S08.E20: Say It Ain't So

[quaintirene]

I always thought Bethenny's 'friend' was Andy.  And I could well believe he explained to her exactly how he wanted her to tell LuAnn for maximum effect.  I really don't think that Bethenny or anyone spends her time shoving a private detective into other people's relationships.  That would leave her open to any intern from the 'tec agency outing her in Page 6 or wherever.  But I reckon that bartenders etc in NY--especially bartenders given what I've heard about his proclivity for being the last drunk guy left in the bar--know that Andy is interested in gossip and almost certainly pays for it.  Bethenny isn't everyone's cup of tea.  I like her but I get why other people don't.  But even if she was the most evil bitch on the planet she would know that telling LuAnn this stuff isn't gonna make her any friends on or off the show.  I don't think she had a choice.  I don't think she enjoyed it.  She knew how vulnerable she would be to the other women on the Reunion over this. 

[ElDosEquis]

2 hours ago, Ellee said:

 

Comment by me.  Lol, I usually pick on LuLu.  Decided it was Bethenny's turn.  And, yes, supposedly two McDonald's locations in KY had wormy hamburgers.  Like anything these days, who knows if it is true.      

KY?

The state or the jelly?

-------------

"And we all can go on vacation and Drink Responsibly".

IF CA legalizes pot, can we look forward to "skinny weed", too?

A small observation about her brand and packaging?

I am not a graphic artist, but I could wipe my ass and probably get a better logo than that "skanky girl" silhouette!

[KungFuBunny]

1 hour ago, ElDosEquis said:

KY?

The state or the jelly?

-------------

"And we all can go on vacation and Drink Responsibly".

IF CA legalizes pot, can we look forward to "skinny weed", too?

A small observation about her brand and packaging?

I am not a graphic artist, but I could wipe my ass and probably get a better logo than that "skanky girl" silhouette!

RorschitzBoy?

Cheater Brand!!!!

[HumblePi]

16 hours ago, breezy424 said:

Sorry but very knowledgeable people do things that can adversely affect their health.  Life isn't that simple.   If it were,  there would be no high blood pressure, a lot less cancer, high cholesterol,  obesity, etc., etc.  And that includes health professionals.

I don't think anyone is in a position to declare that a person has forgotten more than she/he ever knew unless they have full personal knowledge of that person's capabilities.  It's easy to condemn when you're not in that situation.  It's the 'you need to quit smoking'.  Well, if you're going to go there,  'you need to lose 50 pounds'.   Some smokers never get COPD or cancer and some overweight people never get diabetes, etc. 

I WAS "in that situation".  I gave up smoking after having that habit for most of my life and no, it wasn't easy. AND, I'm a nurse and should have known better but it's a habit and one that's not easy to break for some.  So chill out and stop taking issue with every word I used.  She's 51 years old and still has a lot of years to live, IF she stops the cancer sticks.

[zoeysmom]

3 hours ago, quaintirene said:

I always thought Bethenny's 'friend' was Andy.  And I could well believe he explained to her exactly how he wanted her to tell LuAnn for maximum effect.  I really don't think that Bethenny or anyone spends her time shoving a private detective into other people's relationships.  That would leave her open to any intern from the 'tec agency outing her in Page 6 or wherever.  But I reckon that bartenders etc in NY--especially bartenders given what I've heard about his proclivity for being the last drunk guy left in the bar--know that Andy is interested in gossip and almost certainly pays for it.  Bethenny isn't everyone's cup of tea.  I like her but I get why other people don't.  But even if she was the most evil bitch on the planet she would know that telling LuAnn this stuff isn't gonna make her any friends on or off the show.  I don't think she had a choice.  I don't think she enjoyed it.  She knew how vulnerable she would be to the other women on the Reunion over this. 

Andy is all about the gossip.  He called Luann up after friends of his spotted Luann having dinner with Hugh Grant and two others.  He then ran with it as a story. 

Andy said something interesting about Bethenny when he was on some radio show other than his own, he mentioned that Bethenny can be aggressive but knows when to stop.  I disagree with Andy, and the part where he claims she knows when to stop.  I think she goes too far and because she has a fan base spends a lot of time doing damage control.  Life might be easier if she didn't go so far to begin with in her rants.

I don't believe anyone was paid to keep tabs on Tom or Luann, and there are many people out there, especially if guaranteed anonymity will be pretty free with the gossip.  I think there are those out there that engage Luann, Ramona, Sonja and Dorinda in gossip.  It is more what they do with it, and how they use it that reflects the kind of person they are. 

[WireWrap]

22 minutes ago, zoeysmom said:

Andy is all about the gossip.  He called Luann up after friends of his spotted Luann having dinner with Hugh Grant and two others.  He then ran with it as a story. 

Andy said something interesting about Bethenny when he was on some radio show other than his own, he mentioned that Bethenny can be aggressive but knows when to stop.  I disagree with Andy, and the part where he claims she knows when to stop.  I think she goes too far and because she has a fan base spends a lot of time doing damage control.  Life might be easier if she didn't go so far to begin with in her rants.

I don't believe anyone was paid to keep tabs on Tom or Luann, and there are many people out there, especially if guaranteed anonymity will be pretty free with the gossip.  I think there are those out there that engage Luann, Ramona, Sonja and Dorinda in gossip.  It is more what they do with it, and how they use it that reflects the kind of person they are. 

I don't know if anyone is "paid" to keep "tabs on" anyone or for dirt on the others but I suspect they are "rewarded" by Bethenny. I also have no problem believing/suspecting that she let it be known that she wants info/dirt at the various bars the others favor the most. IMO, Bethenny doesn't leave things to chance and likes to keep her ammo of dirt fully stocked and at the ready at all times to be flung at them by her.

[ElDosEquis]

1 hour ago, WireWrap said:

I don't know if anyone is "paid" to keep "tabs on" anyone or for dirt on the others but I suspect they are "rewarded" by Bethenny. I also have no problem believing/suspecting that she let it be known that she wants info/dirt at the various bars the others favor the most. IMO, Bethenny doesn't leave things to chance and likes to keep her ammo of dirt fully stocked and at the ready at all times to be flung at them by her.

A case of watermelon 'boone's farm', some skinny girl granola bars and a signed copy of her book?

3 hours ago, KungFuBunny said:

RorschitzBoy?

Cheater Brand!!!!

Damn, that looks suspiciously like the New Jersey Devil!!!!

(no, not the hockey team....)

[quaintirene]

However being the one who tells a woman that her brand-new fiancé cheated on her about 2 minutes after they got engaged doesn't make you any friends, and Bethenny's no fool.  She knows that.  Everyone knows that.  The messenger always gets shot in this circumstance.  Which is probably why no one told Ramona about Mario even though it was all over town.  I still think Bethenny wasn't given a choice here.  Tom...er...screwed up.  I'm certain the pix went to Andy--which is why B wouldn't really say much beyond it was 'a friend' because you can't break the wall.  And Bethenny was given the info and told to make it a big event for the season finale which would bleed into the reunion. Andy Cohen doesn't take any prisoners. 

 

Also I can't believe I'm saying this.  But I really am liking Carole this season...(hangs head).

Edited August 29, 2016 by quaintirene

[WireWrap]

45 minutes ago, quaintirene said:

However being the one who tells a woman that her brand-new fiancé cheated on her about 2 minutes after they got engaged doesn't make you any friends, and Bethenny's no fool.  She knows that.  Everyone knows that.  The messenger always gets shot in this circumstance.  Which is probably why no one told Ramona about Mario even though it was all over town.  I still think Bethenny wasn't given a choice here.  Tom...er...screwed up.  I'm certain the pix went to Andy--which is why B wouldn't really say much beyond it was 'a friend' because you can't break the wall.  And Bethenny was given the info and told to make it a big event for the season finale which would bleed into the reunion. Andy Cohen doesn't take any prisoners. 

 

Also I can't believe I'm saying this.  But I really am liking Carole this season...(hangs head).

The producers can't force any of them to say squat about something they don't want to talk about or do. Bethenny loved doing this, she didn't hesitate for 1 minute other than dragging out finally telling Luann. No one said anything to Ramona on camera because they all have compassion, that can not be said about Bethenny.

Edited August 30, 2016 by WireWrap

[zoeysmom]

20 minutes ago, quaintirene said:

However being the one who tells a woman that her brand-new fiancé cheated on her about 2 minutes after they got engaged doesn't make you any friends, and Bethenny's no fool.  She knows that.  Everyone knows that.  The messenger always gets shot in this circumstance.  Which is probably why no one told Ramona about Mario even though it was all over town.  I still think Bethenny wasn't given a choice here.  Tom...er...screwed up.  I'm certain the pix went to Andy--which is why B wouldn't really say much beyond it was 'a friend' because you can't break the wall.  And Bethenny was given the info and told to make it a big event for the season finale which would bleed into the reunion. Andy Cohen doesn't take any prisoners. 

 

Also I can't believe I'm saying this.  But I really am liking Carole this season...(hangs head).

I believe if Bethenny would have handled it discretely and expeditiously, it would have been a non-issue.  She might have been a hero.  Obviously the time to tell Luann would have 10 am Thursday morning, before the engagement party.  Or if Bethenny wasn't comfortable without a second confirmation, upon Luann's arrival in Miami, so she could have headed back to Palm Beach to address it.  Bethenny should have told Luann first, even before the producers, if in fact the info came via the producers, then it kind of changes the game.  I think at this point Bethenny is trying to reduce her involvement by having some ridiculous tag line: "Would you want to know?"  It was far more complicated than Bethenny is putting out there.  Let's brand Luann's pain.

Ramona had plenty of on air warning about Mario screwing around from Season 1-she didn't want to know.  I would put her in the "NO" box of the, Would you to know?, question for Ramona.  She didn't want know, she didn't want it to be true and she didn't want her marriage to end.  Her marriage was as open as Luann's the difference being Ramona didn't want to acknowledge the obvious.  To me, that isn't what makes Ramona a rude, ignorant lunatic, it is her refusal to draw on her feelings and acknowledge there are situations contrary to Bethenny's rules.

I am of the thought, although tawdry and cheap to be kissing some woman, it doesn't rise to out and out sex.  Tom wasn't caught sneaking into a hotel room, or impregnating someone, he was maybe drunk and totally inappropriate.  I can't honestly say it would be a relationship ender, especially with the wedding 10 months away.  I do think Tom has to absolutely make a cut from his previous single life.  he and Luann need to define their rules.  That would u=include not having the Count at the wedding. or Tom having "harmless" contact with all the women he loved before.  Counseling is the key here and boundaries.

Carole is great until she writes a blog or does her talking heads.

[breezy424]

5 hours ago, zoeysmom said:

Andy is all about the gossip.  He called Luann up after friends of his spotted Luann having dinner with Hugh Grant and two others.  He then ran with it as a story. 

Andy said something interesting about Bethenny when he was on some radio show other than his own, he mentioned that Bethenny can be aggressive but knows when to stop.  I disagree with Andy, and the part where he claims she knows when to stop.  I think she goes too far and because she has a fan base spends a lot of time doing damage control.  Life might be easier if she didn't go so far to begin with in her rants.

I don't believe anyone was paid to keep tabs on Tom or Luann, and there are many people out there, especially if guaranteed anonymity will be pretty free with the gossip.  I think there are those out there that engage Luann, Ramona, Sonja and Dorinda in gossip.  It is more what they do with it, and how they use it that reflects the kind of person they are. 

Like Wire said,  I think there are people who have been 'informed' that if they 'see' something they'll be rewarded. Do they have Beth's cell number?  Nah.  They call or text to one of Beth's people (aka PR people).  With that said though, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Beth did have 'people' to keep tabs on the other housewives.

Andy also said on WWHL that there is a vulnerability to Beth.  Um, not so much for me.  Bottom line for me is that Andy isn't all that insightful.  He's all about making 'the show' and making a buck.  All he has talked about is the 'epic' episodes and series finale.  Not one word about Lu and what she was dealing with. 

Despite what people may think, he didn't create the housewives series. 

[Celia Rubenstein]

On 8/25/2016 at 6:58 AM, Yours Truly said:

I cant

 

3 hours ago, breezy424 said:

Figure out how

 

3 hours ago, breezy424 said:

To get rid of these boxes

 

5 hours ago, zoeysmom said:

On my kindle

So I am posting this to make them go the hell AWAY

[Alonzo Mosely FBI]

12 hours ago, zoeysmom said:

 

Carole is great until she writes a blog or does her talking heads.

Or chews.

[shoegal]

On 8/28/2016 at 8:40 AM, NewDigs said:

I would think that a bartender in a place like the Regency would even go so far as to ask patrons to refrain from taking pix of people not in their party.

And I'm astonished, astonished!, I tell ya', that the catch-someone-off and take-a-picture practice is considered good fun. Seems mean-spirited and kind of nasty.

Like Bethy!

I doubt the bartender even noticed the picture taking, that's the thing with camera phones, you can't really tell if someone is on their phone or taking a photo.....and when you are out in public, pretty much everyone around you has a camera on them and the ability to take photos/video/live stream your every move to millions of people around the world.  There are instances when this is nasty, mean spirited and wrong.  I'm thinking specifically of the incident where a woman snapchatted a photo of another woman showering in the locker room of an LA Fitness and made fun of her.  That is nasty, wrong, mean spirited and I believe, illegal.  However, in this instance, Tom was making out with his bunny in a public place, in full view of everyone at that bar.  He wasn't trying to hide anything, he had no reasonable expectation of privacy....it's not as if the photos in question were taken inside a hotel room through a window and broadcast for everyone to see.  Tom was in a public place, doing something in a very public manner....it's not surprising to me that someone in the public took notice.

It's similar to the show in general.  These ladies act a certain way, in public, knowing their actions are for public consumption.  Then we come here and ridicule, snark, criticize, vilify and otherwise make all sorts of public comments on their behavior.    Good for the goose, good for the gander IMO. 

[Yours Truly]

1 hour ago, shoegal said:

I doubt the bartender even noticed the picture taking, that's the thing with camera phones, you can't really tell if someone is on their phone or taking a photo.....and when you are out in public, pretty much everyone around you has a camera on them and the ability to take photos/video/live stream your every move to millions of people around the world.  There are instances when this is nasty, mean spirited and wrong.  I'm thinking specifically of the incident where a woman snapchatted a photo of another woman showering in the locker room of an LA Fitness and made fun of her.  That is nasty, wrong, mean spirited and I believe, illegal.  However, in this instance, Tom was making out with his bunny in a public place, in full view of everyone at that bar.  He wasn't trying to hide anything, he had no reasonable expectation of privacy....it's not as if the photos in question were taken inside a hotel room through a window and broadcast for everyone to see.  Tom was in a public place, doing something in a very public manner....it's not surprising to me that someone in the public took notice.

It's similar to the show in general.  These ladies act a certain way, in public, knowing their actions are for public consumption.  Then we come here and ridicule, snark, criticize, vilify and otherwise make all sorts of public comments on their behavior.    Good for the goose, good for the gander IMO. 

But it wasn't used for just snark.  It was deliberately used to affect the emotions of others in a very painful way.

Sure I sit with my girlfriend and snark on a mutual acquaintances selifes that are ridiculous and annoy. We PRIVATELY  gossip about her corny facebook rants sharing her lovey dovey crap about a dude we KNOW is banging this chick and the other chick and are pretty sure she knows as well but still tryna front like their rock solid. We shake our heads roll our eyes and tell each other the bish needs to stop. Needs to quit with the public display cause she's only making herself look completely stupid. What we don't do it snap pics of him with the next chic, post them on facebook and tag her cause WE are tired of the delusional display.

Reality show or no reality show. You could say Facebook is also similar to making your shit public and open for others to snark or call you out but no matter how crazy her public declarations are me and my friend who might on occasion marvel at the train wreck and titter and laugh and "oh no she didn't" WOULD NEVER take it that far. WHY? It's plain barbaric. We aren't even remotely invested in this mutual acquaintances life outside of participating in group activities/parties/celebrations among other mutual friends and only once in a while. No way in hell would we find it necessary to do this to another human being.

Ratings or no ratings.

Edited August 30, 2016 by Yours Truly

[shoegal]

Tom is the one who negatively affected another person in a hurtful way.  The person he claims (allegedly) to love.  The bottom line is, don't do shit in public you don't want publicized.  

 

ETA:  ESPECIALLY when you are engaged to someone who is on a reality show about her life!!

Edited August 30, 2016 by shoegal

[Yours Truly]

1 minute ago, shoegal said:

Tom is the one who negatively affected another person in a hurtful way.  The person he claims (allegedly) to love.  The bottom line is, don't do shit in public you don't want publicized.  

What Tom did doesn't negate anybody else's behavior.

Pain can come from different sources and in this case Lu got it from ALL angels. There's no denying it. There's deflecting it. There's ignoring it. But there's no denying it.

Plain and Simple.

[shoegal]

1 minute ago, Yours Truly said:

What Tom did doesn't negate anybody else's behavior.

Pain can come from different sources and in this case Lu got it from ALL angels. There's no denying it. There's deflecting it. There's ignoring it. But there's no denying it.

Plain and Simple.

Tom is the source of the pain.  Everything else is just a deflection.

[NewDigs]

13 minutes ago, shoegal said:

Tom is the source of the pain.  Everything else is just a deflection.

But, imho, the subsequent pile-on helped to ratchet up the pain. 

I think it was handled unnecessarily rudely and with intent to inflict more pain.

B saying otherwise does not make it so.

[shoegal]

8 minutes ago, NewDigs said:

But, imho, the subsequent pile-on helped to ratchet up the pain. 

I think it was handled unnecessarily rudely and with intent to inflict more pain.

B saying otherwise does not make it so.

Eh, I think it was handled in Real Housewives fashion.  Let's not pretend that the point of this show is for these ladies to be supportive, kind and loving towards each other....and let's not pretend that we don't know that when we choose to watch it....or that our public comments here about human beings are always kind, supportive and loving.  

I'm just not seeing the high ground, here.  

Edited August 30, 2016 by shoegal

[Yours Truly]

1 hour ago, shoegal said:

Tom is the source of the pain.  Everything else is just a deflection.

Yeah, I'm not convinced.

I'm thinking I'll stick with believing that the unnecessary furthering of humiliation on the part of some of the gals was a separate and deliberate source of ADDITIONAL pain.

I'm thinking my logic is pretty solid on this point.  So yeah I'm satisfied with my conclusions.

<shrug>

Edited August 30, 2016 by Yours Truly

[shoegal]

23 hours ago, KungFuBunny said:

Desensitization and detachment training.

Luanne is still desensitized to certain smells like shit. In case you didn’t know, Luanne is marrying a Turd on New Year’s Eve.

She decisively diagnosed that Tom suffers from ICan'tRememberItus and is monitoring his health closely. He's walking down that aisle even if she has to staple him to her like Weekend at Bernie's Bernie to her wedding gown.

LOL!  It's that bitch, Bethenny's fault.  Between the bunny and her cunning clutches and Bethenny and her paid spies, poor Tom didn't stand a chance!  

I have no doubt that Lu reeks of cigarettes and desperation.  

Edited August 30, 2016 by shoegal

[zoeysmom]

34 minutes ago, shoegal said:

Eh, I think it was handled in Real Housewives fashion.  Let's not pretend that the point of this show is for these ladies to be supportive, kind and loving towards each other....and let's not pretend that we don't know that when we choose to watch it....or that our public comments here about human beings are always kind, supportive and loving.  

I'm just not seeing the high ground, here.  

When Shannon Beador's husband had an affair, two of the others (Heather and Tamra) claimed to have known about it.  Not only did they not talk about it to her, they didn't talk about it on camera away from her.  They all knew by the time of the Reunion, stayed mum, as they saw David and Shannon were working on their relationship. 

The following season, either because they wanted their own storyline or they felt that they would discuss it when Shannon approached them, they were all supportive.  That is taking the high road-and for two of them that season, it was a mighty high road for them to take as they had been in tiffs with Shannon.   

This season three of them attended a surprise birthday party/vow renewal planned by David.  All the comments from the attendees were positive.  An excellent example of why not to get involved in others' relationship.  There is no upside to having the knowledge and bludgeoning the one who is being betrayed.

It was totally on Bethenny how she chose to handle it and the way she handled it seems to be coming off poorly. Bethenny chose to substitute her judgment about Luann and Luann's relationship for Luann's feelings.  Granted there is no absolute right or wrong way to handle a betrothed's making out in public as to continuing the relationship or breaking it off, there is  no magical formula how many days to the wedding, how many days have they been together, it all hinges on how the couple feels about each other.  it doesn't make a person better than another if they choose to go forward in their relationship, anymore than it makes a person superior if they drop kick the guy out of their life.  Had the wedding been called off, self admitted gloating Bethenny, would have been screaming it was just for a storyline.  As the days go by, and by the time this season is done airing, Tom and Luann will be seven months away from the evening of betrayal and have just a little over three months until the wedding.

Last night Vicki simultaneously expressed disbelief/anger/hurt over not being invited to the renewal ceremony and chiding it as not working out (based on her experience with Donn) and claiming David will pay for the affair for a long time.  To me, Vicki was the one who came off looking bad.  Vicki is pretty good about encouraging people to work through the bumps in their marriages, and in fact tweeted Luann support in her decision, but her anger towards David and Shannon conflicts with her norm.  It is so easy to sit outside a relationship pick it apart, talk about what one or the other is doing wrong, what one would not personally tolerate but ultimately they are the ones living it.  All the observer or even the messenger has is their public comments and reactions that define them as a person.

[KungFuBunny]

56 minutes ago, shoegal said:

LOL!  It's that bitch, Bethenny's fault.  Between the bunny and her cunning clutches and Bethenny and her paid spies, poor Tom didn't stand a chance!  

I have no doubt that Lu reeks of cigarettes and desperation.  

This is the Regency Bunny...an imposter, not to be confused with the PTV board bunny...I'm getting a complex

[shoegal]

11 minutes ago, zoeysmom said:

It is so easy to sit outside a relationship pick it apart, talk about what one or the other is doing wrong, what one would not personally tolerate but ultimately they are the ones living it. 

Of course it is and it's not as if the housewives are unaware of this phenomenon, especially Bethenny who has endured plenty of public scrutiny regarding her own marriage, which she chose to feature on the show.  LuAnn chose to feature her relationship on the show, and the public actions of her public relationship are up for public scrutiny or fodder.  Which is fun when you are going around flashing your ring at everyone and crowing I'M GETTING MARRIED, WHY CAN'T YOU BITCHES BE HAPPY FOR ME!?!?  but not so fun when your soulmate is sucking face with a playboy bunny at your favorite hangout in NY. 

IOW, you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have.....The Real Housewives!  LOL

[Celia Rubenstein]

19 minutes ago, zoeysmom said:

When Shannon Beador's husband had an affair, two of the others (Heather and Tamra) claimed to have known about it.  Not only did they not talk about it to her, they didn't talk about it on camera away from her.  They all knew by the time of the Reunion, stayed mum, as they saw David and Shannon were working on their relationship. 

It's been a while since I saw the OC, but from what I recall I don't think you can compare Shannon and David to Luann and Tom.  To start with, I don't think Shannon has inflicted nearly the grief on her fellow housewives Luann has, nor has she been a haughty phony like the countess. If anything she has been too raw and too real about her life, so there is not the resentment toward her that there is toward Luann. I don't think people are itching to bring her down.

Perhaps more importantly, she and David have been married for a long time and have kids together.  I can see why her fellow housewives would be more considerate of what she was going through.  There was a lot at stake and I don't think the other women would want to be seen as trying to tear her family apart.

Luann, on the other hand, is a snob who has dished out her share of misery and judgment and many of her cast mates are just sick of her.  There is not a lot of respect for her relationship with Tom because it seems rushed, born out of desperation, and possibly even fake.  And they are not married.  They share no children.  The two situations don't compare at all imo. 

I believe there are housewives on the OC who would have lined up to be the one who got to show Tamara pictures of Eddie drunk off his ass giving another woman a tongue bath in some bar.  So let's not act like Bethenny is the only one capable of this kind of behavior.  

 

2 minutes ago, shoegal said:

Of course it is and it's not as if the housewives are unaware of this phenomenon, especially Bethenny who has endured plenty of public scrutiny regarding her own marriage, which she chose to feature on the show.  LuAnn chose to feature her relationship on the show, and the public actions of her public relationship are up for public scrutiny or fodder.  Which is fun when you are going around flashing your ring at everyone and crowing I'M GETTING MARRIED, WHY CAN'T YOU BITCHES BE HAPPY FOR ME!?!?  but not so fun when your soulmate is sucking face with a playboy bunny at your favorite hangout in NY. 

IOW, you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have.....The Real Housewives!  LOL

Exactly.  Luann is not special.  She knows the risk of collecting that paycheck.  But she knowingly, happily shows up to have her life filmed.  She CLAMORS to have her life filmed. Fights tooth and nail for the chance, even.   So I don't feel sorry for her.  Not a bit.  At least not for what Bethenny did to her.  I feel a little sorry for Luann because she is so desperate to be on this show that she may have faked this whole story, or -even worse- she is so desperate for a man that she is settling for the walking turd known as Tom and this is probably not the first time she will have to deal with the humiliating, painful fallout of his philandering. But I don't hold that against anyone else on the show.  None of it is their fault. Any suffering Luann is going through is the result of what TOM DID and her passionate desire to be on the teevee. 

She knows where the door is, but she has dug her feet in every time she has been pushed toward it.  She wants her business on the TV that badly.  So now it is.  She got what she wanted.   

[shoegal]

16 minutes ago, Celia Rubenstein said:

Exactly.  Luann is not special.  She knows the risk of collecting that paycheck.  But she knowingly, happily shows up to have her life filmed.  She CLAMORS to have her life filmed. Fights tooth and nail for the chance, even.   So I don't feel sorry for her.  Not a bit.  At least not for what Bethenny did to her.  I feel a little sorry for Luann because she is so desperate to be on this show that she may have faked this whole story, or -even worse- she is so desperate for a man that she is settling for the walking turd known as Tom and this is probably not the first time she will have to deal with the humiliating, painful fallout of his philandering. But I don't hold that against anyone else on the show.  None of it is their fault. Any suffering Luann is going through is the result of what TOM DID and her passionate desire to be on the teevee. 

She knows where the door is, but she has dug her feet in every time she has been pushed toward it.  She wants her business on the TV that badly.  So now it is.  She got what she wanted.   

Amen, hallelujah and pour me another! 

...and PS:  maybe now she knows how Jacques felt! 

[Yours Truly]

I just shudder at the idea of being in the clutches of the women of the NY housewives coven.  Let's just hope that being on a reality show really is the ONLY magic potion that allows for such despicable behaviors to be released onto others cause it seems these behaviors are alive and well and sweeping the nation just waiting for that Reality Show Key Factor to unlock the fury bubbling from beneath all of us.

[WireWrap]

1 hour ago, shoegal said:

Of course it is and it's not as if the housewives are unaware of this phenomenon, especially Bethenny who has endured plenty of public scrutiny regarding her own marriage, which she chose to feature on the show.  LuAnn chose to feature her relationship on the show, and the public actions of her public relationship are up for public scrutiny or fodder.  Which is fun when you are going around flashing your ring at everyone and crowing I'M GETTING MARRIED, WHY CAN'T YOU BITCHES BE HAPPY FOR ME!?!?  but not so fun when your soulmate is sucking face with a playboy bunny at your favorite hangout in NY. 

IOW, you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have.....The Real Housewives!  LOL

Yes, Bethenny featured her marriage on her show, HER show being the big difference. She didn't have other HWs waiting to tear her or her marriage down for sport like she is doing to Luann. Since Bethenny has been back on the HW show, no one has gone in on her about her failed marriage or her failed talk show even though they could if they chose to. Even when Luann went off on her calling her all those names at Dorinda's party, she didn't go in for the kill with Bethenny. So, some of these women/HWs show restraint in not trying to damage/destroy the others unlike Bethenny who thinks everyone else's life is fodder for her to use against them on the show. Although, I think that will end at the reunion this season, I do think Luann goes in for the kill with Bethenny and it is about time she was exposed IMO.

[smores]

The women did keep their mouths shut (except for Ramona, and she got handslapped pretty quickly) about Luanne's kids.  So, it's not like people don't try to be considerate at all, ever.  But, I think that after Luanne's pirate excursion, she may have opened herself up to scrutiny with this.  She did ask and expect the girls to cover for the end of her marriage with Alex (and again, they mostly did at the time, except Ramona).  They kept her secrets until later, when she started talking about them after the divorce.  Then she cheats on Jacques with the pirate and tries to lie and pretend it didn't happen, despite us seeing her try to cover it up.  They pretty much leave her to deal with her own relationship.  The next year, she maybe messes with a married man and doesn't care.  But now, this happens to her, and everyone is supposed to keep yet another secret hidden for Luanne?  

I think if she hadn't had a history of messing around (pirate/maybe married guy), then it would be more of a Shannon Beador thing.  But, after that, it's hard to be "oh, you poor thing!" because she kind of did this to Jacques and maybe to some other guy's wife.  That doesn't mean she deserved for Tom to cheat on her, but, it's just a bit harder to feel she's as sympathetic a character as Shannon.  

Also, Luanne had no problems making insinuations that Mario was cheating on Ramona, ON CAMERA.  If she had pics, I don't doubt that she'd have dropped them on camera as well.  So, I'm not sure why there's this sudden pearl clutching over the fact that people are exposing Luanne's business on camera when she's been on a reality show for 8 seasons.  By now, especially after the pirate and her "what if I had a man in my bedroom?" she has to know that if there is something in your life, it will come out.

[shoegal]

20 minutes ago, WireWrap said:

Yes, Bethenny featured her marriage on her show, HER show being the big difference. She didn't have other HWs waiting to tear her or her marriage down for sport like she is doing to Luann. Since Bethenny has been back on the HW show, no one has gone in on her about her failed marriage or her failed talk show even though they could if they chose to. Even when Luann went off on her calling her all those names at Dorinda's party, she didn't go in for the kill with Bethenny. So, some of these women/HWs show restraint in not trying to damage/destroy the others unlike Bethenny who thinks everyone else's life is fodder for her to use against them on the show. Although, I think that will end at the reunion this season, I do think Luann goes in for the kill with Bethenny and it is about time she was exposed IMO.

That seems to me a distinction without a difference, the point was about public scrutiny of relationships, ones that the participants willingly choose to exploit for reality tv purposes.  And as you mention, it appears that Bethenny is not immune to being torn apart for sport as we will likely witness in the reunion.  I'm sure there are plenty of people who will relish Bethenny being knocked down a peg or two by LuAnn, because they think she deserves it.  The same way people think LuAnn has been a haughty, condescending cheating bitch that deserved to be called out and have her own shit exposed. 

Edited August 30, 2016 by shoegal

[Otherkate]

I don't get the Shannon comparison at all. Shannon was a sort of newish to them girl that they didn't have much history with at all. She was also a woman with a longterm marriage and children who were the result of said marriage. Much more akin to Lu and the Count. This is a maybe sham relationship that was all of a few weeks old and, frankly, pretty strange already. I like Lu a lot, always have, but her behavior about and with this guy has been really over the top and bizarre to me. They have no kids, they have no marriage, they didn't even have three months in for god's sake. Personally, I wouldn't be lining up to make a beeline to deliver this news (though I absolutely would deliver it), but then I'm not the type to be on a reality show. 

[Natalie68]

On 8/27/2016 at 5:45 PM, shoegal said:

They would not need a description if this person knows who Tom is, it's not impossible or unreasonable or even strange that a friend of Bethenny's would know who Tom is, and they would not need to know that Bethenny had questions about Tom to know that Tom making out with someone who was not his fiancé LuAnn would be interesting and juicy info to pass along.

IIRC, the info about leaving the bunny with the check came from the friend/picture taker/texter who was at the Regency, not the manager. 

You bolded it for me!  Lu has said she and Tom go to that place a lot.  It sounds like other HWs frequent it as well as other wealthy people of a certain age (mine and older).  I don't see how Tom was this bald man of mystery who had to be described by B to her spy paid or otherwise, for her supposed plot to take Lu down.  I don't see her going through the effort.  But I do see her enjoying the info that fell into her lap.  

If I were out and about and saw someone who I know to be engaged being inappropriate with someone other than his intended and I would send this to our mutual friend as well.  In a WTF kinda way.  They aren't close enough friends to protect each other.  You know if Lu had this in her hot little hands she would have behaved the same way.  

[Natalie68]

On 8/27/2016 at 7:07 PM, WireWrap said:

This wasn't gossiping though. This went well beyond gossip. Texting photos and taking notes for over 2 hours is nuts and it shows that someone took joy in seeing/watching this and that is just plain twisted, really twisted unless Tom/Luann did something horrid to them personally but again, had that been the case, Bethenny would have spilled those details to further/humiliate hurt Luann/Tom.

1 More thing. I thought Bethenny said that you couldn't use "secondhand info" against someone. Oh, I totally forgot, no one is allowed to use it except HER! LOL

Of course its gossip!  If Lu and Tom were not on a tv show its what I would call it.  Its what I call it even though its ON a tv show.  Someone doing something noteworthy that gets discussed and evidence sent to those that know the players.  It might not be your cuppa but it is what it is.  That is what happens when people doing shady shit get sloppy.

[WireWrap]

32 minutes ago, smores said:

The women did keep their mouths shut (except for Ramona, and she got handslapped pretty quickly) about Luanne's kids.  So, it's not like people don't try to be considerate at all, ever.  But, I think that after Luanne's pirate excursion, she may have opened herself up to scrutiny with this.  She did ask and expect the girls to cover for the end of her marriage with Alex (and again, they mostly did at the time, except Ramona).  They kept her secrets until later, when she started talking about them after the divorce.  Then she cheats on Jacques with the pirate and tries to lie and pretend it didn't happen, despite us seeing her try to cover it up.  They pretty much leave her to deal with her own relationship.  The next year, she maybe messes with a married man and doesn't care.  But now, this happens to her, and everyone is supposed to keep yet another secret hidden for Luanne?  

I think if she hadn't had a history of messing around (pirate/maybe married guy), then it would be more of a Shannon Beador thing.  But, after that, it's hard to be "oh, you poor thing!" because she kind of did this to Jacques and maybe to some other guy's wife.  That doesn't mean she deserved for Tom to cheat on her, but, it's just a bit harder to feel she's as sympathetic a character as Shannon.  

Also, Luanne had no problems making insinuations that Mario was cheating on Ramona, ON CAMERA.  If she had pics, I don't doubt that she'd have dropped them on camera as well.  So, I'm not sure why there's this sudden pearl clutching over the fact that people are exposing Luanne's business on camera when she's been on a reality show for 8 seasons.  By now, especially after the pirate and her "what if I had a man in my bedroom?" she has to know that if there is something in your life, it will come out.

What got lost here, for me at least, was not that Bethenny told Luann but how she went about it. It was intentional to maximize the hurt and humiliation Luann experienced for sport/fun, not just for the show. Yes, Luann has been an ass over the years, they all have but none of them went further than a few digs on camera, Bethenny went in to destroy Luann and, IMO, it was wrong.

27 minutes ago, shoegal said:

That seems to me a distinction without a difference, the point was about public scrutiny of relationships, ones that the participants willingly choose to exploit for reality tv purposes.  And as you mention, it appears that Bethenny is not immune to being torn apart for sport as we will likely witness in the reunion.  I'm sure there are plenty of people who will relish Bethenny being knocked down a peg or two by LuAnn, because they think she deserves it.  The same way people think LuAnn has been a haughty, condescending cheating bitch that deserved to be called out and have her own shit exposed. 

Part of me doesn't wish this on Bethenny and the other part knows it needs to be done to her just the way she does it to others. Bethenny refuses to allow her life to be used as fodder for this show and the others have respected her enough to not go there despite her doing it to them. Now she will learn a big lesson herself, "You reap what you sow", by having some of her truths exposed for the world to see and it isn't going to be pretty or easy for her. But, as I said, she needs to learn this lesson, something she should have figured out long ago.

[WireWrap]

18 minutes ago, Natalie68 said:

Of course its gossip!  If Lu and Tom were not on a tv show its what I would call it.  Its what I call it even though its ON a tv show.  Someone doing something noteworthy that gets discussed and evidence sent to those that know the players.  It might not be your cuppa but it is what it is.  That is what happens when people doing shady shit get sloppy.

I disagree, it is dirty and really disgusting to take joy/pride in revealing something like this on a TV show just because you don't like a person. Bethenny really believes she has carte blanche to say as she pleases without any blowback from the others or from the viewers and that just isn't so. Her SKG sales appear to be down from everything others here have posted, she, herself, admits this season has "hurt" her "brand", so even she knows she went too far this time because she is using excuse after excuse to explain away her awful behavior this season and none of them pass the smell test IMO.

I guess that Bethenny faced her own sloppy self at the reunion, it is rumored that Luann reveals something big about Bethenny's/Shield's relationship on camera. Bethenny never learned, You reap what you sow!

[Celia Rubenstein]

1 minute ago, WireWrap said:

I guess that Bethenny faced her own sloppy self at the reunion, it is rumored that Luann reveals something big about Bethenny's/Shield's relationship on camera. Bethenny never learned, You reap what you sow!

Taking my response over to the "Upcoming Episodes" thread

[Natalie68]

I disagree, it is dirty and really disgusting to take joy/pride in revealing something like this on a TV show just because you don't like a person. Bethenny really believes she has carte blanche to say as she pleases without any blowback from the others or from the viewers and that just isn't so. Her SKG sales appear to be down from everything others here have posted, she, herself, admits this season has "hurt" her "brand", so even she knows she went too far this time because she is using excuse after excuse to explain away her awful behavior this season and none of them pass the smell test IMO.

I guess that Bethenny faced her own sloppy self at the reunion, it is rumored that Luann reveals something big about Bethenny's/Shield's relationship on camera. Bethenny never learned, You reap what you sow!

That is what makes this board go round.  Lots of opinions.  If you think gossip is dirty than of course you think what Lu is going to reveal is equally dirty, correct?  

Lu has been a fair weather friend to all.  When she is hooked to a wallet she is very snooty, elitist, and generally unpleasant to watch/be around (her money came from men, not HER hustle which is one of the things that bugs *B I suspect).  When she is wallet-less she needs the gals to hang out with so she sucks up (purse present to B).  So perhaps B's reveal of Toms shenanigans was Lu reaping something she has sown.  They all have their moments of sucking.  B is not the bad guy here.  You may not like her method or glee but TOM is the one who did something very hurtful to Lu NOT B (where he and Lu hang out no less and were that night, if that doesn't SCREAM disrespect I don't know what does.  At least take your affair to a HoJo's off the interstate).  And it wasn't presented as a big fuck you by B.  She had the manners to at least pretend to care about spilling this info (I don't think she really did care).  It sounds like Lu is going to do it out of spite.  

*B stating she only dates people with money makes sense.  She has it and doesn't want to give away more in settlements.

[zoeysmom]

35 minutes ago, Otherkate said:

I don't get the Shannon comparison at all. Shannon was a sort of newish to them girl that they didn't have much history with at all. She was also a woman with a longterm marriage and children who were the result of said marriage. Much more akin to Lu and the Count. This is a maybe sham relationship that was all of a few weeks old and, frankly, pretty strange already. I like Lu a lot, always have, but her behavior about and with this guy has been really over the top and bizarre to me. They have no kids, they have no marriage, they didn't even have three months in for god's sake. Personally, I wouldn't be lining up to make a beeline to deliver this news (though I absolutely would deliver it), but then I'm not the type to be on a reality show. 

Simply put it is on you as the person with the knowledge how you handle the information.  It is life, there should not be score cards.  One person cheating in the past does not mean they haven't changed or their feelings about a new love are any less real.  Shannon and Tamra both had skirmishes with Shannon and both had passed along some information that was hurtful to Shannon and her marriage.  What we didn't see was a justification for their confidence breaking in that they had this information and because Shannon made them mad they would hurt her.  Whether it was for the show and they did not want to risk unfavorable exposure, or they had an inner voice saying, "I won't go there and this is a show that could go away next year or ten years from now and I would not feel good about myself," we will never know.  The important thing is they didn't do it.  I don't buy that a person feelings are greater or lesser because of the passage of time or time invested in a relationship.

Today I was walking my neighbor's dog, at noon, like I do every day to a nearby dog respite.  Before we could enter we had to wait for Pepper, to exit as she doesn't play well with other dogs.  Pepper's owner is a forty something, new to the neighborhood, school principal and the woman is her hired dog walker.  The woman stopped and told four of us waiting to go in, that Pepper's owner's fiance had passed away in January and she (the dog) had no adjusted to not having him and his dog around.  I said, "I think it is great that someone pays to have their dog walked everyday and didn't know the dog's owner had lost her fiancé, and it must be hard for her."  The 75 year old woman said, after the dog walker left, "well January was a long time ago, Pepper and the woman should be over his death."  The 85 year old woman asked if they had lived together instead of getting married.  The man asked if Pepper's owner was the black woman with the older Honda.  I went home and thought, damn some people just don't get what is important in life.

[WireWrap]

11 minutes ago, Natalie68 said:

I disagree, it is dirty and really disgusting to take joy/pride in revealing something like this on a TV show just because you don't like a person. Bethenny really believes she has carte blanche to say as she pleases without any blowback from the others or from the viewers and that just isn't so. Her SKG sales appear to be down from everything others here have posted, she, herself, admits this season has "hurt" her "brand", so even she knows she went too far this time because she is using excuse after excuse to explain away her awful behavior this season and none of them pass the smell test IMO.

I guess that Bethenny faced her own sloppy self at the reunion, it is rumored that Luann reveals something big about Bethenny's/Shield's relationship on camera. Bethenny never learned, You reap what you sow!

That is what makes this board go round.  Lots of opinions.  If you think gossip is dirty than of course you think what Lu is going to reveal is equally dirty, correct?  

Lu has been a fair weather friend to all.  When she is hooked to a wallet she is very snooty, elitist, and generally unpleasant to watch/be around (her money came from men, not HER hustle which is one of the things that bugs *B I suspect).  When she is wallet-less she needs the gals to hang out with so she sucks up (purse present to B).  So perhaps B's reveal of Toms shenanigans was Lu reaping something she has sown.  They all have their moments of sucking.  B is not the bad guy here.  You may not like her method or glee but TOM is the one who did something very hurtful to Lu NOT B (where he and Lu hang out no less and were that night, if that doesn't SCREAM disrespect I don't know what does.  At least take your affair to a HoJo's off the interstate).  And it wasn't presented as a big fuck you by B.  She had the manners to at least pretend to care about spilling this info (I don't think she really did care).  It sounds like Lu is going to do it out of spite.  

*B stating she only dates people with money makes sense.  She has it and doesn't want to give away more in settlements.

No, both were wrong, not just Tom. Tom committed the bigger offense to Luann, without a doubt but Bethenny is a close second IMO. Her glee, joy, came shining through, it was gross to watch. And sorry, this was a big "FU" to Luann from Bethenny, after all, how dare Luann dare to mention Bethenny's bf in the Berkshire's attack? LOL

[zoeysmom]

18 minutes ago, Natalie68 said:

I disagree, it is dirty and really disgusting to take joy/pride in revealing something like this on a TV show just because you don't like a person. Bethenny really believes she has carte blanche to say as she pleases without any blowback from the others or from the viewers and that just isn't so. Her SKG sales appear to be down from everything others here have posted, she, herself, admits this season has "hurt" her "brand", so even she knows she went too far this time because she is using excuse after excuse to explain away her awful behavior this season and none of them pass the smell test IMO.

I guess that Bethenny faced her own sloppy self at the reunion, it is rumored that Luann reveals something big about Bethenny's/Shield's relationship on camera. Bethenny never learned, You reap what you sow!

That is what makes this board go round.  Lots of opinions.  If you think gossip is dirty than of course you think what Lu is going to reveal is equally dirty, correct?  

Lu has been a fair weather friend to all.  When she is hooked to a wallet she is very snooty, elitist, and generally unpleasant to watch/be around (her money came from men, not HER hustle which is one of the things that bugs *B I suspect).  When she is wallet-less she needs the gals to hang out with so she sucks up (purse present to B).  So perhaps B's reveal of Toms shenanigans was Lu reaping something she has sown.  They all have their moments of sucking.  B is not the bad guy here.  You may not like her method or glee but TOM is the one who did something very hurtful to Lu NOT B (where he and Lu hang out no less and were that night, if that doesn't SCREAM disrespect I don't know what does.  At least take your affair to a HoJo's off the interstate).  And it wasn't presented as a big fuck you by B.  She had the manners to at least pretend to care about spilling this info (I don't think she really did care).  It sounds like Lu is going to do it out of spite.  

*B stating she only dates people with money makes sense.  She has it and doesn't want to give away more in settlements.

I don't think Luann has been snobby or elitist, I think she expects, and is often disappointed in a bare minimum, of some decorum.  Not women who get up and walk out of dinner parties, who have their children screaming at the top of their lungs at a holiday party, stomping out of fashion shows, fighting with their husbands in public in the middle of a tennis match.  Luann was working when she met the Count and if you are the host of the number one television show, I think it is safe to say you are probably earning a pretty decent paycheck.  It was the biggest of fuck yous presented by Bethenny-she had to apologize initially for her cavalier attitude and somewhat knowingly incorrect account of Luann's first marriage and the father of her children.  She told the others, was cutting up at the dinner table with the inside jokes, she was not the least bit gracious.

Bethenny threw down the gauntlet by saying Luann sleeps with married men.  Luann has said they didn't sleep together and the only intel is a houseboy who had is nose pushed out of shape because the women brought the guys back to the house. 

I don't think anyone cares if Bethenny only wants to date men with money, her life her decision but she shouldn't be suggesting to others who feel the same way she does, to date the bartender.  Many, many people who marry someone in a financially superior position, feel they have earned every bit of money they get when they divorce.  Bethenny should be cautious because at this point in her life she comes off as her success and money defining her.

[ElDosEquis]

29 minutes ago, Natalie68 said:

I disagree, it is dirty and really disgusting to take joy/pride in revealing something like this on a TV show just because you don't like a person. Bethenny really believes she has carte blanche to say as she pleases without any blowback from the others or from the viewers and that just isn't so. Her SKG sales appear to be down from everything others here have posted, she, herself, admits this season has "hurt" her "brand", so even she knows she went too far this time because she is using excuse after excuse to explain away her awful behavior this season and none of them pass the smell test IMO.

I guess that Bethenny faced her own sloppy self at the reunion, it is rumored that Luann reveals something big about Bethenny's/Shield's relationship on camera. Bethenny never learned, You reap what you sow!

That is what makes this board go round.  Lots of opinions.  If you think gossip is dirty than of course you think what Lu is going to reveal is equally dirty, correct?  

Lu has been a fair weather friend to all.  When she is hooked to a wallet she is very snooty, elitist, and generally unpleasant to watch/be around (her money came from men, not HER hustle which is one of the things that bugs *B I suspect).  When she is wallet-less she needs the gals to hang out with so she sucks up (purse present to B).  So perhaps B's reveal of Toms shenanigans was Lu reaping something she has sown.  They all have their moments of sucking.  B is not the bad guy here.  You may not like her method or glee but TOM is the one who did something very hurtful to Lu NOT B (where he and Lu hang out no less and were that night, if that doesn't SCREAM disrespect I don't know what does.  At least take your affair to a HoJo's off the interstate).  And it wasn't presented as a big fuck you by B.  She had the manners to at least pretend to care about spilling this info (I don't think she really did care).  It sounds like Lu is going to do it out of spite.  

*B stating she only dates people with money makes sense.  She has it and doesn't want to give away more in settlements.

Does screaming 'you are a WHOREFUCKSLUTDOLL' at someone smack of a LITTLE disrespect?

One of the most phantasmagorical thoughts is that Methenny had some altruistic, well-meaning reason to spill the beans.

I guess we can blame it on menorrhagia, fibroids, the stress of a divorce, fucking a married man, the tides, lunar cycles, motorcycles, wash cycles, smoking crack or just being raised by wolves?

[ElDosEquis]

51 minutes ago, WireWrap said:

I disagree, it is dirty and really disgusting to take joy/pride in revealing something like this on a TV show just because you don't like a person. Bethenny really believes she has carte blanche to say as she pleases without any blowback from the others or from the viewers and that just isn't so. Her SKG sales appear to be down from everything others here have posted, she, herself, admits this season has "hurt" her "brand", so even she knows she went too far this time because she is using excuse after excuse to explain away her awful behavior this season and none of them pass the smell test IMO.

I guess that Bethenny faced her own sloppy self at the reunion, it is rumored that Luann reveals something big about Bethenny's/Shield's relationship on camera. Bethenny never learned, You reap what you sow!

I love to watch people and their reactions when they get called on the carpet.

Meth LOVES to go after people when she had an audience.

But, when she gets zinged back or someone calls her on her shit?

She puts on an open-mouthed shocked look on her face, then looks at the bystander with that same look - as if to say, "did you hear what they just said to me?"

A SMART business person would get off the show and regroup - She whined that a 'tipsy girl' competitive brand was going to hurt her sales?

How's does acting like a fucking crackhead, psycho with little or no self awareness and a filthy mouth on TV help you out?

[parisprincess]

I have a question. Why does Bethenny have the luxury of having her relationship with a married man be off-limits while she calls Luann a slut and discusses the Tom story with anyone who will listen? Then she pretends she's telling Luann ON CAMERA out of concern for the woman. I believe Lu should have been told, but by a friend, not a coworker who had recently called her a whore and slut. Again, why is Beth screwing a married man O.K. and off-limits?

[ElDosEquis]

46 minutes ago, zoeysmom said:

Simply put it is on you as the person with the knowledge how you handle the information.  It is life, there should not be score cards.  One person cheating in the past does not mean they haven't changed or their feelings about a new love are any less real. 

Information is power.

And sometimes words - wielded as weapons - can really inflict TONS of hurt on a person?

It's only a 'reality show' when we watch it on TV, If someone pulled that shit on us for real?

It's a totally different feeling, eh?

[zoeysmom]

34 minutes ago, parisprincess said:

I have a question. Why does Bethenny have the luxury of having her relationship with a married man be off-limits while she calls Luann a slut and discusses the Tom story with anyone who will listen? Then she pretends she's telling Luann ON CAMERA out of concern for the woman. I believe Lu should have been told, but by a friend, not a coworker who had recently called her a whore and slut. Again, why is Beth screwing a married man O.K. and off-limits?

Bethenny of all people has complained that half the cast has half their lives off limits and it is sometimes hard to navigate.  Luann obviously was willing and able to talk, and talk she did about her personal life.  Bethenny cannot have her daughter on, or supposedly discuss her marriage (except when she does and claims Jason stole from her), and refuses to talk about her love life-except when she is with Carole and is professing the most awesome man in the universe wants to marry her.  Ramona decided she didn't want her dates on TV, because she is such a private person, who will give an interview to a high school newspaper.  Unfortunately for Ramona no one wants to interview her anymore because she refuses to answer pertinent questions, apparently reporters have figured out, when you are asked about dating someone who has dated other RHs, talking about the new shade of blue on the runway, isn't an answer, it is just a bad interview.  Dorinda and Luann adult children apparently do not want to be filmed, either because they aren't getting paid or they live outside the area, or they don't want to be associated with the show.   With Sonja I think it is hard for her to keep her reality from delusions.  Her daughter has never been on the show.  Her divorce details may be off-limits.

So there is no answer, at this point, but I am quite certain it will be raised at the Reunion.  Bethenny's claim is having her romantic life front and center has not been particularly successful for her so she doesn't want to repeat the mistake.  Of course, Ramona just follows suit.  So now anyone who has had an unsuccessful relationship on the show should not be allowed to have there future relationships on TV.  So at this point it is up to the producers just how many RH or their boyfriends, husbands Bethenny will refuse to film with.  It is almost like she who screams the loudest gets her way. 

[straightshooter]

As far as I'm concerned, the dragging out of the bomb-dropping "process" was driven by Bravo in an attempt to milk the issue for as much footage as it could possibly produce.  They didn't want to lose what was guaranteed to be entertaining footage of the trip - especially the engagement party.   Lord knows, we were sick of hearing about the Bloodletting of Bethenny and that well was running dry (gross pun fully intended).   Into their lap fell this little nugget of gold, and "POOF!!"  A rescue storyline, and an attempt to show the villain in a more flattering, compassionate light.   Everybody wins!  (They hoped)  Except Lu - although, she still might insist she won, since she "got the ring"!  

I don't know who knew first - Andy or Bethenny, but it was a joint decision as to how and when to execute it.  For a sensitive matter such as this involving LuAnn, Bethenny as the trigger-man was a no-brainer.

Just my humble, yet confident opinion.  

Edited August 30, 2016 by straightshooter

[smores]

I think each woman gets to set their own boundaries for what they will and will not show on tv.  In the beginning, Lu showed her kids, but not really her relationship with Alex.  Later, she took her kids off tv (and everyone should have the right to keep their kids off as they grow), but she opened the door to her relationships being on tv by having Jacques be on with her all the time.  And, she's been Tom, tom, tom tom tom this season.  Ramona greatly pulled back on Avery's exposure, Tamra on OC has her kids off the show (by court order, of course).  Bethenny decided after her previous relationship with Jason that she'd never have another public relationship like that, and I don't know who would blame her.  So, when she came back, she doesn't bring it up on the show, which means the others can't.

I do not think it's the same thing as Luanne or Vicki (OC) being told that they have to have their relationships on the show or else.  Lu and Vicki had both previously been fine with Jacques and Brooks being all over the show, but, when things got difficult, they wanted to pull them back.  That's totally different then never introducing them in the first place.  If Lu had never had Jacques on camera, no one would have had an issue (see Ramona and dating).  If Vicki hadn't been fine shoving Brooks down everyone's throat, then trying to hide him when shit splashed back on her, no one would have had a problem.  But, you can't change things midstream, which is what they wanted to do, and I can see why production said no. 

[breezy424]

What Beth 'didn't' count on is that it overwhelmingly backfired in her face.  Sure, there are people/viewers who are salivating over getting Lu via Tom but even many of those who do not like Lu thought it went too far.  The dragging it out.  Beth telling Ro and Carole and Ro telling So.  'Beth's' angst.  Andy's glee in stating that the last episodes were 'epic'.

The comparison between how the OC housewives handled David's affair is a good example of better, not perfect, handling the situation.  But Beth can't do that.  She gets 'offended' and she will go for the jugular any way she can.  I have no idea of what her problem was with Lu in the Berkshires.  She screamed that she wanted Lu to own it.  Why does Lu have to own her personal life to Beth?  Beth calls her a whore and a fuck doll.  How does that affect Beth in any way.  Is it because Lu didn't bow down enough to her like Ro has done?

I think what Lu brings up at the reunion is that Beth is sleeping with a married man.  Beth has claimed what Lu said was a lie.  That information isn't a lie.  Beth was still married at the time as well.  Add to that, Beth doesn't like anyone going up against her.

BTW, Lu and Tom are going to be interviewed on one of the entertainment shows tomorrow.  Sorry.  I don't remember which one.  I was flipping channels.

As ZM, it's amazing how Beth is so protective of her brand when John says anything or So signs a contract to promote some small vanity brand.  But then she acts like a mean cold bitch in other matters which is just as harmful to her brand.

[jaync]

Quote

Bethenny's claim is having her romantic life front and center has not been particularly successful for her so she doesn't want to repeat the mistake. 

Of course she doesn't want her rapey and married boyfriends filmed. Meanwhile, she relishes in putting the others' off-camera business on blast.