Erika Jayne lashes back after Bethenny Frankel calls her 'a middle-aged woman reliving her teenage years with a young man' – Bravo cross-franchise drama erupts
Erika Jayne has finally broken her silence and clapped back at Bethenny Frankel with a ferocity that even longtime Bravo fans didn’t see coming after the RHONY alum took aim at Erika’s romance with younger boyfriend Jesse Solomon in what many are now calling one of the most vicious cross-franchise feuds in recent Bravo history. During the latest episode of her podcast, Bethenny referred to Erika as “a middle-aged woman reliving her teenage years with a young man,” a remark that instantly sparked outrage from fans and insiders alike for what was seen as a thinly veiled jab laced with both age-shaming and classist undertones.
Not one to hold her tongue, Erika wasted no time in firing back. In a now-viral comment made during a recent RHOBH taping in Beverly Hills, Erika reportedly said, “I may be reliving my teenage years, but at least I’m not spending mine bitter behind a microphone begging for attention. Let me live. I’ve earned this.” Her words were met with cheers from crew members and stunned silence from some castmates, with one insider revealing that “Erika wasn’t just pissed, she was hurt. This wasn’t just shade—it felt like a personal attack.”
Sources close to Erika say she feels betrayed by Bethenny’s remarks, especially given that the two once shared mutual respect as women navigating public divorces and financial scrutiny. “She thought Bethenny would understand what it’s like to rebuild yourself, to try and find happiness again—especially after being dragged through hell publicly,” one friend told DailyMail+. “Instead, Bethenny turned it into a punchline.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Erika took to her private Instagram story the next morning, posting a cryptic quote that read, “Jealousy is a disease. Get well soon,” along with a boomerang of her sipping champagne on the patio of her Hollywood Hills estate, with Jesse seen briefly in the background. Fans were quick to decode the message, flooding Bethenny’s social media with angry comments and accusing her of being “obsessed,” “mean-spirited,” and “projecting her own loneliness.”
Meanwhile, Jesse Solomon himself has reportedly been blindsided by the drama. A source close to the 34-year-old businessman revealed that he was “shocked and hurt” by Bethenny’s tone and “disappointed that a woman he once admired would attack someone’s relationship just for headlines.” Although he has yet to make a public statement, insiders say Jesse is encouraging Erika to “rise above it,” though Erika herself remains “fired up and unapologetic.”
Bravo executives are said to be monitoring the situation closely, as tensions continue to mount between stars of RHOBH and RHONY, many of whom have already taken sides behind the scenes. One production insider admitted, “There’s talk about a possible Bravo crossover reunion next year, but with the way things are going, it’s unclear whether Erika and Bethenny can even be in the same room without security nearby.”
This latest clash has only intensified the ongoing debate among Bravo fans about ageism, double standards, and whether some OGs are simply unable to handle losing relevance in the face of newer, bolder narratives. “Bethenny built her brand on being unfiltered,” one fan commented, “but at some point, unfiltered becomes cruel—and Erika is right to stand up for herself.”
With both women refusing to back down and Bravo’s audience more divided than ever, one thing is certain: the feud between Erika Jayne and Bethenny Frankel is far from over—and the fallout may just be Bravo’s biggest scandal of the year.
