Andy Cohen Calls New “RHONY” Cast 'Very Aspirational' After Bethenny Frankel Said the Show Was a 'Piece of Trash'

"I really believe in this group of women…I think they’re fun to watch. I think the clothes and the window into a different kind of New York is all what we wanted it to be," Cohen said of the new 'RHONY' cast

Andy Cohen is standing by the new cast of The Real Housewives of New York City after Bethenny Frankel criticized the reboot.

The Watch What Happens Live host, 56, told Deadline at Bravo Fan Fest that there are “a lot of interesting personal stories with the women in the new New York.”

The Housewives executive producer went on to defend the new cast — which includes Brynn Whitfield, Erin Lichy, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank, Ubah Hassan, Sai De Silva and Racquel Chevremont — following criticism of their friendships.

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“I think the group dynamic is a little bit of a challenge this season,” he explained. “I think the rap on the group in Season 1 was, ‘Oh, there’s not a lot of history there.’ The interesting thing about them this season is they hang out a lot and they are a cohesive group.”

The television personality added that he still has faith in the cast, saying, “I really believe in this group of women. I think they’re very aspirational. I think they’re fun to watch. I think the clothes and the window into a different kind of New York is all what we wanted it to be.”

Cohen also reflected on the success of the original show, which starred Bethenny Frankel, Jill Zarin, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer and Luann de Lesseps in season 1 before undergoing several casting shake-ups.

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Following a tumultuous 13th season, Cohen announced that the series would be ushering in a new cast in addition to the network's plans to launch a spinoff series, RHONY Legacy, though talks for the series fell apart during contract negotiations in early 2023. Instead, former New York housewives de Lesseps, Morgan, Singer, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Dorinda Medley and Kristen Taekman reunited for the fifth season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.

“We had 13 great seasons, plus a Girls Trip with that group of women, which is an incredible accomplishment,” Cohen shared. “A lot changed, a lot shifted in [their] world and in life — Sonja is now living in Florida, Ramona basically lives in Florida. Things have shifted.”

“So with this group of RHONY, we’re kind of looking to the future with them,” he added. “I loved the original, but this is a new group.”

Related: Bethenny Frankel Says Andy Cohen 'Likely Despises Me' amid 'Reality Reckoning' and Legal War Against Bravo

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Cohen’s comments come after Frankel, 54, criticized the show in a since-deleted TikTok video.

“The new girls — I’m sure they’re lovely,” she shared. “I haven’t seen the show, [but] I’m actually sure that they’re lovely.

“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. Humble pie is coming in hot,” she claimed.

The Real Housewives of New York City can be streamed on Peacock.