Bethenny Thinks It's "Preposterous" To Blame Bravo for Suicide

#StraightTalk

Bethenny Frankel had already responded to Whole Foods' removal of her Skinnygirl Margaritas from its popular health food chain of stores on Twitter.  Whole Foods refused to re-order any more product after discovering the margarita says it's all natural on the bottle with no preservatives, but actually contains the preservative sodium benzoate.

Whole Foods issued a statement to Access Hollywood saying, Skinnygirl “had been offered in 16 of Whole Foods Market’s 310 stores. After discovering that it contains a preservative that does not meet our quality standards, we have had to stop selling it.”

Bethenny released a more official statement, in which she downplayed the controversy. “I’m not making wheatgrass here. If I could put an agave plant and some limes on a shelf I would. [The Skinnygirl Margarita] is as close to nature as possible, while still being a shelf stable product. Skinnygirl cocktails were created to solve a problem: to create a line of guilt free cocktails allowing women to drink the indulgent drinks they actually want to drink with as few ingredients as possible.”

Truly, the small amount of a single preservative doesn't seem like that big of a deal. The idea was to make a healthier margarita. Of course nothing is 100% healthy. The problem is with the marketing. There are consumer laws that protect misleading buyers. And saying the product is all natural without any preservatives can be misleading. The problem is really with the wording.

Bethenny proceeded to dismiss the importance of Whole Foods to their brand, saying, “With all due respect to Whole Foods, we were in a dozen of their stores and have decided not to continue in these stores. They represent an infinitesimal fraction of our business. We are, in fact, the fastest growing spirits brand in the US,” her statement continued. “We were bound to piss someone off and everyone loves to try to tear down a success. This is a non-event. I haven’t lost even a wink of sleep.”

Gotta love the spin. All of a sudden, Skinnygirl decided not to continue in Whole Foods!

Bethenny isn't just giving it straight, with no chaser when she's defending her margaritas.  She also spoke out about the Russell Armstrong suicide controversy.  While admitting how tragic the loss of life was, Bethenny opines, “It’s preposterous to blame a TV show for someone’s suicide,” she tells USA Today. “When the show started filming, I’d heard he wasn’t so kind to his wife. But I know nothing about them.” 

“People sign very lengthy documents and they know what they’re getting into. Life is stressful. It’s unfair to blame a TV show for something personal,” she added. “I believe that. I really do. If I go through something horrendous, there’s no discussion that Bravo had anything to do with that.”

Bethenny doesn't have a lot of positive things to say about reality TV these days, so this is remarkable.

Bethenny Thinks It's "Preposterous" To Blame Bravo for Suicide

#StraightTalk

Bethenny Frankel had already responded to Whole Foods' removal of her Skinnygirl Margaritas from its popular health food chain of stores on Twitter.  Whole Foods refused to re-order any more product after discovering the margarita says it's all natural on the bottle with no preservatives, but actually contains the preservative sodium benzoate.

Whole Foods issued a statement to Access Hollywood saying, Skinnygirl “had been offered in 16 of Whole Foods Market’s 310 stores. After discovering that it contains a preservative that does not meet our quality standards, we have had to stop selling it.”

Bethenny released a more official statement, in which she downplayed the controversy. “I’m not making wheatgrass here. If I could put an agave plant and some limes on a shelf I would. [The Skinnygirl Margarita] is as close to nature as possible, while still being a shelf stable product. Skinnygirl cocktails were created to solve a problem: to create a line of guilt free cocktails allowing women to drink the indulgent drinks they actually want to drink with as few ingredients as possible.”

Truly, the small amount of a single preservative doesn't seem like that big of a deal. The idea was to make a healthier margarita. Of course nothing is 100% healthy. The problem is with the marketing. There are consumer laws that protect misleading buyers. And saying the product is all natural without any preservatives can be misleading. The problem is really with the wording.

Bethenny proceeded to dismiss the importance of Whole Foods to their brand, saying, “With all due respect to Whole Foods, we were in a dozen of their stores and have decided not to continue in these stores. They represent an infinitesimal fraction of our business. We are, in fact, the fastest growing spirits brand in the US,” her statement continued. “We were bound to piss someone off and everyone loves to try to tear down a success. This is a non-event. I haven’t lost even a wink of sleep.”

Gotta love the spin. All of a sudden, Skinnygirl decided not to continue in Whole Foods!

Bethenny isn't just giving it straight, with no chaser when she's defending her margaritas.  She also spoke out about the Russell Armstrong suicide controversy.  While admitting how tragic the loss of life was, Bethenny opines, “It’s preposterous to blame a TV show for someone’s suicide,” she tells USA Today. “When the show started filming, I’d heard he wasn’t so kind to his wife. But I know nothing about them.” 

“People sign very lengthy documents and they know what they’re getting into. Life is stressful. It’s unfair to blame a TV show for something personal,” she added. “I believe that. I really do. If I go through something horrendous, there’s no discussion that Bravo had anything to do with that.”

Bethenny doesn't have a lot of positive things to say about reality TV these days, so this is remarkable.

Bethenny Might Be Done With Bravo

#BethennyNeverAfter

Gossip Center/Zimbio/Trulia


Huffington Post is reporting that Bethenny's days with Bravo are numbered.  Bethenny has been added as the new host of an upcoming Telepictures talk show, which her pal Ellen Degeneres is involved in.  The pairing is no surprise as Bethenny seems to be on Ellen's current talk show every week.

“Telepictures couldn’t be happier with the pilot Bethenny shot. They know they have discovered the next great talk show host and it's Bethenny,” a TV insider tells HP. “This is 100 percent on the fast track. Plus, with Ellen behind her this will be huge.”

The insider adds, “Bravo has been good to Bethenny but at the same time, Bethenny has been good to Bravo. This is business and making the right move for her future. She will always be grateful for everything they have done but at the same time, after the tragic news of the suicide of a cast member of the Beverly Hills 'Housewives,' she doesn’t want to be part of an organization that rewards bad behavior.”

Whatever Bethenny's feelings on Bravo and reality TV are, she's still a part of it.  Bethenny was spotted filming away in New York City with comedian Lisa Lampanelli at ROC Restaurant, Monday, August 22.  Bethenny wore a green top, white skirt and gold heels, looking very sophisticated. 

Bethenny is preparing to move, but not to LA like she once tried to do. She just closed on a 3,000-square-foot $4.5 million, four-bedroom home located in Tribeca. The home is in the same building that hosted the most non secretive secretive wedding of all time, Beyonce and Jay-Z's.>

It appears that Bethenny is finally using that $120 million she earned in the Skinnygirl deal.  The home is definitely an upgrade from the cute, but small apartment she filmed her reality show in during past season.  According to Trulia (who has more photos of the posh place):

It’s an enormous (not a word you hear very often in NYC real estate), corner unit with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 11’3 ceilings. 16 large windows line the walls, opening the home up to spectacular New York City views. A decorative fireplace with Bateig Azul limestone is the centerpiece of the formal living/dining room, including wet bar with wine fridge, sink and ice-maker. Sunny east-facing kitchen features Pietra di Bedonia stone counter tops, glass tiles, Sub Zero refrigerator, Thermador professional stovetop, warming oven, and a Miele dishwasher.

Situated in the Northeast corner is the media room complete with blackout shades, and “built-ins” housing state-of-the-art surround sound for the entire home. A library is attached to a sizeable master suite and incredible Chambord limestone clad master bath with maple cabinetry, dual sinks, Whirlpool soaking tub and separate standing steam shower. Two additional bedrooms and bathrooms are also finished in Chambord limestone/glass tile and glass mosaic tiles.

But Bethenny still has some interest in going LA.  Her fourth reality star, yes fourth, titled Bethenny Goes L.A., will debut later this year.  For someone with so much to say about Bravo and reality TV, she sure can't get away from them.  She's competing with the Kardashians for most reality shows.

Bethenny has recently denied that her show is getting a new title.  She tweeted, "My show isn’t called “bethenny goes LA.” Bit of advice:50%of what you hear is true (if that)."

Bethenny is definitely loving white this summer.  She wore another white outfit, this time a cute knitted dress, as she was leaving the Prada store in SoHo, New York, Tuesday, August 30.  Although it's a close call, this knit dress beats Bethenny's white outfit above by a hair.  It's just uber chic and a perfect daytime summer look.

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Bethenny Might Be Done With Bravo

#BethennyNeverAfter

Gossip Center/Zimbio/Trulia


Huffington Post is reporting that Bethenny's days with Bravo are numbered.  Bethenny has been added as the new host of an upcoming Telepictures talk show, which her pal Ellen Degeneres is involved in.  The pairing is no surprise as Bethenny seems to be on Ellen's current talk show every week.

“Telepictures couldn’t be happier with the pilot Bethenny shot. They know they have discovered the next great talk show host and it's Bethenny,” a TV insider tells HP. “This is 100 percent on the fast track. Plus, with Ellen behind her this will be huge.”

The insider adds, “Bravo has been good to Bethenny but at the same time, Bethenny has been good to Bravo. This is business and making the right move for her future. She will always be grateful for everything they have done but at the same time, after the tragic news of the suicide of a cast member of the Beverly Hills 'Housewives,' she doesn’t want to be part of an organization that rewards bad behavior.”

Whatever Bethenny's feelings on Bravo and reality TV are, she's still a part of it.  Bethenny was spotted filming away in New York City with comedian Lisa Lampanelli at ROC Restaurant, Monday, August 22.  Bethenny wore a green top, white skirt and gold heels, looking very sophisticated. 

Bethenny is preparing to move, but not to LA like she once tried to do. She just closed on a 3,000-square-foot $4.5 million, four-bedroom home located in Tribeca. The home is in the same building that hosted the most non secretive secretive wedding of all time, Beyonce and Jay-Z's.>

It appears that Bethenny is finally using that $120 million she earned in the Skinnygirl deal.  The home is definitely an upgrade from the cute, but small apartment she filmed her reality show in during past season.  According to Trulia (who has more photos of the posh place):

It’s an enormous (not a word you hear very often in NYC real estate), corner unit with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 11’3 ceilings. 16 large windows line the walls, opening the home up to spectacular New York City views. A decorative fireplace with Bateig Azul limestone is the centerpiece of the formal living/dining room, including wet bar with wine fridge, sink and ice-maker. Sunny east-facing kitchen features Pietra di Bedonia stone counter tops, glass tiles, Sub Zero refrigerator, Thermador professional stovetop, warming oven, and a Miele dishwasher.

Situated in the Northeast corner is the media room complete with blackout shades, and “built-ins” housing state-of-the-art surround sound for the entire home. A library is attached to a sizeable master suite and incredible Chambord limestone clad master bath with maple cabinetry, dual sinks, Whirlpool soaking tub and separate standing steam shower. Two additional bedrooms and bathrooms are also finished in Chambord limestone/glass tile and glass mosaic tiles.

But Bethenny still has some interest in going LA.  Her fourth reality star, yes fourth, titled Bethenny Goes L.A., will debut later this year.  For someone with so much to say about Bravo and reality TV, she sure can't get away from them.  She's competing with the Kardashians for most reality shows.

Bethenny has recently denied that her show is getting a new title.  She tweeted, "My show isn’t called “bethenny goes LA.” Bit of advice:50%of what you hear is true (if that)."

Bethenny is definitely loving white this summer.  She wore another white outfit, this time a cute knitted dress, as she was leaving the Prada store in SoHo, New York, Tuesday, August 30.  Although it's a close call, this knit dress beats Bethenny's white outfit above by a hair.  It's just uber chic and a perfect daytime summer look.

You should follow us on twitter here.

You should like us on facebook here.

Whole Foods Isn't Carrying Skinnygirl Margaritas Anymore

#Business

The rumor mill was buzzing today that Whole Foods pulled Bethenny Frankel's $120 million Skinnygirl Margaritas from shelves.  Whole Foods uncovered that the Skinnygirl bottle claims the ingredients are all natural, but the product really contains a preservative.

A Michigan Whole Foods employee told TMZ the product was pulled because "it was learned the ingredients are not natural."

A spokesman for Beam, the company that purchased the line of margaritas for somewhere in the neighborhood of $120 million, said, Whole Foods never "pulled" the product, but simply decided not to reorder.  A minor technicality.  A distinction without a difference.  The point is Whole Foods will no longer be carrying the drink, which has to be significant.  The store is one of the leaders in natural foods, which is definitely Bethenny's market.

The rep added more about the product, explaining that "Skinnygirl Margarita contains very low levels of sodium benzoate (a preservative) so it can stay on the shelves."

Whole Foods Isn't Carrying Skinnygirl Margaritas Anymore

#Business

The rumor mill was buzzing today that Whole Foods pulled Bethenny Frankel's $120 million Skinnygirl Margaritas from shelves.  Whole Foods uncovered that the Skinnygirl bottle claims the ingredients are all natural, but the product really contains a preservative.

A Michigan Whole Foods employee told TMZ the product was pulled because "it was learned the ingredients are not natural."

A spokesman for Beam, the company that purchased the line of margaritas for somewhere in the neighborhood of $120 million, said, Whole Foods never "pulled" the product, but simply decided not to reorder.  A minor technicality.  A distinction without a difference.  The point is Whole Foods will no longer be carrying the drink, which has to be significant.  The store is one of the leaders in natural foods, which is definitely Bethenny's market.

The rep added more about the product, explaining that "Skinnygirl Margarita contains very low levels of sodium benzoate (a preservative) so it can stay on the shelves."