Bethenny Frankel criticizes Ramona Singer for ‘despicable’ comments about Dennis Shields

Bethenny Frankel didn’t mince her words on Wednesday Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen when discussing a comment Real Housewives of New York City Co-star Ramona Singer played Dennis Shields, Frankel’s late friend.

In an episode of RHONY On last month’s “The Last Man: A New Year,” Singer criticized the 51-year-old businessman, who was found dead in his Trump Tower apartment on August 10, 2018, presumably from an overdose.

Her words, which came just three weeks after Shields’ death, followed one of her fellow actors praising Shields’ intelligence. “How smart can Dennis be?” Singer asked. “I mean, he was on drugs.”

Before the episode even aired, Singer apologized for her comments. “I cringed when I saw what I said about Dennis on tonight’s episode. It was definitely not one of my best moments,” she wrote on social media. “I respected and liked him very much and I sincerely apologize to his family and Bethenny for my thoughtless comments.”

Frankel, 48, said she accepted the apology but still criticized Singer, 62, when asked about it. ^ “WWHL Report”.

“It was really tasteless. It was actually pretty despicable – that would be a pretty bad word,” Frankel said. “People come to me and say she did some pretty bad things over the course of 10 years, but that was by far the worst.”

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She then told Cohen about her alleged behind-the-scenes communication with Singer. “I said, ‘I don’t know what to say,'” Frankel recalled. “She said, ‘There’s nothing to say.'”

Singer also unsuccessfully asked Bravo to remove her comment from the show, Frankel claimed.

All in all, Frankel said, she bears no “resentment” toward Singer.

“I’m not angry – because I don’t feel the anger like I used to on the show,” she said. “You can’t act it out. I’ve been doing this for so long.”

Still, the Skinnygirl mogul made it clear that she wasn’t Singer’s best friend. “It’s bad,” Frankel said. “And the thing is, she’s done it nonstop. Every single episode, there’s another punch, another slam.”

RELATED: Ramona Singer apologizes for saying Dennis Shields was ‘on drugs’ before his death

Frankel was open to RHONY about the complicated emotions she has felt since Shields’ death.

The two met nearly 20 years ago when he dated (and later married) one of her high school friends, Jill Schwartzberg. They didn’t stay in touch, but Frankel and Shields had other mutual friends and began dating in 2016, several months after he split from Schwartzberg (and three years after she filed for divorce from ex-husband Jason Hoppy).

He finally proposed to Frankel last April with a mega-carat stone, which she wore proudly. And although he was very close to their 8-year-old daughter Bryn, Frankel kept their engagement a secret and never really gave Shields a clear yes, telling him that things were on hold until some “conditions” were met and “changes” were made.

RELATED: Bethenny Frankel says she had to find her ‘place’ at Dennis Shields’ funeral

On the Saturday before Shields’ death, Frankel finally confessed: “I have to get out of this dynamic,” she revealed in a recent episode.

“He had such a big impact on my life and my daughter loved him that it was hard for me to let go,” Frankel said.

After Shields was found dead the following Friday, Frankel began to feel guilty. “I had a lot of thoughts about his death shortly afterward. I couldn’t get out. I feel guilty because the only way I could get out was because he was dead,” she said, wiping away tears. “I hope I had nothing to do with his death.”

“Dennis told me if we didn’t work out, he would never be in a relationship again. He would be alone for the rest of his life,” she told the audience. “It was a huge pressure and he held me back. I don’t know what happened that night and I will always have to live with that, whatever that means.”

Since then, Frankel has found love again: with real estate developer and film producer Paul Bernon.

The two made their relationship Instagram official in December, when Frankel shared photos of the couple celebrating Christmas together in the Dominican Republic. They then rang in the New Year together in Mexico, accompanied by Bryn and his two children, and have been close friends ever since.

Bernon was even at her side late last month when she appeared in court in the ongoing custody battle against Hoppy.

“He is incredible,” Frankel said on Wednesday WWHL“He is a wonderful person inside and out. Yes, Bryn knows him and loves him. They are very, very similar.”

Meanwhile, the cause of Shields’ death remains a mystery. The New York Medical Examiner’s Office announced in August that an autopsy was not performed on his body due to “religious objections,” and the cause of death was therefore classified as “undetermined.”

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen airs Sundays through Thursdays (11 p.m. ET) on Bravo.