven't really followed.

 

From what I understand, Bethenny and her mother are completely and probably hopelessly estranged.  Beth went for a long time (years) with no contact with her mother.  Then she showed up on this show spilling her guts about what a terrible parent she was, citing alcoholism, mental illness, eating disorders and violence in the home.  Her mother basically denied it all, called Bethenny a liar, and subsequently went on to make several disparaging comments about Bethenny in the press as the events of Beth's life unfolded in public.  That led to more anger on Bethenny's part, and more remarks about what a horrible person her mother is.  Then Mom fired back.  It went on for a while. The last I read about the situation, they had vowed never to speak to each other again.

[LilaFowler]

I just know that, if watching this man beat my mother messed me up so severely that I had personality and psychological issues well into middle age, I would not be hugging it out with him.  Doesn't matter how much I didn't get along with my mother.  Bethenny says that she's a product of her environment, doesn't she realize that her mother was a product of hers?  That maybe getting beaten by one husband lead to some psychological issues that affected her parenting?  That Bethenny's own issues are going to affect Bryn? 

[maggiemae]

I'll never understand.......at what point does it have to get to be happy with wealth....be it 1, 5, 10, 15, 22 M when it was mostly earned while married and with a child. What amount crosses the line into greed?

[hottesthw]

I think this situation is more common than people think. Much more common. Abused and neglected kids grow up to be adults who trot their children right back into the scene filled with very people who were so hurtful to them, thinking/hoping/believing it is all going to be different.

This isn't an effort by Bethenny to change the script in my opinion. Instead I think it is based on a genuine desire to overcome the past by creating a future that involves some of the original players and have it all work out to be fine and dandy. And it may work to an extent. Who knows? Sometimes people who were ghastly parents make okay grandparents. I'm not sure I would roll the dice on such a gambit where my child is concerned and I certainly wouldn't want my past abusers involved in my present life. But many people choose to do exactly that. Every day.

From what I understand, Bethenny and her mother are completely and probably hopelessly estranged. Beth went for a long time (years) with no contact with her mother. Then she showed up on this show spilling her guts about what a terrible parent she was, citing alcoholism, mental illness, eating disorders and violence in the home. Her mother basically denied it all, called Bethenny a liar, and subsequently went on to make several disparaging comments about Bethenny in the press as the events of Beth's life unfolded in public. That led to more anger on Bethenny's part, and more remarks about what a horrible person her mother is. Then Mom fired back. It went on for a while. The last I read about the situation, they had vowed never to speak to each other again.

Yet here she is, on tv, again, blasting her mother and her dead father. She's no better than either one of them at this point.

[zoeysmom]

Just a general comment, offered without rancor, but I dont think its right to specifically personalize our discussions here just because a sister poster shared personal history. JMO.

Theres something interesting about BF that I remembered based on reading tonight. When Dr Xavier Amador was first introduced to the audience on B's spinoff, and we were told her sessions would be part of the show, B did a TH in which she said she was glad to get the therapy, which she had NEVER sought out before!

I found that completely shocking. B's childhood misery seems part of her fabric. She's educated and well-traveled, and she lives in NYC! Everybody (or close to) sees a shrink in NYC!

I am lost with B's motivations and machinations. Jmo.

Bethenny shortchanged herself if she didn't seek therapy before her wedding.  I don't know how much I put into Dr. Amador-perhaps if he wasn't a celebrity psychologist I would think it more real.  Now he is making money co-authoring books with her. 

 

Obviously Jason didn't want the divorce.  There may come a point in Bethenny's life when she looks back and realizes that perhaps she had a big part in making her marriage unbearable and she had someone that was willing to go the distance with her.  Between sale to Jim Beam and her getting rid of Jason there was 18 months.  It would seem maybe she need time for it to sink in about being truly wealthy.  With that kind of money comes a huge amount of power and it doesn't always translate to control.

[Celia Rubenstein]

Yet here she is, on tv, again, blasting her mother and her dead father. She's no better than either one of them at this point.

 

I can't imagine Bernadette being able to keep quiet after this episode airs, lol. She gets red hot and really goes on a tear every so often.  I am sure we will be hearing from her soon enough.  

[Celia Rubenstein]

But, if Bethenny's childhood was as rough as she makes it out to be (story seems to change based on convenience), then I can understand where the desire to fight for every penny comes from. When having the rug pulled out from under you is a real risk on a day-to-day basis, you're going to yearn for a sense of security and being able to lay claim to something that is "yours." Looking at the situation in this context, I can understand the fight over the apartment and money.

 

I agree.  If you don't consider how Bethenny's mindset regarding security has been effected by her past,  her behavior may be hard to understand.  But when you take that into account it makes a lot more sense.   She may well feel much more threatened by what is happening in her life than someone else would.  It's not just about the money and property to her.  It goes a lot deeper.

[TOL]

I wonder if I can dive into the shallow end of this pool, ignoring the deep issues end: B's hair this season is a hot mess. It's constantly bed-head in the back- fixed in the front, dreadful and dirty looking in the back. where is her stylist?

That's all. As you were...

[ZoloftBlob]

If Jason is so horrible, maybe it's worth paying him some money to be done with this mess.

 

Frankly, if he's that horrible, I'd be worried he'd come back a year or two later with a demand for more.

 

And that argument works the other way - if Bethenny is so horrible, why doesn't Jason free himself from this and walk away?

 

I know a couple who divorced, the wife remarried and got custody of the kid. She and the new spouse profess to be highly frightened of the ex husband, to where they moved across country, and keep guns in the house. There's a teenage child involved, who also professes to be frightened of her dad. There's no need for spusal support and what do these people do? They constantly serve the ex husband with demands for back child support, thereby invited this crazy violent man into their lives. (The kid has been to court to say she doesn't want to see her dad) People do crazy irrational things in divorce all the time

[Ellee]

I watched the show in ff mode because of time.  I don't remember what exactly Bethenny said about trusting men toward the end but my instant thought was 'Jason never stood a chance'.  The feeling was that no matter what Jason said/did he was going to be part of the men/craziness from Bethenny's past.  LOL, does that make sense?  Bethenny can't/won't know a good man until it is far too late.

 

I work with a person that 'knows everything about everything'.  The fact of the matter is that that person 'knows everything' because he forces it to be true by his actions and treatment of other people and also his recounting of what took place.  It's much easier to prove a negative than it is a positive and reality is how he and he alone perceives it.   I think Bethenny does this, too.

 

Also, if Bethenny wants Bryn to have family from both sides around her, doesn't that indicate that Grandma/Grandpa Hoppy can't be all that bad or possibly even too good? 

[motorcitymom65]

Does anyone know anything about Beth's extended family...if one exists? I know she is an only child, but what about grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins? She has always talked about being completely alone. It is just so hard to imagine there was no other family among her father, mother, and stepfather. To go looking for a family branch with that jack-ass who apparently beat her mother on the regular, I would assume there literally is no one else. How sad. 

[zoeysmom]

Does anyone know anything about Beth's extended family...if one exists? I know she is an only child, but what about grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins? She has always talked about being completely alone. It is just so hard to imagine there was no other family among her father, mother, and stepfather. To go looking for a family branch with that jack-ass who apparently beat her mother on the regular, I would assume there literally is no one else. How sad. 

I have often wondered if she is truly the only of two only children who were orphaned children. 

 

For old times sake an article on Bethenny and her ability to bend the truth:  http://www.jewishjournal.com/keepingitreal/item/bethenny_frankel_lies_-_does_her_true_hollywood_story_prove_it_20110922http://www.jewishjournal.com/keepingitreal/item/bethenny_frankel_lies_-_does_her_true_hollywood_story_prove_it_20110922

Edited May 20, 2015 by zoeysmom

[archer1267]

I'm re-watching Season 2 and had totally forgotten this "pact" Bethenny had made with her gay hairdresser, Frankie (pronounced "fronky"). She talked about really wanting a child and he wanted one too. She said "we can have a kid, live in the Hamptons, you can do your thing and I'll do mine." I know it wasn't serious, although when she mentioned it to Jill, Jill said "I can see it." Hindsight's 20/20 but it's a shame that Bethenny didn't ultimately go that route. I know alternative lifestyles aren't for everyone and maybe she wanted the big white wedding, but it would have probably caused a lot less trouble and heartache in the long run.

 

And you know Frankie would be helping her with her hair now, too.

[ZoloftBlob]

Also, if Bethenny wants Bryn to have family from both sides around her, doesn't that indicate that Grandma/Grandpa Hoppy can't be all that bad or possibly even too good

 

Or it could indicate that while there's some bad blood and issues between the Hoppy grandparents and Bethenny, she acknowledges that Bryn is their grandchild.

 

I think the Hoppys are nice enough people embroiled in a divorce and have taken sides. That doesn't mean I think they are all bad - frankly while I don't like some of the things they do or are rumored to do, I look at it from the perspective of "divorces make families crazy". My view is not "The Hoppys are EVIL" - I see no reason why they shouldn't be involved in Bryn's life as long as they are respectful about her mom.

[breezy424]

I think Beth may want to have Bryn have family on Beth's side because she may be a little jealous of what Bryn has when she's with Jason.  Bryn is around her grandparents and I think there are other relatives (IIRC) as well.  From what we have seen of Bryn with her grandparents, they love and enjoy Bryn very much and I think she feels that love.  And Bryn probably talks about it to Beth as well. 

 

I also think that now that Bryn is older, Beth is realizes that being around family is important, especially for your child.  I get that Beth may not have wanted to spend as much time with Jason's parents as he did but I never understood why she wanted these exclusive holidays with Jason and Bryn.  Maybe since she's now experienced being excluded from being with her child on some holidays because of shared custody, she's starting to understand why Jason and his parents were so hurt.  At least, that's what I hope.

[AuntieDiane6]

 

But, if Bethenny's childhood was as rough as she makes it out to be (story seems to change based on convenience), then I can understand where the desire to fight for every penny comes from.

 

Her father was wealthy, her mother is middle class and she went to a private boarding school in Florida.  She might have been starved for attention, but she wasn't starved for money.  All those years of TV therapy should have taught her how not to confuse the two.

[Leroux]

Her father was wealthy, her mother is middle class and she went to a private boarding school in Florida.  She might have been starved for attention, but she wasn't starved for money.  All those years of TV therapy should have taught her how not to confuse the two.

 

Parisella paid for her boarding school but also after she graduated she went her own way.

 

Bethenny explains that her reason for having money "noises" is because all the adults around her gambled, they could be rich one day when they won a bet and they could be broke the next day because they had spent all of their money. The dysfunctionality was not only emotional it was also financial, highs and lows in short periods of time and IMO that is why Bethenny was always so tight with her money.  

[ZoloftBlob]

Her father was wealthy, her mother is middle class and she went to a private boarding school in Florida.  She might have been starved for attention, but she wasn't starved for money.

 

Having money does not preclude emotional damage/abusive relationships. "She had money so she needs to shut up" is a line of reasoning that invalidates any anyone who had abusive toxic relationships but also weren't poor.

Edited May 20, 2015 by ZoloftBlob

[zoeysmom]

Yeah, someone mentioned that step dad paid for college too. I think Bethenny's idea of "broke" doesn't mean couch surfing and living off of food stamps. That is my idea of "broke."

There needs to be more diving into the shallow end in this thread.

I find it hard to believe the step father paid for college.  According to Bethenny when she was 19 she and her mother went in her mother's new car from her next husband to pick up her things from John's house and then is when he attacked Bethenny and she had not seen him since.  Seems odd he would pay for Bethenny's education after divorcing Bethenny's mom. 

 

Years ago on the Bravo boards there were literally dozens of pictures of Bethenny posted with Frankel.  I never know what to believe from this woman.  Here is an article shortly before her second wedding discussing her first husband.  http://starcasm.net/archives/51586

Edited May 20, 2015 by zoeysmom

[Almost 3000]

Parisella paid for her boarding school but also after she graduated she went her own way.

 

Bethenny explains that her reason for having money "noises" is because all the adults around her gambled, they could be rich one day when they won a bet and they could be broke the next day because they had spent all of their money. The dysfunctionality was not only emotional it was also financial, highs and lows in short periods of time and IMO that is why Bethenny was always so tight with her money.  

I don't think she's tight with her money but will admit she shared some clever tricks the first few seasons of the show. I remember Jason and B were in a gift store and she wanted a snow globe. Jason commented that she'd get it and then discard it. He was cautioning her that she may not really want it. While her living spaces seem pared down I've always wondered even before this if she was a manic shopper. Just a sense I've had so that moment with Jason stood out to me.

[Celia Rubenstein]

Bethenny explains that her reason for having money "noises" is because all the adults around her gambled, they could be rich one day when they won a bet and they could be broke the next day because they had spent all of their money. The dysfunctionality was not only emotional it was also financial, highs and lows in short periods of time and IMO that is why Bethenny was always so tight with her money.  

 

I never realized how big an issue the gambling had been.  But of course, with her whole family being in the racing world, I should have realized. 

 

Her preoccupation with finances makes even more sense to me now.  Her description of herself as being "broke" in this context also makes more sense.  It is all about feeling financially vulnerable.   Never feeling like you have enough to be truly safe, because it could all be gone in a flash.

[LotusFlower]

It creeped me out a bit.  Like this innocent little girl was somehow supposed to keep the dead brother's memory alive.

This is exactly why Jews name a newborn after a deceased family member. To honor the deceased, and keep their name and memory alive. It's a common practice or tradition, and I think it's very meaningful and even moving. So many pages - I was surprised this wasn't brought up.

[missy jo]

I guess she's changing the script to suit her needs.

 

 

A literal script, IMO. She doesn't seek him out for a full two decades until she's filming? Whatever, girl.

 

As an example of standing her ground when it came to her child, I use B absolutely refusing J's request (on camera) to designate his parents as Bryn's legal guardians should Bryn's parents die before her majority. B insisted on naming Veronica, who was the personal assistant/nanny at the time. Veronica was a relatively new hire.

 

 

Does anyone know if that ended up happening for sure? I thought it was completely bizarre. She goes through staff like toilet paper, but wants a near-stranger - instead of competent and caring family - to raise her child if something were to happen to them. Hell. No.

[zoeysmom]

I think Beth may want to have Bryn have family on Beth's side because she may be a little jealous of what Bryn has when she's with Jason.  Bryn is around her grandparents and I think there are other relatives (IIRC) as well.  From what we have seen of Bryn with her grandparents, they love and enjoy Bryn very much and I think she feels that love.  And Bryn probably talks about it to Beth as well. 

 

I also think that now that Bryn is older, Beth is realizes that being around family is important, especially for your child.  I get that Beth may not have wanted to spend as much time with Jason's parents as he did but I never understood why she wanted these exclusive holidays with Jason and Bryn.  Maybe since she's now experienced being excluded from being with her child on some holidays because of shared custody, she's starting to understand why Jason and his parents were so hurt.  At least, that's what I hope.

I am hoping after Bethenny watched the episode she realized there was zero benefit in introducing a former step -father to Bryn. John hasn't been a step father for close to thirty years to Bethenny.  Does Bethenny want to be back in court over custody and visitation?  I would be nervous having a person around my child that speaks of having the mob after him for gambling debts.  I realize it was a few years ago but colorful characters who speak of beating the maternal grandmother, drugs and gambling debts might be enough to raise the red flags of the Hoppy camp.

[biakbiak]

I am wondering about the timeline of Bethenny reaching out to John, she said it was two years ago but the first time they manage to meet is when she is filing this show again? I wonder if she tried to get him to do a very special episode of her talk show but it didn't work, I think she needs to do so many of these things on camera.

[LotusFlower]

I don't know what's more surprising -  the fact that so many people here would not sign something their spouse prepared without having a lawyer review it, or by how many people here think Bethenny is incapable of making a mistake.

You're applying the present onto the past, which is why you're calling the signing of the trust a "mistake." When they put the apt. In the trust and named Jason as trustee, they were happily married ("happily" being relative, of course), and the legal measures they took as a wealthy married couple were fairly standard, and even smart.

[LotusFlower]

Having an attorney look over a trust isn't just because you think there's deception. You want the trust to follow all fo the rules and procedures so that it wont be declared void. I definitely would have an attorney look over something like that.

I'm a little confused about the attorneys' role in this, but if the trust has now been invalidated because of improper legal procedures, wasn't that a joint mistake that both Bethenny and Jason made? And isn't the so-called mistake now benefitting Bethenny?

[LotusFlower]

That is my impression. I was speaking more generally as to why one may have wanted to consult an attorney in this situaiton.

Oh of course. Bethenny and Jason aren't lawyers, and trust documents are pretty dry and technical, so they undoubtedly had lawyers draw up the paperwork and advise them. Obviously, something went wrong (leading to the voided trust), but I guess my point was that is was a screw-up that they made as a married couple, and now that they're divorcing and fighting over the apt., it's a screw-up that is legally benefitting Bethenny. It's Jason that has to be kicking himself over this, not Bethenny.

[WireWrap]

Has Beth ever discussed her mom's hospitalization? I didn't know she was hospitalized until this episode. I assume it was for the suicide attempt?

 

Also, I'm still confused by Sonja's comment re: "projecting." Has Beth ever discussed drug use? Because that is the vibe I'm getting re: Sonja's situation.

IMO, just mine, Sonja was referring to Bethenny being unhappy/seeking therapy. According to Sonja's mind, Bethenny is projecting her unhappiness and her need for Therapy onto her, Sonja.  JMO

[Celia Rubenstein]

You're applying the present onto the past, which is why you're calling the signing of the trust a "mistake." When they put the apt. In the trust and named Jason as trustee, they were happily married ("happily" being relative, of course), and the legal measures they took as a wealthy married couple were fairly standard, and even smart.

 

 

I did not mean that Bethenny made a mistake trusting her husband Jason to be trustee at that point.  I meant that she made a mistake signing something she either didn't read herself and truly understand, or have a lawyer look over and explain to her.  Because that document (at least according to ROL) created a situation that allowed Jason to stay in the apartment because he was trustee.  That is a really weird trustee situation if true, and I think if she had flown that paperwork in front of a lawyer she might never have signed it.  That is the mistake I think she made.  Not getting legal advice to understand the implications of her signing.  

 

That is the issue being discussed when I made my post, whether or not Bethenny was capable of making such a mistake.  

[missy jo]

I'm still confused by Sonja's comment re: "projecting."

 

 

This week, I'm not sure, but last week in Atlantic City she seemed to be referring to Beth's fucked-up family relationships, whereas according to Sonja, she has good relationships with her own family and B was projecting.

 

And I shortened her name twice and I don't care!

[Celia Rubenstein]

She's not going to come here and read this. Even if she did, she wouldn't give a fuck.

 

I don't think she is coming here either.  She's too busy.  I actually think we are far more likely to be joined by Carole.  She likes to haunt Wikipedia editing people's profiles late at night.  I wouldn't be surprised to learn she was secretly posting here at PTV.  Instead of writing her book like she ought to be! 

 

Naming Jason as sole trustee gave him zero proprietary rights. The role of a trustee is a fiduciary one only, so Jason staying in the apt. is instead a result of the two still being married, and either co-owning the property together, or Jason exploiting NY state law on couples and properties (as explained upthread).

 

Yes, that has been pointed out before.  As has the idea that ROL's facts may be off.  That is why I said "at least according to ROL" and "if true." 

 

And if you believe Bethenny signed something she didn't understand, or without lawyer involvement, I've got a vat of Fabellini to sell you!

 

We all have our opinions, each equally valid.  But thanks for the offer.  I'll stick with my Ramona Pinot. 

[LotusFlower]

Yes, that has been pointed out before.  As has the idea that ROL's facts may be off.  That is why I said "at least according to ROL" and "if true."

Radar's interpretation of the trust documents were not true. No question.

[BlackMamba]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZUq6N7Gx1c

Everyone needs to chill out. Commercial break courtesy of New Edition.

Omg this was music

[LilaFowler]

I don't think she's had any work done on her face (recently) but I think being so underweight at her age is really having a negative effect on her face.

[AuntieDiane6]

 

 

QUOTE

Her father was wealthy, her mother is middle class and she went to a private boarding school in Florida.  She might have been starved for attention, but she wasn't starved for money.

Having money does not preclude emotional damage/abusive relationships. "She had money so she needs to shut up" is a line of reasoning that invalidates any anyone who had abusive toxic relationships but also weren't poor.

 

Of course not.  But often when people are obsessed with money it's because they were poor as children and that isn't the case with Bethen. 

[OhGromit]

I think it's because there's no one in the world to support her financially if she doesn't do it herself.  She really is all on her own.  I know how scary that feels.  So... it's fear.  Also, she has trouble maintaining intimate relationships, which has to add to her general sense of isolation, which means she feels even more afraid.  

[sleekandchic]

I think it's because there's no one in the world to support her financially if she doesn't do it herself. She really is all on her own. I know how scary that feels. So... it's fear. Also, she has trouble maintaining intimate relationships, which has to add to her general sense of isolation, which means she feels even more afraid.

I think your observations are astute and poignant, OhGromit, but I've never believed that Bethenny has no one in the world to whom she can turn financially. Bethenny has always had fruitful, and wealthy, connections.

Just from memory: (1) in the first seasons of RHNYC, she lived in a small co-op. We learned later that the property was owned by either her stepdad or dad, and B's rent/fees were subsidized by him. In NYC, that's a lot of money. (2) B appeared as a contestant on Martha Stewart's Apprentice, and at the end of the intro show, one of Martha's cojudges (a successful businessman) appeared to say that in the interest of full disclosure, he needed to say that he and B knew each other. I think his daughter and B had been school roommates, and were still friends?...also in that show, Tommy Hilfiger was also a principal, and B and Tommys daughter or wife were friends. (3) I have no idea how Warren Lichtenstein, gazillionaire, first began his friendship with B, but they remain tight even today, and he was a guiding force and advisor behind the Jim Beam deal. B moved in with him for awhile in the early days of the breakup with Hoppy. (4) During the reports of Bobby Frankel's memorial service, very big names were listed as friends and attendees. Joe Torre, former NY Yankees manager, gave a eulogy for his friend. Bethenny also spoke.

During the first or second season of RH I remember B's struggles to succeed and an interesting TH she gave. Paraphrasing, she said it was humiliating to go on her ski vacations to Aspen and need to sleep on friends' sofas. She could not afford her own home or hotel, she said, and that's what she was working toward. It's my experience that regular ski vacations in Aspen are for people of means. Those vacays cost a lot.

Bethenny is driven, absolutely, and she deserves a world of credit for her hustle. But, IMO, she's not a self-made, come from nothing person. She's had plenty of financial support and, maybe more important, family and family friends and acquaintances with important connections to get doors opened for the type of opportunities that average, middle-class people seldom get.

I do agree 100% with your last sentence though, and I think she believes herself a Lone Wolf, always on the defensive. But it's more a mindset and personality trait than a truth, imo. :)

Edited May 21, 2015 by sleekandchic

[LotusFlower]

During the first or second season of RH I remember B's struggles to succeed and an interesting TH she gave. Paraphrasing, she said it was humiliating to go on her ski vacations to Aspen and need to sleep on friends' sofas. She could not afford her own home or hotel, she said, and that's what she was working toward.

Think about that sentence, though. Do you really feel sorry for someone who's lamenting how embarrassing it was to sleep on a friend's couch on a fancy ski vacation in Aspen? I don't know if that's an oxymoron, but it's something! Now if she talked about hardships in her daily life, that's one thing, but a ski vacation in Aspen? What's next - how hard it was for her to fix her own up-do in Gstaad? I don't even want to think about the smoky eye shadow....