Real Housewives of New York star-turned-businesswoman Bethenny Frankel spilled the tea about her longtime beef with entrepreneur Martha Stewart during a recent episode of her Just B with Bethenny Frankel podcast.
Frankel compared their rivalry to that of another iconic feud involving Hollywood legends Joan Crawford and Bette Davis.
She said of the founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia:
"We're definitely not friends."
"But we almost did this TV project together despite the fact that she can't stand me."
According to Frankel, the animosity was mutual.
"And I can't really stand her either," she said.
\u201cBethenny Frankel Says She and Martha Stewart Hate Each Other https://t.co/5nsSy7suSB\u201d— B. Scott (@B. Scott) 1676507842
Apparently, the bad blood between them dates back to 2005 when Frankel appeared as a contestant on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart–a spinoff of the series originally hosted by former Republican President Donald Trump.
When Frankel made it to the final two on the reality TV show, she recalled the manner in which she wound up getting "fired" from the competition.
"What she said to me when she fired me was insane."
"She said, 'Bethenny, you're pushy, you're a show-off and you feel the need to make a physical impression which is not entirely necessary at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.'"
\u201c@FUCKOFFHOMOxxx snatched clean off by the end i think\u201d— yolanda fister (@yolanda fister) 1676485281
Frankel interpreted Stewart's notes as a personal attack and drove the point home about being disliked.
"Oh yeah, she hated me. She hated me."
Stewart seemed to pick up on the vibe the feeling was mutual when the two ran into each other at a party on a yacht in St. Barts after the short-lived season of the show wrapped.
When Stewart introduced a friend to the Apprentice runner-up, she allegedly said of Frankel:
"'This is Bethenny, she was on my show but she didn't win, so she's mad at me.'"
\u201c@TMZ @TooFab Martha wins this battle.\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1676431207
\u201c@yolandafister This is so niche but I'm living\u201d— yolanda fister (@yolanda fister) 1676485281
\u201c@TMZ @TooFab I Stan Martha even more \ud83d\ude4c\ud83c\udffe\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1676431207
Frankel said she set the record straight on the spot.
"I looked at her and said, 'Martha, I'm not mad at you. You're like someone I used to date that I'm still in love with."
"That was that, and it was icy."
That wasn't the last uncomfortable reunion for the pair.
After the season aired, tabloids dug up a low-budget film in which Frankel was featured, topless for a scene. She said being in news headlines for it was the worst thing that ever happened to her at the time.
Stewart was apparently cognizant of Frankel's scandalous scene and mentioned it when the two ran into each other again.
"I see her at a restaurant and I sit down next to her and she goes, 'Oh, Bethenny, I just saw your movie.'"
"The movie was from years ago... for her to say that was the sickest, sickest statement anyone's ever said."
\u201c@yolandafister I\u2019m dying. Bethenny thought her usual crying on cue would work and Martha said NOT TODAY\u201d— yolanda fister (@yolanda fister) 1676485281
In response to the slight, Frankel threw shade back by referencing Stewart's run-in with the law for insider trading in 2001.
"So I say back to her, 'Oh really Martha? Well I just got an insider stock tip.'"
You can watch the aforementioned moments being highlighted in this clip.
\u201ccompilation of martha stewart gagging bethenny frankel a bit\u201d— yolanda fister (@yolanda fister) 1676485281
In spite of their friction, Frankel opened the episode by giving the former homemaking guru props for her drive when it comes to taking care of business.
"I've always respected her work ethic and that she's a ball-buster going for it her own way, and whether or not she'll admit it or not, she feels the same way about me."
Stewart eventually was a guest on Frankel's podcast, and the host gave Stewart credit for agreeing to make an appearance.
