When Real Housewives of New York comes back for its 15th season- and the second featuring the rebooted cast- two new ladies will join the Big Apple crew. Along with Racquel Chevremont as the newest Real Housewife, Rebecca Minkoff is on board as a “friend of” cast member.
If Rebecca’s name sounds familiar, it’s probably because of her namesake brand. Rebecca Minkoff is especially well known for her handbags, which were status symbols for a while in the 2010s. Naturally, Brynn Whitfield threw shade at her newest co-star in the Season 15 trailer, saying you’d find the designer’s items at Nordstrom Rack.
While her name is already well-known, Real Housewives of New York puts a bigger spotlight on Rebecca’s personal life. Including her life with her husband, Gavin Bellour, and their four kids. While we’ll surely learn more about Gavin when Season 15 premieres, here’s everything we know about Rebecca’s hubby so far.
How long have Rebecca Minkoff and Gavin Bellour been married?
Rebecca and Gavin wed in June 2009. According to a piece in Glamour about their wedding, Rebecca and Gavin were set up by a mutual friend. At first, their relationship was long distance, as they literally lived on opposite sides of the country. While Gavin initially intended to have a big surprise proposal, he ultimately asked Rebecca to marry him while lounging in bed.
Their first wedding ceremony was at a villa in Tuscany, Italy. Before choosing Tuscany, they considered getting married in Greece, because of the movie Mamma Mia. Personally, I find that tidbit very relatable! After tying the knot overseas, they made things official with a second ceremony in New York.
Glamour emphasized how Rebecca and Gavin’s wedding was all about fun. Rebecca didn’t wear a traditional wedding gown. Instead, the controversial new RHONY star opted for a short white strapless dress from Dolce & Gabbana. At the end of the night the newlyweds, and their guests, jumped in the pool!
On an Instagram post to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary, Rebecca wrote to Gavin, “Wouldn’t pick another partner and friend to go on this wild circus ride with. I love you.”
Gavin Bellour and Rebecca Minkoff’s “puppy farm” family
Rebecca and Gavin welcomed their fourth child, a son named Leonardo Scout, in January 2023. The couple share sons Luca, 11, and Nico, 4, as well as 8-year-old daughter Bowie. After announcing baby Leo’s birth, Rebecca told People, “I just think that from my past three, you know, it’s falling in love again. It’s always a beautiful thing, that time falling in love with your children.” The fashion designer added, “When you fall in love with your partner, there are compromises to be made, but when it’s your baby, it’s just pure love. And so I’m excited to have that again.”
For a Father’s Day tribute to Gavin, she wrote on Instagram, “When we got married and decided to begin our puppy farm, I had no idea what kind of father you would be-I actually hadn’t even thought about it.” She continued, “But when Luca arrived, and I saw your purpose as a father, I’d never felt so lucky to be with such an incredible partner. Interested, kind, caring and so present. Thank you for everything you do for this family and our four children, and for being such a good example of what fatherhood should look like.”
What does Gavin Bellour do for a living?
Gavin is a very successful commercial director. His portfolio includes collaborations with major brands, including Netflix, Red Bull, Staples, Dior, and Vogue. His recent work includes a Tito’s ad with Martha Stewart and a DoorDash ad starring Jessica Biel. He is currently a director with Chromista, a company co-founded by Black Swan filmmaker Darren Aronofsky.
In an interview with Little Black Book, Gavin said he’s drawn to projects with humor. “I’m just kind of fascinated with what makes us laugh and why,” the director said. Gavin added that humor is an “amazing tool” for “creating those moments of connection between people and the audience.” Speaking of humor, he recently directed a commercial for Edward’s with Jason Biggs that paid homage to the actor’s infamous pie scene in American Pie.
The UCLA grad has a history within the entertainment industry. As an actor, Gavin’s credits on IMDB include guest spots on shows like Rescue Me, Gilmore Girls, and Royal Pains. In addition to commercials, he directed a short film, as well as episodes of The Wanderers and Amplify.
Why is Rebecca’s personal life controversial?
While fans are learning more about her husband Gavin, there’s another part of the designer’s personal life that’s generating a lot of buzz. As soon as Rebecca’s RHONY casting was announced, reports came out about her history with Scientology.
Rebecca and, by extension, Gavin, have connections to a very notorious member of Scientology. That would be actor and convicted felon Danny Masterson. According to Glamour, he was the DJ at Rebecca and Gavin’s wedding. Notably, the magazine referred to Danny as Rebecca’s friend, and not as a friend of the couple. Reportedly, he was a close friend of Rebecca’s previous boyfriend, Ben Schulman. Danny was photographed with Rebecca in 2015. After that, it’s unclear if they remained friends amidst his legal troubles. And, speaking of legal troubles, Rebecca’s father was named in a disturbing lawsuit.
While some wondered if the RHONY reboot would ignore this, the Season 15 trailer showed otherwise. Well, kind of. When asked what they should say about Scientology, Rebecca responded, “no comment.” Jessel Taank’s face reflected how a lot of viewers felt!
At this time, we don’t know if Gavin is a Scientologist. However, being on a show like RHONY usually puts a heavy spotlight on your personal life. So, it’s possible we’ll learn more about whether or not Gavin is involved in the church once RHONY Season 15 premieres.
