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Andy Cohen addressed Bethenny Frankel’s “reality reckoning,” the upcoming season of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and Monica Garcia’s absence on Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. He also spoke about Rebecca Minkoff’s Scientology background, and he shared if he’ll drink this year on CNN’s NYE special.
In the summer of 2023, Bethenny called for a ‘reality reckoning’ amid allegations that reality stars face unfair treatment from producers and the network. She also indicated that stars should unionize and get residuals.
Speaking to Variety, Andy said he doesn’t “really think about” the Reality Reckoning nowadays.
“My job is always focusing on making the shows that I produce — and as I said a year ago, and I’ll say it again now — I am so proud to partner with incredible production companies,” said Andy. “I am proud of the systems that we had in place a year ago, and I’m proud of the systems that we have in place now that are built to look after people’s mental health and also produce absolutely great television that people around the world love.”
He seemed to suggest that the negative comments are “nonsense,” and he addressed Bethenny.
“I don’t really pay attention,” he said. “She’s very active on TikTok; I’m not on TikTok.”
Teasing the upcoming season of RHOBH, Andy claimed it’s a “very good season,” and the castmates’ “lives have changed in pretty dramatic ways.”
He then addressed the absence of Monica in the new season of RHOSLC.
“I think that the whole point of these shows is that they’re ensemble shows and no one person is really greater than the group,” he said. “Absolutely, last season was incredible and this season is incredible in a totally new way. You have to kind of trust the process, and we had great casting this season. I mean, Bronwyn [Newport] is just a great addition to the mix. And I think from that first episode you’re like, ‘Oh wow, this is forward-moving.’ We’re seeing a different Mary [Cosby] this season. By the way, we’re still in the early stages of this season, so people are going to be really happy.”
He also claimed Mary has a “really interesting personal story” in future episodes, and he believes it will “really touch people.”
As for fans’ reactions to Rebecca’s Scientology background, Andy commented, “I can’t really judge people’s reactions to Scientology, but I’ll say that she’s a well-known New Yorker and she is fun to have in the mix.”
He hinted, however, that castmates will question Rebecca more on the religion.
“It is something that recurs in the show, and I think that she made it clear on the first grilling how far she was really going to — it doesn’t look like she came on the show to preach about Scientology,” he said. “So we’ll see how that develops.”
Will Andy be drinking on the upcoming “New Year’s Eve Live” with Anderson Cooper?
“Yes! You bet,” he answered, following allegations that he drinks too much during the segment. “After what Anderson did in that hurricane, I’m not only giving him tequila, I’m throwing it at him.”
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