Andy Cohen Backs New "RHONY" Cast: "We’re Looking to the Future"

Andy Cohen supports the revamped Real Housewives of New York City (RHONY). The reboot has faced some backlash from fans on social media and from former Housewife Bethenny Frankel, who advocate for the return of the original cast. Despite this, Cohen, 56, expresses confidence in the new direction taken since season 14.

In an interview with Deadline, Cohen stated, "I really believe in this group of women." He highlighted their aspirational nature and engaging presence. "The clothes and the window into a different kind of New York is all what we wanted it to be."

Discussing the past, Cohen reflected on the previous cast, noting, "We had 13 great seasons, plus a girls’ trip with that group," which he views as a significant milestone. He pointed out changes in the show’s legacy stars: "Sonja [Morgan] now lives in Florida, and Ramona [Singer] basically lives in Florida. Things have shifted." He emphasized a forward-looking approach with the new RHONY group, stating, "I loved the original, but this is a new group."

The current RHONY cast features Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank, Ubah Hassan, Brynn Whitfield, Sai De Silva, and Erin Lichy, introduced in season 14. Additionally, Racquel Chevremont joined as a main cast member in season 15. Though Cohen backs the reboot, he acknowledged early challenges.

He remarked, "I think there are a lot of interesting personal stories with the women in the new New York." Additionally, he noted, "The group dynamic is a little bit of a challenge this season." He credited the first season's criticism to the lack of history among the group members, but he added, "The interesting thing about them this season is they hang out a lot and they are a cohesive group."

Cohen identified a growth area for the show. He mentioned, "A lot happens off camera—but for a housewife show, you need everything to happen on camera."

Cohen's remarks follow recent critiques from Bethenny Frankel, who challenged the reboot’s reception and called for the return of former cast members like Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan. In a now-deleted TikTok video, Frankel described the reboot as "unwatchable," referencing fan reaction videos. "Justice for Sonja, Dorinda [Medley], Luann [de Lesseps], Ramona," she exclaimed.

Frankel elaborated on the necessity of the old cast, saying, "They were ride or die. That show was on their back, and all of a sudden they all got replaced." She characterized the reboot’s viewership as disappointing, adding, "You got like 200,000 viewers watching this piece of trash. So, go get the old girls and dust them off and mix them in."

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