Jill Zarin told Bethenny Frankel on the newest episode of her podcast that Bravo didn’t have permission to film at her late husband Bobby Zarin’s funeral back in 2018.
The former Real Housewives of New York City star made the comments on the latest episode of Bethenny’s podcast Just B With Bethenny, where the two have reunited for the first time “alone” since 2010.
While the podcast runs over an hour in length, Bravo fans have already started listening and spilling the RHONY tea. According to one listener, Jill claimed on the podcast that Bravo didn’t actually ask her to sign a release after filming her and Bethenny reuniting outside the service on a New York City sidewalk.
The revelation is interesting considering Ramona Singer accused Bethenny of bringing cameras with her to Bobby’s funeral back at the 2018 RHONY reunion.
“I did see cameras — there was TMZ… I had no idea who the cameras were. I wasn’t on a mic, you were on a mic, I didn’t know that,” Jill explained, re-telling the story of the funeral situation. “So when we hugged and all that, and I’m wearing bug glasses — you have to know, I’m a little vain so if I knew I was being filmed I wouldn’t have looked like that.”
She continued, “You need to know I had no idea. Hand to God, should Bobby turn in his grave.”
Bethenny, for her part, seemed to agree with Jill’s depiction of the events. “I thought ‘she wants them there’ and I know you, and you weren’t upset,” she said, referencing Jill’s reaction once she saw her at the funeral.
“I didn’t sue them because I wasn’t upset with the way they handled it,” countered Jill.
The two continue to discuss the funeral situation with Bethenny realizing how uncouth the entire thing really is. “What you’re saying is I f–king ambushed a funeral for reality television,” she stated, looking to Jill for an answer.
“That’s what Ramona was saying,” responded Jill. “I had no idea the cameras were going to be there. Nobody knew. I didn’t know. By the way, you know when I found out? When it aired. When the commercials started running in January and I saw you and I on every commercial. The whole f–king season was you and I making up.”
Throughout the episode, Bethenny and Jill seem turned off by their experiences on RHONY and the funeral situation may be the icing on the cake. “That’s disgusting… That’s literally the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard,” Bethenny dished. “Now just know, I don’t know that I would have gone to the funeral if we weren’t shooting. I don’t know, I don’t know what I would have done, only because it was a spectacle.”
“Once it got going, I knew it would be compelling and amazing and an interesting moment. And like seeing Ally — it was totally real,” she said, adding, “And I loved Bobby.”
LISTEN! Jill Zarin Tells Bethenny Frankel Bravo Didn’t Have Permission To Film At Bobby’s Funeral
The podcast appearance comes on the heels of Bravo’s rebooted Real Housewives of New York City premiere which debuted on Sunday, July 16 with an all-new cast to mixed opinions.
As previously reported, Bravo split RHONY into two shows: Legacy, which was to feature a mix of current and former cast members and Season 14, which stars an all-new cast. While the reboot has already been filmed and is now airing, Legacy was turned into a one-week Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip after Jill reportedly backed out after being lowballed by the network.
Jill appeared on Seasons 1-4 of the original series, with Bethenny appearing on Seasons 1-3 and again on Seasons 7-11.
The Real Housewives of New York City airs Sundays on Bravo.
