‘Real Housewives of New York’ No More, Alex and Simon Dish on Ex-Cast Mates
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ABC News
ABC News’ Andrea Canning reports:
The four women fired from Season 5 of the “Real Housewives of New York” are off the air, but that doesn’t mean the drama has disappeared.
Alex McCord, who, with husband Simon Van Kempen, was a staple of the hit Bravo reality-TV show since its 2008 debut, is the latest to speak out, describing the show as “spiraling out of control.”
“If people continue to behave in a way that’s shocking, then how can it do anything but get darker,” McCord told “Good Morning America” today in the couple’s first television interview since being fired from the reality-TV show last week.
“You’re not going to stop reacting to people fighting and behaving badly,” she said. “It’s gotten more and more toxic.”
McCord was fired from the show last week, along with cast members Jill Zarin, Cindy Barshop and Kelly Bensimon. The mass firings leave Ramona Singer, LuAnn DeLesseps and Sonja Morgan on the show for Season 5, along with three still unnamed new cast members, all said to be wealthy socialites.
McCord was at the center of the negative attention, and the drama, in the show’s fourth season, one that pitted the “blondes” — McCord, Singer and Morgan — against the “brunettes” — Bensimon, Zarin, Barshop and DeLesseps.
“One thing that I do, absolutely, is I call people out,” McCord said of the bold, opinionated persona she took on in what would be her last season on the show. “And I got louder and louder about that.”
Now that she’s fired, McCord is speaking out even more.
Of Bensimon, another fired Housewife, who accused McCord throughout the season of not being authentic: “It’s hard to be on a reality show if you’re not in touch with reality,” McCord told “GMA.”
Of biting comments from DeLesseps insinuating that McCord was not in her same social strata: “My mouth was on the floor,” McCord said. “And I was thinking, ‘I can’t believe you’re being that offensive.’”
The harshest barbs from both McCord and Van Kempen, however, came aimed at fellow fired cast member Zarin, who, like McCord, was an original cast member on the show, along with Singer and DeLesseps.
“She’s a manipulator and she’s very good at feeding information to her own end,” McCord told “GMA.” “She has been trying to get me off the show for a number of years. She succeeded.”
Van Kempen, who battled Zarin from day one of the show’s premiere in 2008, went even further, calling Zarin a “flawed woman extraordinaire.”
“The word ‘junior high’ has come up a lot about the drama on the show,” he said. “Jill sometimes is still very much stuck in junior high as the girl who was unpopular, who was bullied. And 30 years later, she’s still there.”
Just like she would on the show, Zarin fought back when asked by “GMA” to respond to the couple’s comments.
“I just feel pity for them using me for press yet again,” she said, also telling “GMA” she believes the couple is jealous.
Despite their obvious differences, McCord and Zarin do have a few things in common.
Both were surprised, and disappointed, when they got the call from Bravo TV executives informing them they would not be returning for Season 5, weeks before production for the new season was set to begin.
“You never want it to be someone else’s decision that you’re not coming back,” McCord said. “So, sure, it felt like being laid off. And that didn’t feel good.”
“It didn’t feel good,” Zarin told “GMA” Wednesday of her own reaction to the call. “Nobody likes to not be asked back to the party.”
And both now ex-”Real Housewives” are stretching their 15 minutes of fame from the show into business ventures they hope will be even more profitable, and more fulfilling.
While Zarin is launching a lingerie line and hinting that she might return to TV, McCord and Van Kempen are creating a new textile company, “Aluxe Home,” specializing in bath and bedding products.
“Building a company is always better than bickering,” McCord said of the couple’s post-”Real Housewives” future.
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Oh for spit’s sake, why don’t they take ALL that garbage off the air?
Posted by: msyellarose | September 23, 2011, 11:05 am 11:05 am
Alex and Simon are creepy, but Alex did make one correct comment. I used to love Bravo but it is now so toxic. All the shows have become nasty not just the housewives. What was once my favorite channel I now can’t stand it.
Posted by: TN Viewer | September 23, 2011, 11:11 am 11:11 am
What part of ‘real’ housewives don’t the show producers understand?
Posted by: James | September 23, 2011, 11:18 am 11:18 am
If Alex like’s to call out people…. why she hasn’t done the same with her creepy, stupid husband?
Posted by: marcella | September 23, 2011, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
Alex was tolerable and I like how she stood up to Lu Ann (who herself is not exactly born from bluebloods so I don’t understand why she sneers down on others) but Simon is a certified CREEPER and he’s probably the reason she was axed. They made it clear that they are a duo and since you can’t have Alex without Simon tagging along, good riddance to both. Jill got so mean along the way so no big loss; Jill and Kelly finally got their comeuppance in light of the way they treated Bethenny who has since moved on to bigger and better things, to include a paycheck.
Posted by: Judy | September 23, 2011, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
Alex was the only one I liked on that show. You can tell she wasn’t raised in that rarified NYC environment. her (admittedly relative) level-headedness and maturity would show though when her castmates were too busy reliving Jr High. Best of luck to her.
Posted by: propwash72 | September 23, 2011, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
So glad Kelly was fired, that girl needs help, she is a certified WACKO!!! and she could not stand that Bethenny was so much more beautiful, smart, sane than she would ever be., so glad Bethenny got all that she ever wanted and Kelly got hers YES
Posted by: Pam | September 23, 2011, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Now that Jill is gone I will no longer watch this show. I thought she was the realest of them all. I love how her husband stayed in the back of things but always had Jiill’s back. I have followed Bethaney’s success and am so happy for her and her sweet family and hope that she and JIll can reconnect now that Jill is “free” from the madness that has become HWONYC. Alex is different ( as am I but in a good way) but I love her ability to call out fellow cast members on their inapproprrate behavior. I will just concentrate on the cooking shows and enjoy making healthy and different meals for my husband.
Posted by: Molly Brady | September 23, 2011, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
Finally Jill and Kelly the WACKO, who is so jealous of Bethenny’s success, are gone from the show. Now, Jill can go back to her real life and start bossing her husband around, and I hope crazy Kelly gets help and comes down from the cloud that she lives in. I think Bravo has to fire someone else, Lu Ann she is so unreal and pretentious. Bravo! Bravo
Posted by: Kuky | September 23, 2011, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
Jill Zarin makes us Jews look so awful, glad she’s off the air! And Alex & Simon are definitly phony, trying to hard to be in the social circle. They are in actuality just average people with not slot of money.
Posted by: Leeda hakimian | September 23, 2011, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
Their behavior was disgraceful and brought the women’s movement to its knees in horror. Good riddance.
Now if they can just get that fake countess off I would be thrilled. She married into her position as I see it, and she is so new money she is shining like a dime just off the mint conveyer belt. Who is she to say that about Alex.
Posted by: Meret | September 23, 2011, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm
Alex should look at her herself before she calls other people out on their bad behavior. She is one step above Michaele Salahi when it comes to self delusion and narcissisism but shes actually worse because shes a hate monger. Alex was an unattractive negative presence on the show and none of the wives seemed connected to her. I think Ramona is the one that got them ousted. They’re being replaced by HER friends. She knows they’re energy vampires who sucked the energy out of the show..
Posted by: Adam | September 23, 2011, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
I agree. Ramona and Sonja are calling the shots and they are the core of the new cast. They didn’t want Alex and Simon on the show anymore. So I wonder why Alex uses Jill as her scapegoat. Is there another reason why superwhite midwest Alex blames only Jill for everything? Just a thought.
Posted by: PlusOne | September 23, 2011, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm
I’m a fan, but w/o Jill I won’t give Bravo’s 5th season a rating. Jill was the backbone of the show. I could always count on Jill and LuAnn and Kelly to keep spirits up and bull down. Countess LuAnn and those drunken blondes are just not enough to keep me tuned in. BRING JILL BACK!
Posted by: Beyoncca | September 23, 2011, 10:48 pm 10:48 pm
I’m happy to see the phoniest castmember leave, Alex. I was tired of watching Alex fight other peoples battles. LAME! Neither Ramona or Sonja showed a genuine friendship with Alex. Ramona and Sonja were both no-shows at Alex’s birthday party, but guess who showed up. Kelly and Cindy were nice enough to show up when “NO” one else would.
Posted by: Farewell | September 23, 2011, 10:58 pm 10:58 pm
Ramona is so jealous of Bethenny. I read where Ramona accused Bethenny of lying about her recent financial windfall of 120million . Ramona the Jealous says to many media outlets that “Bethenny always exaggerates everything, there’s no way they would pay out 120million, maybe in increments over some years. I’m in to wine distribution and no one make that kind of money”. Ramona is the most jealous housewife ever no one else had anything bad to say about Bethenny except Raging Rancid Ramona.
Posted by: No-More -Drama | September 23, 2011, 11:10 pm 11:10 pm
Farewell makes a good point. It’s funny how we watched Sonja actually throw Alex out of her house in front of other people at a party, but Alex didn’t seem to need to “call her out” about that. But she went after Jill for much less. Theres something very dark and negative about this Alex and her motives. I don’t like her at all and she deserves to be fired and to wallow in alll the bad karma coming her way.
Posted by: Adam | September 23, 2011, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm
Jill was so horrible, she was the biggest witch in a show with big witches, Alex was fine, I’am also glad crazy Kelly is gone.
Posted by: bobby | September 24, 2011, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm
No worries Alex…you have a full schedule of modeling and Simon is CEO of a social media network, why do you care if your had another season of real housewives…….
Posted by: Jo ross | September 29, 2011, 9:41 pm 9:41 pm
At least Jill had a heart even if she was wrong. Alex and Simon were just using everybody. Ramona is the one who got them booted off and Sonja too. They said they were boring. Jill is blessed to be rid of these leeches.
Posted by: TappanZ | September 29, 2011, 11:11 pm 11:11 pm
I am not sure if I will continue to watch The Real Housewives of New York as Jill and Alex seemed really nice people, [ it was Ramona and Bethany who caused trouble,] I suppose that does not make good T.V. please bring them back as I love to see New York and to remember a wonderful time spent there.
Posted by: Faith Davison | October 1, 2011, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
I can’t believe they kept the classless countess! She would have been my first coice to toss!
Posted by: Cindy | October 3, 2011, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
I’m forced to watch this Trash as my wife has the remote :)
Bethany = Hamster cheeks was the best thing on this show, She didn’t deserve the vile that came from her peers
Romona = 1 can short of a six pack, just dont look into those mad eyes, Freakazoid coocoo!!!!
Jill = Sad, vicious & deluded i could list more negatives to make up for the lack of positive feed
Countless Lu ann = Explains why guillotines were invented. Horrid vile snob without character!
Alex = Sickly nice & needs a good feed
Simon = Needs to rethink his dress sense the guy is clueless, Creepy but good value for a laugh
Kelly = boring, Mutton dressed as lamb, dangerous if left alone with matches
Please tell my wife to give me my remote control back! I CANT COPE WITH ANOTHER SEASON OF THIS TRASH (REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NY lmao)
Posted by: Llamudos | October 3, 2011, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
i am watching in the uk and just getting into it, i love Jill but thought she was a bit harsh to Bethany, get Ramona off!!!!!! her annoying squeally voice and bulging evil eyes is enough to make anyone crindge. kelly is ok although looks a bit like a wide mouth smiley frog, Luan likes to stir things and wind people up, i like to watch Alex and Simon they seem down to earth and easy to get along with. I love seeing New York, always wanted to go there :0)
Posted by: LYNN MARIE | October 6, 2011, 6:48 am 6:48 am
I use to love watching all the housewives shows,but can’t stand any of them anymore.only the faces change,but the cattiness is always the same. Also it seems to me they all live beyound their means,someone is always filing bankrupcty.It’s just so phony.They all remind me of bullies in high school! I can’t and don’t want to relate in any way to any of them.I enjoy living in the real world,with real friends.The only show i like on bravo is flipping out!!
Posted by: kathy andraso | October 9, 2011, 8:09 pm 8:09 pm
How can this show continue? It’s juvenile beyond belief and always has been. I still cannot believe Bethenny has her own spin off, she was just so nasty. I found it absurd she called LuAnn a transvestite! Not only is that mean-spirited but a serious case of pot and kettle! It is terrible that this show has elevated these shallow and really rather stupid women to the status of celebrity, even if it’s only on the C list.
Posted by: katie | October 10, 2011, 11:57 am 11:57 am
Alex was pathetic… And was way out of her depth. I do not think Alex even had money. The husband is weird….say no more.. This is a bunch of neurotic women with money and no grace or charm whatsoever, and that includes LuAnn…come on dears get real….as for Jill I love her…tough as old boots, and the only one I would want as a girlfriend….she says it like it is….and she does have something that makes for compelling viewing…the others are limp in comparison. Finally if I met Alex and the husband I think I would expose them for what they really are……lightweights….
Posted by: Smaccie | October 15, 2011, 7:17 am 7:17 am
First off, Ramona is a sot; she is oh sooooooo annoying and by keeping her on the show, I’m sure Bravo lost many RHNYC viewers who cannot stand her histrionics or sloppy sexplays.
The other screamin’ thing that no one is saying is how Alex and Simon are undoubtedly the
most crudely obvious social climbers I’ve ever seen.
Posted by: TaurusRose | October 19, 2011, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
these women will put the evolutionary process in reverse.”jill” how vulgar can a person get?
Posted by: katyandwill | October 26, 2011, 3:27 am 3:27 am
Love the HWONYC…………Especially Jill and Luann
Posted by: Cherry | October 28, 2011, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
Love Jill she is the only REAL housewife . Go Jill x
Posted by: Cherry | October 30, 2011, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm
Such a relief that Kelly has gone. Nothing she said made any sense and that false grin of hers was intolerable. Definitely she needs help!
Posted by: Terri Gilbert | November 3, 2011, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
I’m relieve that KELLY is GONE hopefully she will never be on tv again. The girl never made any sense what a true bimbo and I don’t care for the rest either. I miss BETHANY I can’t wait for her and Jason to return with thirty new show.
Posted by: selam | November 5, 2011, 5:12 am 5:12 am
I love jill she’s so amazing. and i hope that her and Luann stays friends
Posted by: Cherry | November 7, 2011, 8:09 pm 8:09 pm
BRING BACK JILL !!!!!!! my friends and i wont be watching anymore after jills leaving. Simon and Alex are the dictionary defintions of creepy and delusional. The social ladder that they aspire to reach is so far from their reach due to their classless displays of creepyness and weirdness. Bring back jill !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Allison | November 8, 2011, 11:08 am 11:08 am
alex seemed like the only sensible one, down to earth both her and her husband. luann get rid of her she is so phoney, darling this and darling that, she is nothing but a trouble maker with no class. her and her stupid countess crap. jill needs to grown up and stop dragging everyone into her problems that she creates. kelly and her hi and she never makes any sense, is she on the same planet as everyone else. i like romana, she says how it is, but she needs to slow down on the drinking. bethany is really funny, hot off the cuff.
Posted by: karen | November 9, 2011, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
I’m watching from the UK….my GOD! If those women are REAL. I’m a billionaire!
I have to say though, out of the pack, Alex is the most vile, pathetic, delusional prat I have ever seen. She reminds me of the girl nobody liked at school…ginger whinger with bad breath! Now she had a platform to vent all those years of pent up anger but she comes across as desperate ( see the wierdo husband who is quite clearly bi-sexual),full of herself, but has zero fashion sense, class & smells of fish. YUK!
If Ramona were in the presence of anybody here in England, she would probably have her face smashed in for being such an up her own ass idiot! Jill wouldn’t get a seat in a restaurant ‘cos she’s soooo rude, nobody would want her around. Kelly is stunning but has obviously spent her life being waited on & is too affected. She does NOT appeal as a woman’s friend…she probably carries a dagger in her purse. At least LuAnn walks with an air of dignity, is more reserved & keeps calm, rather than shouting like a common fishwife like the rest of them!
I have also watched Housewives of OC ~ bring them back to UK pleeease! These N Yorkers are, in general, crude, ugly, disillusional & oblivious to the real world. Please don’t let them come to England!
Posted by: kay | November 15, 2011, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
Is it just me or does Alex look a like a young John Cleese?
Posted by: K00$h | November 16, 2011, 7:46 am 7:46 am
I love LuAnn’s dress sense, Ramona’s genuine friendship and feelings, Kelly and her non confrontational approach, Cindy for her bewilderment at the madness, Jill for being Jill, and Sonya for her ‘hutspa’. Bring back the best of all….Bethany.
Posted by: Katrina | November 17, 2011, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
I am also a viewer from the UK and Season Four of the housewives was quite frightening. The show was one long argument and the behaviour of these ‘ladies’ (used in the loosest term) were just horrifying. You had Kelly proving that models are pretty on the outside but vile on the inside or some even have a screw loose! LuAnn needs to remember she married into her title and is not the epitome of class because people with real class never have to say they have it – she was a total witch to Alex at that lunch.
Jill is a woman who has clearly bought issues with her from her elsewhere and is also so two-faced it is untrue. She also – like LuAnn – thinks she is the bible on class but forgets she is from New Jersey. Alex – despite some flaws – tried to fight back this season after years of just being bullied by Jill, LuAnn and the rest of the cast. In the past, they have made comments about Alex, her husband, her children, her house and even her kids. Good for Alex for trying but shock horror – the other women didn’t like it and just rail-roaded over her.
Posted by: Jon | November 19, 2011, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
Oh, Ramona and her “wine distribution” … what a crock. She saw Bethenny’s success and wanted to hop on that band wagon. She didn’t *conceive* or *develop a concept* … noooo, she just slapped her name on some rot gut import and all of a sudden she’s the expert.
What I truly think is that these women are so out of touch with reality that they believe that all they have to do is say it to make it so … and they think that the rest of us are clueless enough to buy into it wholesale.
Pffft.
Posted by: Eliana | December 6, 2011, 11:44 am 11:44 am