This week on 'The Real Housewives of New York', Bethenny Frankel confronted her estranged stepfather, and Carole Radziwill and LuAnn de Lesseps argued about Carole's boyfriend.
Last week, Bethenny gave Sonja Morgan some advice after she went off the rails in Atlantic City, but Bethenny has her own problems to deal with. During a visit to her therapist, she talked about her failed marriage and her failed talk show. She also revealed that she started talking to John Parisella — her stepfather — again.
Bethenny credits John for raising her, but she revealed that he suffered from alcohol addiction and that he was physically abusive. Bethenny says that once, she saw him beat her mother with a telephone and that John attacked her when she was 19. Nevertheless, she says that he's the only father she ever knew.
On a trip to Miami, Bethenny decided to reconnect with John. She met her stepfather at the beach and told him that they had abuse, gambling, and alcohol in the family. John said that he's not making any excuses for the way he behaved.
"I can't imagine any of this stuff with my daughter," said Bethenny.
"[Your mother] never wanted a child," he said.
"She never wanted a child?" Bethenny asked. "Excellent. That was evident."
John told her that he's sorry and that he's proud of her success. He told her that he has so many good memories of their family and blames drugs for many of his troubles. He believes that Bethenny still hasn't let go of the past and tells her it's not healthy. He also admitted that he was mad since he never heard from her for the last 20 years.
"You got crazy on me, and that was the last time we spoke," said Bethenny. "I'm the child, I reached out."
"You got successful and had no time for me," said her stepfather.
Bethenny told him that she tried to contact him, and tearfully told him, "I think of you and tell everyone you are the only father I've ever known. I'm not angry."
Ultimately, the two made up and Bethenny promised to bring Bryn with her the next time she visits Miami.
Back in New York, Ramona Singer, Carole, LuAnn, and Kristen Taekman got together to watch a boxing match. After the fight, they're joined by Heather Thomson.
Later, the ladies asked LuAnn how she feels about Carole dating LuAnn's 28-year old chef, who happens to be her niece's ex. LuAnn said that he's a little young and he's the ex-boyfriend of her niece, and Ramona said she understands because LuAnn's niece is like a daughter to her. When asked how long ago since they broke up, Carole said it was a long time ago, while LuAnn said that it was more like six months ago.
"Lu lecturing me on dating younger men is like the Saudi government lecturing the world on feminism," Carole lamented to the camera. "I love Lu, but sometimes, she can be a hypocrite of epic proportion."
"The Real Housewives of New York" airs on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Bravo.
