Bethenny Frankel: Skinny Girl

[shoegal]

 

One thing that has always bothered me about Bethenny story of her growing up is she talks about being five years old her stepfather dragging her mother down the hallway and striking her with a half moon shaped phone and then hearing them have sex.  First off, Bethenny  would have been five in 1975,  there were no cordless phones and certainly not any half moon shaped cordless phones, so that would mean he either ripped the phone out of the wall or perhaps the image is an amalgamation of various disputes between the two..  The other thing that bothered me- five year olds do not know what sex sounds are.   She may have heard her mother and step-father in the other room but as a five year old she would not be conscious of what sex noises were or what sex is.  I believe it is a conclusion she arrived at later or her mother told her.  So her having difficulty having sex with men because of what she saw is maybe an excuse.   When Bethenny recalls incidents I think she, like so many others, may have distorted memories.  The difference is most people, including celebrities don't find the need to talk about them and put them in a public forum.  Certainly one of Bethenny's many charms is to view a situation and put an exaggerated or humorous twist on it during her testimonials.  Maybe that is the defense mechanism she developed  as a result of a dysfunctional childhood.

According to Bethenny, she was 14 when this incident occurred, not five.

[ZoloftBlob]

Also, if she was five, really? The takeway here is to doubt her story about why she has difficulty having sex because five year olds don't know what sex sounds like?

[WireWrap]

As much as I dislike seeing her tv therapy sessions, I can say for sure that therapy can take a lot of time. There are often many variables.

 

ETA: Agree that she sometimes seems like she's five --people can and do get "stuck" emotionally at certain ages. I feel sad for her about that.

Except, she is not in therapy outside the show, it sees she only goes to therapy when there are camera crews filming her. Those scenes with Dr A, are for the show only, they are not real.

[Jel]

Do we know for sure she's not in therapy outside the show? 

[WireWrap]

Do we know for sure she's not in therapy outside the show? 

That first appointment therapy, this season, she stated that he had not been in any therapy since she last saw him on her BEA show. Now, she just could be saying that about seeing him but I will take her at/on her own words. IMO, if Bethenny was getting serious therapy, she would not be using the same old song and dance routine yet again this season.  JMO

[zoeysmom]

According to Bethenny, she was 14 when this incident occurred, not five.

So why did Amador say what is a 5 year old to do?  Bethenny relates much of this back to being 5 years old.  That is what made her angry in his office.  I don't doubt Bethenny saw some horrendous arguments I just don't think that the arguments are the source for every problem she has in life. It is also strange she only seems to be in therapy with Amador when she is filming or co-authoring a book with him.

Edited June 15, 2015 by zoeysmom

[Jel]

That first appointment therapy, this season, she stated that he had not been in any therapy since she last saw him on her BEA show. Now, she just could be saying that about seeing him but I will take her at/on her own words. IMO, if Bethenny was getting serious therapy, she would not be using the same old song and dance routine yet again this season.  JMO

Ah, I didn't remember she'd said to Dr TeeveeTherapy that she she hadn't been in therapy.  Thanks for the reminder.

 

I agree that she could just be saying that. If she's having real, private therapy she might want to keep that mum.

[shoegal]

So why did Amador say what is a 5 year old t do?  Bethenny relates much of this back to being 5 years old.  That is what made her angry in his office.  I don't doubt Bethenny saw some horrendous arguments I just think that the arguments are the source for every problem she has in life.  t is also strange she only seems to be in therapy with Amador when she is filming r co-authoring a book with him.

I believe the issue with her being five is that is when her mother and biological father had their blowout which resulted in Bethenny losing her relationship with her father.

Bethenny clearly states at the lunch with Terri before meeting John that she was 14 when John beat her mother with the phone (because he caught her cheating) and then drags her down the hall and they have sex.

[zoeysmom]

Also, if she was five, really? The takeway here is to doubt her story about why she has difficulty having sex because five year olds don't know what sex sounds like?

I doubt her issues with men are solely because of what she heard between her mother and stepfather.  Walk into a kindergarten class and make sex noises and see how many kids say, "oh those are sex noises."    Kids aren't aware of sex at that age, or should not be.   I believe Adrienne's Maloof's psychologist told she and Paul the time to tell their twins about the surrogacy was after the age of 10, instead of Brandi releasing it for the world to know at age five. 

[Celia Rubenstein]

One thing that has always bothered me about Bethenny story of her growing up is she talks about being five years old her stepfather dragging her mother down the hallway and striking her with a half moon shaped phone and then hearing them have sex.  First off, Bethenny  would have been five in 1975,  there were no cordless phones and certainly not any half moon shaped cordless phones, so that would mean he either ripped the phone out of the wall or perhaps the image is an amalgamation of various disputes between the two..  

 

 

This is a picture of what is called a "donut phone."  They were the totally mod thing to have in the 70's.  Gotta love that Harvest Gold color.  

 

 

 

I don't think a guy who would beat a woman with a telephone in front of her own daughter would have many qualms about ripping it from the wall to do so.

[zoeysmom]

I believe the issue with her being five is that is when her mother and biological father had their blowout which resulted in Bethenny losing her relationship with her father.

Bethenny clearly states at the lunch with Terri before meeting John that she was 14 when John beat her mother with the phone (because he caught her cheating) and then drags her down the hall and they have sex.

Well according to Bernadette, she left Bethenny's father when Bethenny was two because he was physically abusive.  Bethennny said John came into her mother's life when she was four.  I think Bethnny told Terri the sory when they were fourteen and in boarding school. 

[shoegal]

Well according to Bernadette, she left Bethenny's father when Bethenny was two because he was physically abusive. Bethennny said John came into her mother's life when she was four. I think Bethnny told Terri the sory when they were fourteen and in boarding school.

Bethenny clearly says the incident happened when she was 14. It's in the episode "Family Matters" I have it on DVR and just re watched it.

Direct quote "they never thought I was a child, like, at 14 I was watching my mother get the shit beat out of her with a telephone...."

Edited June 15, 2015 by shoegal

[Ellee]

I've spent more time here today than I really should have.  I have to say that I appreciate reading all of the comments made so thank you everyone.  :D

[Lisin]

Hey Gang! It has been pointed out to me that we already have a Bethenny and Jason Divorce Showdown thread (thank you eagle eyed poster!) which had dropped off of the first page, I've pinned it so we all remember it exists. Lets start using that now for the divorce talk and keep this thread to just talking about Bethenny herself. I'll try to clean up this thread and move posts when I can so if you're looking for something here and can't find it it's likely because it was moved. Thanks again! 

[zoeysmom]

Bethenny clearly says the incident happened when she was 14. It's in the episode "Family Matters" I have it on DVR and just re watched it.

Direct quote "they never thought I was a child, like, at 14 I was watching my mother get the shit beat out of her with a telephone...."

Great homework. I wonder why the shrink said she was five? Where would he have gotten that information? Maybe the mother got the shit beat out of her a lot with the telephone   I still think Bethenny needs  to move on.  She is 45 time to start living life and enjoying her daughter.  I found it odd she needed to dig up her abusive stepfather.  Someday being a mom will be more important to he than being the child.  The phrase she kept repeating to John, "but  was the child" . Well now you are the parent start acting like one.

[Celia Rubenstein]

Hey Gang! It has been pointed out to me that we already have a Bethenny and Jason Divorce Showdown thread (thank you eagle eyed poster!) which had dropped off of the first page, I've pinned it so we all remember it exists. Lets start using that now for the divorce talk and keep this thread to just talking about Bethenny herself. I'll try to clean up this thread and move posts when I can so if you're looking for something here and can't find it it's likely because it was moved. Thanks again! 

 

Awesome!  

 

I just wish there was a Sherri Shepherd custody case throwdown thread over at The View.  Who do I have to beg to make that happen, Lisin?  

[LilaFowler]

Bethenny is really the one with the farbissina punim, so it was pretty funny to hear her accuse someone else of having it.  I bet she sits around and wonders why she's alone and her personal life is shit.  Farbissina punim, Beth.  Look in the mirror if you can stomach it.

[zoeysmom]

I noticed a speech pattern with Bethenny and it reared its head again last night.  When Bethenny was in Florida she saw the guy with just a bunch of grapes over his junk and three times she stated "naked man".  LuAnn had pretty much zero reaction essentially depriving Bethenny of some clever one liner.  Last night when they went to the restaurant she mentioned racetrack a few times and NO ONE dare asked Bethenny about the reference.  f Bethenny was shipped off to boarding school when she was 15, I am thinking that was probably the last time she frequented the race track until she reconnected with her dad in California.  Bernadette and John divorced and she remarried at some point according to Bethenny perhaps when she was 18 or 19.

 

I remember in early seaso she would repeat herself in order to get a reaction.  Just interesting this year there are no takers.

[KFC]

The thing about Bethenny is that I don't think she realizes how much better (and entertaining) she'd be if she stopped trying to control her environment in some feeble attempt to not engage in the drama.

 

She's so much quicker on her feet than most people, she shouldn't worry about getting involved in the reality shenanigans, because chances are, her tongue is sharp she'd cut the other person to ribbons and come out looking a lot more like the girl who was fan favorite in the early seasons. Every time she tries to shut someone down this season, she just looks volatile and brittle. And while I'm sure she may be like that in real life, it doesn't necessarily make for the most compelling TV. I wish she'd adopt more of a Carole attitude about filming. "I'm playing a character, laugh at the nonsense, and let myself be ridiculous."

 

She's almost too aware of the cameras, and so she ends up doing herself a bigger disservice. 

 

Case in point being the Kristen conversation at AOA. I think she probably could have "won" that argument quite easily if she had just stayed and let Kristen babble her way through her grievances. I don't mind Kristen, although she's hardly the most articulate HW, so Bethenny could have easily made her look like Kelly with a few of her quick-witted retorts to Kristen's meandering complaints.

[missy jo]

Adding my two cents here about some non-episode specific Beth comments from the other thread:

 

Ironically, it's Bethenny who viewers seem to want to see less of. And it seems Andy is still fighting this. On WWHL tonight, Jackie Collins started to say that Bethenny is too on edge, and needs an intervention, and Andy shut that right down and changed the subject.

 

 

Someone needs to take one for the team and call into WWHL on the pretense of asking about something else (they pre-screen). Then drop another complaint about Beth along the lines of that early-season question that nearly made Andy piss his pants on-air.

 

According to Beth's blog, last night was the last time we will see Beth cry this season.

 

 

Hmmm ... I wonder how she knows that, considering things are often shown out of sequence?

 

Re: Heather's son Jax I am MORE than sure that Bethenny knows about their struggle with his liver transplant/hearing impairment issues. I don't see Bethenny even trying to be "kinda sorta kind" about it..even if it isn't a storyline. Bethenny just seems so much more self absorbed these days. It isn't flattering.

 

Beth is about Beth. Maybe she could contribute to a charity, if only for PR purposes.

 

So I'm wondering - with scant evidence - if there has been a Bethenny/Carole rift. She's not recognizing Bethenny, nor is Bethenny recognizing her.  Plus Bethenny's last blog was really negative about Carole - calling her out for being lazy, basically.

 

 

I'm sure the blogs and friendships are related to them now seeing the episodes on-screen. They had no idea before what would be included or what their cast mates were saying in their THs.

[SSG]

I created an account here to report an interaction I just had with Bethenny on Twitter. I thought it was hilarious that she mentioned going to Forever 21 with the Hiltons. I go there all the time despite being much older than 21 and I loved the RHOBH crossover. It reminded me of when the show was more relatable.

 

My tweet: @Bethenny Please name drop more! Talking about the Hiltons felt like vintage Housewives #RHOC

Her response: Robert Deniro told me never to name drop. Translation: shove ur negativity up yo ass.

 

I'm surprisingly bummed out by this response. I really was trying to compliment a fun moment on the show. I LOVE Bethenny and have since the first season.

 

[LotusFlower]

I created an account here to report an interaction I just had with Bethenny on Twitter. I thought it was hilarious that she mentioned going to Forever 21 with the Hiltons. I go there all the time despite being much older than 21 and I loved the RHOBH crossover. It reminded me of when the show was more relatable.

 

My tweet: @Bethenny Please name drop more! Talking about the Hiltons felt like vintage Housewives #RHOC

Her response: Robert Deniro told me never to name drop. Translation: shove ur negativity up yo ass.

 

I'm surprisingly bummed out by this response. I really was trying to compliment a fun moment on the show. I LOVE Bethenny and have since the first season.

What??!!! I'm so sorry for you. She obviously thought you were being sarcastic, and riling her for name-dropping. Sorry you got such a bitchy response. The B is Back!

[SSG]

Thanks for the sympathy, Lotus! (is it okay if I abbreviate your name? :) I can see how my comment could be read as sarcastic but I didn't think that harsh of a response was warranted!

[BeachyMum]

I created an account here to report an interaction I just had with Bethenny on Twitter. I thought it was hilarious that she mentioned going to Forever 21 with the Hiltons. I go there all the time despite being much older than 21 and I loved the RHOBH crossover. It reminded me of when the show was more relatable.

 

My tweet: @Bethenny Please name drop more! Talking about the Hiltons felt like vintage Housewives #RHOC

Her response: Robert Deniro told me never to name drop. Translation: shove ur negativity up yo ass.

 

I'm surprisingly bummed out by this response. I really was trying to compliment a fun moment on the show. I LOVE Bethenny and have since the first season.

She really tweeted that back to you?  That's awful..so sorry :(

[shoegal]

I created an account here to report an interaction I just had with Bethenny on Twitter. I thought it was hilarious that she mentioned going to Forever 21 with the Hiltons. I go there all the time despite being much older than 21 and I loved the RHOBH crossover. It reminded me of when the show was more relatable.

 

My tweet: @Bethenny Please name drop more! Talking about the Hiltons felt like vintage Housewives #RHOC

Her response: Robert Deniro told me never to name drop. Translation: shove ur negativity up yo ass.

 

I'm surprisingly bummed out by this response. I really was trying to compliment a fun moment on the show. I LOVE Bethenny and have since the first season.

This is why I stay off Twitter. Sorry you are bummed!

[LotusFlower]

Thanks for the sympathy, Lotus! (is it okay if I abbreviate your name? :) I can see how my comment could be read as sarcastic but I didn't think that harsh of a response was warranted!

No problem, and Lotus is fine! (Are you sure you're a Bethenny fan? She doesn't like names shortened! :) )

Yes, that was a really harsh response. I hate Twitter, but I'm a nobody, so who cares. At the risk of sounding like Kim Richards, social media can be tough. I don't think you can be a reality celeb without being on Twitter, but I would try to develop tough skin or something.

[KFC]

Thanks for the sympathy, Lotus! (is it okay if I abbreviate your name? :) I can see how my comment could be read as sarcastic but I didn't think that harsh of a response was warranted!

 

Yikes, what a rude response from her. If it makes you feel any better, quite a few people replied in your defense, so maybe she'll realize her tightly wound self took the comment all wrong.

[SSG]

Has anyone noticed what Heather has called Bethenny since then? Does she break out the mama? Probably just avoids saying anything.

[SCS]

yo ass.

 .

Heh, is that what she wrote back: Yo ass? Yo ass!? Gracious, Beth, you raving loon, you'd best watch your vernacular -- someone might think you're trying to sound like ... Heather.

[missy jo]

Translation: shove ur negativity up yo ass.

 

 

Sounds like from the other comments here, that this text was part of her Tweet?! What in the fuck ...

[SSG]

The translation part was the second sentence of her response. I don't know, maybe she was joking and I'm being too sensitive. This is the first time a celebrity has actually interacted with me on twitter, usually I make my dumb comments to non Housewife followers. Toes before hoes!

[shoegal]

The translation part was the second sentence of her response. I don't know, maybe she was joking and I'm being too sensitive. This is the first time a celebrity has actually interacted with me on twitter, usually I make my dumb comments to non Housewife followers. Toes before hoes!

Just tweet back "Get off my jock!!!"

[SCS]

The translation part was the second sentence of her response. I don't know, maybe she was joking and I'm being too sensitive. This is the first time a celebrity has actually interacted with me on twitter, usually I make my dumb comments to non Housewife followers. Toes before hoes!

FWIW, I don't think you're being too sensitive. I do think, somewhere in NYC, Jill Zarin is hosting viewing parties and greatly enjoying the spectacle that Beth has become.

[shoegal]

FWIW, I don't think you're being too sensitive. I do think, somewhere in NYC, Jill Zarin is hosting viewing parties and greatly enjoying the spectacle that Beth has become.

And Ginger and Allie are the only ones who showed up.

*joke!!!

Edited June 18, 2015 by shoegal

[WireWrap]

And Ginger and Allie are the only ones who showed up.

*joke!!!

What about Bawbbbiiiiieeeee, how did he get out of it? LOL

[SCS]

What about Bawbbbiiiiieeeee, how did he get out of it? LOL

Poor Bawbee-- hasn't he suffered enough?

[SSG]

I can't wait for Jill to respond to Brian Moylan's saga of her trying to get revenge on the Real Housewives/Bethenny http://www.vulture.com/2015/06/real-housewives-of-new-york-city-recap-season-7-episode-11.html

 

 

[WireWrap]

I can't wait for Jill to respond to Brian Moylan's saga of her trying to get revenge on the Real Housewives/Bethenny http://www.vulture.com/2015/06/real-housewives-of-new-york-city-recap-season-7-episode-11.html

His little JZ story at the end of each NY recap is gold, GOLD I TELL YEA! LOL

[Celia Rubenstein]

SSG, sorry you were treated that way. I could tell you weren't trying to be insulting.

Jeez, why even bother to respond to someone's tweet if you are just going to tell them to shove it up their so and so? That's just stupid.

Edited June 18, 2015 by Celia Rubenstein

[beesknees]

Actually, an ex refusing to move out and becoming increasingly difficult and threatening to live with is an indicater that bad behavior was escalating. Did Jason and his dad previously hang out in their underpants before the divorce? Or did they start that little habit when the divorce began? Was it coupled with other passive aggressive behavior like cranking the tv up and stealing the remote? Suddenly becoming slovenly and refusing to flush the toilet? Leaving dirty dishes around? 

 

It always seems to get presented as:

"Jason forgot to flush the toilet and Bethenny divorced him! How silly she is!"

or

"He was in his own home once in boxer shorts and Bethenny needs to get over it"

or

"He took the remote, poor Bethenny, maybe she should just get off her dumb divorcing ass and change the channel and thank precious Jason for the opportunity"

 

When if you look at all these cutesy passive aggressive behaviors together, yes, Jason was being a nasty bastard. Not worthy of custody? No... but I would question how he'd react to Bryn ticking him off (and frankly I question how Bethenny will handle that as well)

 

As to the "ex refusing to move out of the apartment" statement I suspect it was Jason's attorneys that told him not to move out, to stay in the residence.  My attorney told me the same during my divorce.  And I wanted to move out.  My ex and I lived in a much smaller space than Jason and Bethenny did.

[zoeysmom]

I created an account here to report an interaction I just had with Bethenny on Twitter. I thought it was hilarious that she mentioned going to Forever 21 with the Hiltons. I go there all the time despite being much older than 21 and I loved the RHOBH crossover. It reminded me of when the show was more relatable.

 

My tweet: @Bethenny Please name drop more! Talking about the Hiltons felt like vintage Housewives #RHOC

Her response: Robert Deniro told me never to name drop. Translation: shove ur negativity up yo ass.

 

I'm surprisingly bummed out by this response. I really was trying to compliment a fun moment on the show. I LOVE Bethenny and have since the first season.

Geez that was harsh.  I guess Bethenny has too many fans.

[missy jo]

The translation part was the second sentence of her response.

 

 

Wow, just wow. Way to make fans, Beth!

[BlackMamba]

Ghastly Looking Simon throwing his shade from down under

Basically The B is Back but the ratings aren't

Edited June 19, 2015 by BlackMamba

[FaithsMum]

Simon still desperately trying to clutch onto his fifteen minutes there...

[Celia Rubenstein]

Is Simon seriously trying to suggest Alex's absence is responsible for the decline in ratings?  Pull-eaze.

 

If things went downhill after anyone left, it had more to do with the departure of Jill Zarin than anything. 

 

Bethenny was much more likable with Jill as a sidekick, and if either Jill or someone "like her" had been brought back with Bethenny, I think it would have went much better.  Alone, Bethenny is just ... too much.  She needs someone to play off of.  Someone to be shown setting her straight. Her edges are way too rough without an Ethel to her Lucy. 

[Crikey]

Is Simon seriously trying to suggest Alex's absence is responsible for the decline in ratings?  Pull-eaze.

 

If things went downhill after anyone left, it had more to do with the departure of Jill Zarin than anything. 

 

Bethenny was much more likable with Jill as a sidekick, and if either Jill or someone "like her" had been brought back with Bethenny, I think it would have went much better.  Alone, Bethenny is just ... too much.  She needs someone to play off of.  Someone to be shown setting her straight. Her edges are way too rough without an Ethel to her Lucy. 

Never thought of that but it makes sense!  

[Gam2]

Check out the "pagesix" site. Apparently, the "Hugh Hefner of the Hamptons" has chartered a yacht to the Galapagos Islands with a bevy of beautiful women. B is one of them. Guess she COULD actually take some time away from her peanut to be on a yacht with these upstanding folks. Give me a break, B. 

[Gam2]

That's just one of her many problems. She's seriously deranged and the saddest part is that she'll mess her child up like she's been messed up unless Jason and his family can balance that out. His parents seem like very down to earth, reasonable people who may be this child's saving grace in figuring out how to live a balanced, normal life. I know some people thought they were overly involved and maybe Jason was, in that he wanted to visit them a lot on weekends. But children need extended family involvement and love and attention. Our family is very close but we've learned how to stay close but not to interfere in our children's private lives and their parenting of their children.

[ihartcoffee]

Bethenny seems to be losing it.

Beth's problem is that she's fucking hangry all the damn time.

OMG you nailed it! That is it! She's thin as a rail, there is no way she's not hangry.

[WireWrap]

Check out the "pagesix" site. Apparently, the "Hugh Hefner of the Hamptons" has chartered a yacht to the Galapagos Islands with a bevy of beautiful women. B is one of them. Guess she COULD actually take some time away from her peanut to be on a yacht with these upstanding folks. Give me a break, B. 

Here is the link.... http://pagesix.com/2015/06/18/marc-leder-sails-to-the-galapagos-with-flock-of-women/

 

It seems that Carole and LisaH (Miami) are also on board! LOL