It was a big shock to fans of The Real Housewives of New York City that Bethenny Frankel left after the first few seasons. It was also great news that the reality star returned for seasons 7 to 11, and when Bethenny decided that her time on the series was over, many viewers were emotional.
Bethenny brought so much to RHONY, from her sharp and distinct sense of humor to her fearlessness and ability to always be her true self. Fans remember Bethenny for her arguments with Jill Zarin and Carole Radziwill, her business acumen, and her hilarious quotes, and viewers are sharing on Reddit why they feel Bethenny's absence to this day.
Bethenny Was Fun And Funny
RHONY fans see Bethenny as relatable and they also enjoy her sense of humor. Bethenny couldn't often help but laugh at whatever was going on. Reddit user ANTristotle wrote "I miss Bethenny Frankel" because "She added life, energy, laughter to the show."
Everyone loves when the cast went to the Hamptons and Bethenny couldn't believe the strange outfits that everyone was wearing. Bethenny asked "What happened to us?" and joked that once they "went through the Midtown tunnel" they started dressing oddly. It's no wonder that many viewers wish that Bethenny's jokes were still part of the show.
Early Bethenny Was Entertaining
While Bethenny has a large fanbase, some people preferred her early seasons. Reddit user sashiebelle wrote, "I only miss the Bethenny from seasons 1-3" and another Redditor agreed, saying, "I liked her fast-talking, no nonsense attitude in the beginning."
Bethenny's storylines at the start of the show were all about her career and love life, and when she came back for seasons 7 to 11, things got more intense as she lost someone close to her, experienced an awful divorce, and fought with everyone from Ramona Singer to Luann De Lesseps. There was still a lot to love about Bethenny here, but it makes sense that many people found her entertaining at the start.
Bethenny Is Responsible For Some Iconic Lines And Scenes
When fans can associate a particular housewife with great quotes and scenes, this cast member will be missed as they added something important. One Redditor said of Bethenny, "she has given me some of my favorite NY moments" including when she yelled "Go to sleep!" at Kelly Bensimon in the "Scary Island" episode from season 3.
It's impossible not to remember Bethenny and Kelly's vacation argument, as it has likely drawn countless people into the show. For this memorable scene alone, Bethenny will always be seen as an integral part of RHONY, and it's sad to think that viewers missed out on Bethenny's unique personality in seasons 12 and 13. Bethenny's talkative nature and strength made for dramatic and powerful TV.
Bethenny's Dynamic With Her Co-Stars Is Interesting
Fans look back on Bethenny's biggest arguments on RHONY and will always remember season 10 when she and Carole Radziwill moved away from each other. Whether she was fighting or having a good time, many fans enjoyed seeing Bethenny with the cast. Reddit user soup4breakfast liked watching Bethenny interact with her co-stars. The fan wrote, "I like the effect she has on the cast" as they "want her approval." They continued, "It creates some good storylines."
It's true that Bethenny's co-stars did want her to like them, one good example being when Sonja Morgan created her Tipsy Girl line. Bethenny called it a "cheater brand" and Sonja was upset as she just wanted her friend and fellow cast member to be proud of her.
Bethenny Was An Important Cast Member
Every Real Housewives cast has people who play various parts. There's often someone who is logical and understands that some of these situations and storylines are humorous and entertaining. Reddit user surejan94 said that Bethenny was "an essential housewife because she provided the 'in on the joke' role" and would say "funny and sarcastic soundbites." The fan said that Carole did this, too, and they felt that newcomer Leah McSweeney could hold this role as well.
When looking at the cast without Bethenny, it's true that no one has her particular brand of boldness, and many viewers feel that the cast was always the most memorable and cohesive when she was part of it.
Bethenny Is A Clever Businesswoman
Many viewers appreciated watching Bethenny's rise to the top of her company and field. Reddit user trinitytvdotgov felt that it was good for Bethenny to leave the show after the pain of Dennis's death but they were hopeful that she would return a few seasons later. The fan explained, "I’m going to miss watching her be a business woman" and "her sharp tongue."
While other RHONY stars talk about their companies, as Leah has her Married To The Mob fashion line and Ramona founded RMS Fashions along with a jewelry and skincare line, Bethenny's career was always a bigger part of the show than anyone else's. Fans loved seeing her do so well.
Bethenny Made The Show Hard To Stop Watching
Fans consider Bethenny a favorite Real Housewife and Reddit user atthebarre credits the star for helping them become invested in RHONY. They wrote, "Bethenny is part of the reason I got so hooked on the NY franchise and actually stuck with it. I will definitely still be watching, but her absence leaves a huge hole."
When comparing Bethenny to her co-stars, she definitely was responsible for some compelling storylines, whether talking about her divorce, telling Luann that Luann's fiance Tom was unfaithful, or telling Luann to stop being so obsessed with cabaret.
Bethenny Has A Special Story
Reddit user comfortablyindulging loved supporting Bethenny from the beginning and loved watching her change from a humble young woman to someone who runs their own empire. The fan wrote, "she was the one I rooted for, the 'underdog,' and seeing her be so mistreated by Jill/Kelly made me root for her even harder. So I will always have that connection with her if that makes sense. Seeing her rise to such success and popularity is honestly incredible."
Bethenny's life story will always be fascinating to her fanbase, who wish that she could return and show more about her charity work and relationship with her fiance Paul Bernon. While Bethenny has been pretty firm about not coming back, fans can't help but miss her compelling career arc on the show.
Bethenny Said When Someone Was Behaving Badly
Fans felt that Bethenny was right many times on RHONY as she wouldn't shy away from the situation at hand. Reddit user desimerolling90 said "I live for her confessionals!" and liked when Bethenny would tell Ramona Singer that she was being rude.
Viewers dissect the behavior of the Real Housewives and that sometimes means wondering why someone is behaving so poorly. It was nice and refreshing to watch someone like Bethenny who could come right out and say that her co-star was being mean or unfair. Sometimes arguments on this reality franchise go on for a long time, but Bethenny did her best to get to the heart of the matter.
Bethenny's Honesty Stood Out
For Reddit user Diannasw, Bethenny has a lot in common with Lisa Vanderpump and they enjoyed watching both housewives because they're both intelligent and run their own businesses. The fan wrote that they will miss Bethenny because she's "brutally honest and self deprecating."
When fans think about Bethenny's RHONY episodes, it seems impossible not to praise how blunt she could be. While Bethenny's commentary on her co-stars could often be hard to swallow, she knew how to poke fun at herself, too, and that made her scenes much easier and more fun to watch.