Rebecca Minkoff wrought the wrath of Real Housewives of New York fans by starting a pregnancy rumor that was ultimately revealed to be a prank.
The 42-year-old fashion designer and wife of original Lion King director Rob Minkoff started a rumor with the help of Erin Lichy that she was pregnant from a fling with another man.
The ladies were all stunned with the news, relayed by Lichy, 37, who said she 'heard from someone' that Rebecca is pregnant and she doesn't know who the father is.
The news stunned Jessel Taank and Brynn Whitfield, with Rebecca herself lending credence to the rumor by blowing up at Erin after Jenna Lyons told her about the rumor.
The episode ended revealing that Rebecca and Erin were clearly in cahoots and that the pregnancy was a prank, which fans - and executive producer and Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen - was clearly not a fan of.
Rebecca Minkoff wrought the wrath of Real Housewives of New York fans by starting a pregnancy rumor that was ultimately revealed to be a prank.
The ladies were all stunned with the news, relayed by Lichy, 37, who said she 'heard from someone' that Rebecca is pregnant and she doesn't know who the father is
The episode ended revealing that Rebecca and Erin were clearly in cahoots and that the pregnancy was a prank, which fans - and executive producer and Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen - was clearly not a fan of
Cohen kicked off Tuesday's episode of WWHL by addressing it immediately, insisting, 'I'm not a fan of a prank, I've got to be honest.'
His guests - RHONY star Sai De Silva and house flipper/radio host Jeff Lewis - were also not impressed.
Sai said her, 'mouth was on the floor, I was completely in shock,' and Jeff said he, 'had no idea' it was a prank while watching it.
'I think it's a bad move. I think it's self-producing. I think that you lose trust in your audience. I think it's a bad move. I don't like pranks,' Jeff insisted.
Some fans online like @dodiedarrah thought the prank was messed up enough to call for the show to end.
'WTAF #RHONY sigh I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you! Seriously, a pregnancy prank, a pregnancy prank. Weird beyond weird. This prank will he the End of rhony,' the X user said.
@isbyeathreat agreed, adding, 'The way this manufactured pregnancy prank will go down as one of the worst storylines ever seen on housewives can not be understated. This show needs to be cancelled, the cast is beyond repair. What a horrible season, i'm speechless.'
@Bravobabe_ said, 'So we just watched an entire episode about a pregnancy prank? Seriously?'
'I think it's a bad move. I think it's self-producing. I think that you lose trust in your audience. I think it's a bad move. I don't like pranks,' Jeff insisted
Some fans online like @dodiedarrah thought the prank was messed up enough to call for the show to end
@isbyeathreat agreed, adding, 'The way this manufactured pregnancy prank will go down as one of the worst storylines ever seen on housewives can not be understated. This show needs to be cancelled, the cast is beyond repair. What a horrible season, i'm speechless'
@Bravobabe_ said, 'So we just watched an entire episode about a pregnancy prank? Seriously?'
@Justgreat79 added, 'Ok, I've been a reboot #RHONY apologist bc I feel it takes at least 2 seasons for a show to get on its legs but this episode has lost me. A pregnancy prank? Really? These women have NOTHING. If I was a producer I woulda picked up those dodge balls and started chucking!
@BrvoUniversitea said, 'Wait. It was fake?! I'm done with you guys. Not even a fun prank. Just a waste of time'
@caylanicolex knew all along though, adding, 'I'm sorry... no one knew this was a prank???? I clocked it from the start, Rebecca Minkoff was trying to show she wasn't boring.. COME ON.'
@meganmesmile added, 'We should've known this pregnancy rumor was going to be a prank, we've already caught editors leaving Brynn and Rebecca Minkoff self-producing in the previous episodes! This is just embarrassing. You know our OG #RHONY ladies are wondering what the hell this mess is!'
While Jeff Lewis admitted he was a fan of the rebooted RHONY after previously questioning it, he's clearly not a fan of Brynn.
Andy asked him about why he publicly questioned if Brynn had a sugar daddy, but he clarified the matter.
'What I said was that I thought that she was possibly being supplemented and that could mean a lot of things,' Jeff insisted.
'I never called her an escort. I never called her a prostitute. This is what she is saying that I called her,' he added.
@Justgreat79 added, 'Ok, I've been a reboot #RHONY apologist bc I feel it takes at least 2 seasons for a show to get on its legs but this episode has lost me. A pregnancy prank? Really? These women have NOTHING. If I was a producer I woulda picked up those dodge balls and started chucking!'
@BrvoUniversitea said, 'Wait. It was fake?! I'm done with you guys. Not even a fun prank. Just a waste of time'
@caylanicolex knew all along though, adding, 'I'm sorry... no one knew this was a prank???? I clocked it from the start, Rebecca Minkoff was trying to show she wasn't boring.. COME ON.'
@meganmesmile added, 'We should've known this pregnancy rumor was going to be a prank, we've already caught editors leaving Brynn and Rebecca Minkoff self-producing in the previous episodes! This is just embarrassing. You know our OG #RHONY ladies are wondering what the hell this mess is!'
Fans react to the pregnancy prank on Real Housewives of New York
Jeff said he never said Brynn had a sugar daddy. Jeff said he doesn't know if video of Shannon on the night she was arrested even existed. He said he had never seen it. Jeff said that RHONY was his favorite reality show right now.
Elsewhere in the episode, Erin told Rebecca that Brynn made some comment about her behind her back saying she didn't know that Nordstrom Rack gave out awards when she was at a fashion award show.
'I think it's pretty distasteful for her to come for my career, or anything I've done, frankly,' Rebecca said in a confessional. 'I'm not sure what she's done. It's like a little yap dog trying to bite you. I have been bit by real sharks, so this is nothing for me.'
Erin asked Rebecca how it worked for her being Jewish and a Scientologist.
'So being Jewish is my religion, obviously,' Rebecca said. 'And then the other is really an applied philosophy that when it gets rough that's where I can get tools to help me with communication, with the stress of life, dealing with kids, a business.'
Erin said then it isn't really a religion.
'I think that it is unfortunate that there are a lot of stereotypes out there that are people who don't have the right information, are working with inadequate data, and I would just ask people to check it out for yourself, whether it is reading a book going online, watching the tv station about it,' Rebecca said in a confessional.
'When you say go read a book, obviously in my mind the first book that comes to mind is 'Going Clear,' a producer said.
Elsewhere in the episode, Erin told Rebecca that Brynn made some comment about her behind her back saying she didn't know that Nordstrom Rack gave out awards when she was at a fashion award show
'I think it's pretty distasteful for her to come for my career, or anything I've done, frankly,' Rebecca said in a confessional. 'I'm not sure what she's done. It's like a little yap dog trying to bite you. I have been bit by real sharks, so this is nothing for me'
Jessel took her husband Pavit's credit card and took her mother shopping. She said she found a therapist to help Pavit warm up to the idea of having another baby
'Don't go read that book,' Rebecca said.
Rebecca said Scientology was her choice when she was 18 and helps her to deal with the 'insanity of life.'
Sai De Silva, 43, brought her daughter London to check out Rebecca's props from the movie Wicked. She gave her a sneak peak from her new line inspired by the movie and a purse to take home.
Raquel Chevremont, 53, and her fiance Mel met Erin and her husband Abe for drinks. Abe said in a confessional that he came close to kissing a guy in college and questioned his sexuality.
Raquel said she was married and it didn't work out. She later realized she needed to be true and honest to herself.
Jessel took her husband Pavit's credit card and took her mother shopping. She said she found a therapist to help Pavit warm up to the idea of having another baby.
Sai had everyone meet at Chelsea Piers to play dodgeball. Brynn wore a chest protector to protect her 'implants.' Brynn brought up how Sai was on a podcast and called Rebecca boring in a hot mic moment.
'I did say it's boring,' Sai admitted in a confessional.
