The Real Reason Carole Radziwill Can't Stand Andy Cohen

In 2012, Carole Radziwill joined Real Housewives of New York after executive producer Andy Cohen approached her, with Daily Beast and other outlets perpetuating the public perception that Andy and Carole were "friends" before she became a reality TV star.

Former New York Housewife Aviva Drescher actually attributed her own exit from the show to that friendship during a 2018 appearance on The Reality Rundown, theorizing that it "comes down a lot to Carole." She even speculated that the only reason Carole was still on RHONY was because "she is best friends with Andy for many many years." Aviva claimed, "That's a political game over there. She's positioned herself and made herself popular on social media. She's very well set up over there where she really doesn't have to do anything. She has major job security."

However, Carole announced her own departure from the series two months later, telling Bravo's The Daily Dish, "I am sure this does not come as a surprise to any of the viewers, all of whom have been supportive, encouraging, and kind. My original curiosity about reality television has waned over the years and I am focusing on TV and writing projects that better suit my more steady temperament." She said, "I have worked with amazing producers, made great friends, and I'm thrilled to leave frenemies behind." However, she didn't completely leave the frenemies behind, sharing her insights on Andy a few times since her RHONY exit.

During the Real Housewives of New York Season 10 reunion, Andy Cohen told Carole Radziwill and Bethenny Frankel that they "bashed each other" during their season-long feud. In response, Carole said, "You're so full of sh*t, Andy," before claiming, "I didn't bash her on the show." A year later, Carole doubled down on her "full of sh*t" remark, telling Jenny McCarthy, "If I said it, it was true and he was and he knew it." She emphasized, "It was very clear to me." Carole added that the way Andy supported Bethenny was unlike anything she'd seen before.

Andy reacted to Carole's reunion diss, saying, "What show is she watching? All I was doing was pointing out, yeah, you both have been talking sh*t about each other." The host further explained, "I wasn't saying anyone was talking more sh*t or not. You're both talking sh*t about each other. And you know we're going to show the receipts."

Andy called the situation "very Trumpian," which was an insulting comment to Carole who's been adamant about her dislike for Donald Trump. When Carole caught wind of that remark, she tweeted, "Lol. I stand by #FOS. Trumpian is what @Andy did. Created a false equivalent. He said we both bashed each other 'all season.' Look at the clips. I was in the same outfit a black top. B/c it was all the last episodes in interviews taped 2 weeks before the reunion."

In August 2018, a month after Carole Radziwill announced her exit from Real Housewives of New York, Andy Cohen commented on Bethenny Frankel's claim that Carole was fired and didn't actually quit the show. He told Us Weekly, "I never really comment on contracts or hiring or firing but I will say that we're gonna miss Carole a lot. She was an important part of the show for six years." He added, "I've known her for a long time, since the late '90s I think. So we obviously all wish her well." A month later, Andy told Page Six, "She had a great run on the show, and what a cool journey for her." He also said that they kept in touch, despite their heated reunion exchange... and those public comments addressing the moment. 

In February 2020, Heather McDonald asked Carole, "How's your relationship with Andy Cohen now?" In response, the former RHONY star revealed, "I haven't seen Andy since [the reunion]." It's unclear if they've texted or had some other form of communication since Carole taped her final episode.

During a February 2020 appearance on the Juicy Scoop With Heather McDonald podcast, Carole Radziwill recalled, "Back in Season 5, I think they were firing like four of the women and Andy [Cohen] was looking for women to take their place and I knew him." However, she clarified, "The idea that Andy and I were like BFFs was a manufactured idea in the press and it kind of took on a life of its own." 

Carole explained, "Andy and I knew each other for a long time through mutual friends. We had really good mutual friends. I never had dinner alone with Andy. To be honest, when I went to this dinner with our mutual friends and he mentioned 'Would I do the show?' I didn't even know he had a show." Referring to Watch What Happens Live, she said, "I knew Andy had a talk show and I didn't know where the women were coming from that were on the talk show all the time." She also claimed that she didn't watch any of the Real Housewives shows.

Although it seems like Carole and Andy's pre-show friendship has been exaggerated by the media, the same could be said for their supposed rift. It seems like there's no love lost between the two of them, but the animosity isn't actually as tense as it seemed during their infamous reunion moment.