Love her or hate her, The Real Housewives of New York City OG Bethenny Frankel isn't afraid to mix it up with her co-stars. Bethenny's tell it like it is, in-your-face-personality is a constant during her time on the series. The personal chef turned millionaire can go from fiercely protective friend to formidable foe in the blink of an eye.
Bethenny has had run-ins with most of her fellow castmates. Some are just minor disagreements while others are full-blown meltdowns. All of the New York City Housewives are guilty of some girl on girl crimes, but Bethenny is by far one of the series' biggest offenders. Here's a rundown of Bethenny's 10 biggest fights, ranked.
Bethenny VS. Kelly: Bad First Impressions (Season 2)
The combination of Kelly's snubs and Bethenny's snark is a bad mix, leading to a face-to-face confrontation where Kelly speaks the famous words "We don't come -- we're not the same, okay? This is you (places one hand low). This is me (places her other hand above her head)."
Bethenny's reactions reflect how some fans feel about the name-dropping, self-aggrandizing, condescending, not too bright Kelly Bensimon. Kelly's meaning isn't 100 percent clear, but, arguably, she feels her breeding and behavior are superior. Bethenny stands her ground, but Kelly isn't interested in an open dialogue. She just wants Bethenny to know they will never be friends.
Bethenny VS. Jill: Who's Using Who? (Season 3)
Former besties Jill Zarin and Bethenny start season 3 off on a sour note. The source of their friction stems from Jill's jealousy over the Skinnygirl making it big. Jill's decision to air their issues to the press and involve the other women doesn't sit well with Bethenny who feels a bit blindsided by Jill's attitude.
Bethenny tries to sort things out both on the phone and in person, but Jill considers their friendship DOA. Jill does regret her actions later, but it's too little too late.
Bethenny VS. Kelly: Scary Island (Season 3)
Bethenny's in-your-face attitude doesn't sit well with Kelly when the two meet during season 2. After several run-ins, the tension between the women reaches its apex during a girls' getaway to the Virgin Islands. Kelly accuses a pregnant and engaged Bethenny of being promiscuous, lying about her professional credentials and going after Kelly and her daughters in the press.
Kelly's behavior is so antagonistic it leads Sonja, Ramona, Bethenny, and Alex to believe the former model is having a mental breakdown, preventing Bethenny from retaliating full force and limiting her comments to "Go to sleep! You're crazy!" During the season 3 reunion, Kelly accuses Bethenny and the other women of bullying her, but the footage speaks for itself.
Bethenny VS. Ramona: Ramona Spreads Gossip (Season 7)
After a three-season hiatus, Bethenny returns to the series and has a hard time juggling the women and her very public divorce. Sitting side by side at Sonja's fashion show, Bethenny confronts Ramona about spreading a rumor that Bethenny cheated on her first husband.
Ramona apologizes, but Ramona's accusation tops off a season full of bad behavior and self-entitlement that doesn't sit well with Bethenny. Also fueling the feud is Ramona's "new beginnings" party. Ramona constantly reinvents herself, but the result is the same "Singer Stinger."
Bethenny VS. Ramona: Ramona Brings Up Bethenny's Past (Season 9)
Season 9 gets off to a bang when Ramona brings up Bethenny's one-time appearance in softcore porn during a dinner in the Hamptons. More specifically, Ramona questions if Bethenny discussed the media storm with her daughter, or if of the press had approached the six-year-old. Bethenny sees this as an attempt to humiliate and embarrass her, and Ramona goes below the belt by involving her daughter.
Ramona insists she's just trying to dig a bit deeper with her friend, but Ramona's just looking for payback in the wake of feeling brushed off by Bethenny. Instead of apologizing, Ramona doubles down, calling Bethenny a "witch." Fed up with Ramona, Bethenny leaves the table, vowing no apology from Ramona can undo the damage.
Bethenny VS. John: John Accuses Bethenny Of Theft (Season 8)
Dorinda's boyfriend John is a provocative presence from the jump, and he makes the mistake of gunning for Bethenny, more specifically, Bethenny's business. After a bra shopping party turns into a John pile-on, the man himself shows up and accuses Bethenny of stealing her brand name from one of his friends.
Anybody who knows Bethenny understands not to go after Skinnygirl. Bethenny dismisses John's behavior as cocaine-induced and warns him not to come after her business. John does what men who feel threatened by strong women do: he tries to make her feel bad for not having a boyfriend. Bethenny's just "jealous."
Bethenny VS. Luann: She Calls Out The Countess (Season 8)
During a trip to the Berkshires, Luann's insistence that she played a role in the birth of Skinnygirl sets Bethenny completely off. She goes after Luann for not being a "girls' girl" because "Lu" stabs her friends in the back, especially when it comes to me. Bethenny calls Luann a "hypocrite," a "slut" and a "liar."
Why does Bethenny slut-shame Luann? Because Luann isn't truthful about her exploits, and she judges and onishes others like Carole (for dating a guy in his twenties). For someone who sings a song called "Money Can't Buy You Class" and writes a book entitled Class with the Countess: How to Live with Elegance and Flair isn't exactly living her best life. The other ladies don't necessarily agree with Bethenny's methods, but they think the message is on point: the Countess is full of BS. Luann's public persona doesn't align with her real life.
Bethenny VS. Ramona: Ramona's Rebuffed Apology (Season 9)
After Ramona makes one stupid comment too many (regarding Bethenny's foray into softcore porn), Bethenny swears to cut Ramona out of her life. Ramona, aka "The Apologizer," isn't used to not being forgiven for her rude and inappropriate behavior. While in the Berkshires, years of jealously and unresolved issues explode into one of the biggest RHONYC arguments ever.
Bethenny's list of grievances against Ramona is backed up by pieces of footage, and it's all pretty bad. But a drunken, crazy-eyed Ramona loses it, accusing Bethenny of being a golddigger, sleeping her way to the top, being an opportunist and stating Bethenny's brand is "done." Ramona's words reveal some deeply-held resentments over Bethenny's business success.
Bethenny VS. Carole: Reunion Rampage (Season 10)
Friendships on The Real Housewives of New York City come and go, but the most brutal breakup is the one between Bethenny and Carole. The twosome becomes close while filming season 7, and are inseparable until things fall apart before season 10. By the time the reunion tapes, the season-long tit for tat creates the perfect storm for multiple hostile exchanges.
Fractures behind-the-scenes became irreparable once episodes begin airing and both women see the back-and-forth perceived slights and downright nasty remarks. Accusations of character assassination, age shaming, and straight-up lying. The two can't even agree on what severed their friendship.
Bethenny VS. Luann: Cabaret Meltdown (Season 11)
As Luann's cabaret show takes off, she becomes a full-fledged diva. This doesn't go over well with the other ladies, particularly Bethenny, who has been ive than most of Luann's struggle with alcohol. On a girls' trip to Miami, Luann puts herself first, and the other ladies last, complaining whenever her needs aren't met.
Bethenny melts down during a group dinner, bringing up the fact that Luann has shown zero concern for Bethenny in the wake of her ex-boyfriend's death from a drug overdose. Luann is unapologetic and accuses Bethenny of bullying her which sends Bethenny off the rails and into a full-blown panic attack before she makes it clear that life isn't a cabaret.