Bethenny Frankel isn’t backing down. The former Real Housewives of New York star blasted The View co-host Joy Behar on Sunday after Behar took a jab at her appearance during a segment last week. In a fiery TikTok video, Frankel clapped back, calling Behar “miserable” and accusing her of embodying everything older women are trying to move past.
What Sparked the Drama?
It started with a light-hearted clip from Frankel, who had just walked the runway at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit show in Miami. Reflecting on the behind-the-scenes effort, she told The View audience that “none of us looked the way that we looked two hours prior.” She emphasized the extensive glam process required before hitting the catwalk.
But when The View aired the clip, Behar had a sharp retort: “I appreciate her candor, but her boobs are still fake.”
Frankel Strikes Back
Frankel, 54, was quick to respond. “These are a lift, from like 20 years ago, maybe 15, 20 years ago,” she clarified in her Sunday video. “This is actually a lift, Joy.”
Her video, though, wasn’t just about correcting the facts, it was a full-on indictment of Behar’s attitude.
“his is actually a lift, Joy. But, the thing that that show really illustrated was that women my age and older, women of a certain age, can live their lives freely with happiness and joy. And that we’re not washed-up, miserable older women,” she said, drawing a sharp contrast between her view of aging and the one she believes Behar represents.
‘She Hasn’t Lived Her Life With Any Joy’
“I actually feel sorry for Joy that she hasn’t lived her life, or doesn’t seem to be living her life, with any joy,” Frankel added. “You have to be really miserable to take a swipe at something that is literally self-deprecating.”
Frankel made it clear she wasn’t aiming for vanity when she commented on the glam process. Instead, she was trying to expose the unrealistic beauty standards often seen in entertainment.
“Every woman that was with me on that stage did not look that way two hours prior, okay, it was everybody’s job, and that’s what goes on in Hollywood and the entertainment industry,” she said. “There is a lot of work that goes into that, a lot of glam, a lot of contouring, a lot of lighting, a lot.”
Taking a Stand for Women of ‘A Certain Age’
The former Bravo star didn’t stop there. She turned the moment into a larger message about aging and how society views older women, particularly those still in the spotlight.
“Sadly, Joy is painting the picture of the older, seemingly miserable, washed-up woman that all of us are trying to show that we aren’t,” Frankel said. “You keep being happy, you keep living your life, you keep being the example of a woman of a certain age that you would be proud of, and we have women like Joy Behar that remind us of who we don’t want to be.”
A Laugh from the Panel—But At Whose Expense?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXA5jT1juDI
Behar’s original remark was met with laughter from both the live audience and fellow View co-hosts. She even joked later, “That’s not true, I wake up exactly like this,” mocking the idea that anyone looks runway-ready first thing in the morning.
Meanwhile, fellow panelist Sara Haines offered a broader take, referencing the beauty industry’s influence: “I think all we know now that, from airbrushing magazines, to filters on social media, to a two-hour prep to go down a runway, like, of course, no one wakes up that.”
The conversation didn’t stop with Frankel’s video. The segment also touched on Cheryl Burke’s experience, as the Dancing With the Stars alum denied rumors about plastic surgery and health concerns highlighting how often women in media face intense scrutiny over their appearance.
No Comment from ‘The View’
As of press time, The View had not issued a statement or response to Frankel’s takedown. But one thing’s certain: Frankel isn’t afraid to speak her mind and she’s not letting the moment pass without making a broader point.
