On tonight’s Real Housewives of New York, Bethenny Frankel confronts Dorinda Medley about her drinking after a very dramatic night. They are both facing each other on a plane, so there is no where to hide as Bethenny takes Dorinda to task over her behavior when she drinks. Of course drinking and picking fights are hallmarks of the Real Housewives franchises, but are there moments when the antics cross a line? Should Bethenny be the one to draw this kind of line?
“Sometimes you treat me worse than Ramona. I just cut you some slack because you’re a drunk,” Bethenny honestly tells Dorinda in a preview clip.
Well, I’m not,” Dorinda replies. “I can’t not eat and then drink early. I can’t. I should have gone to bed last night.”
“But it was seven o’clock,” Bethenny responds. “You can’t be going to bed at seven o’clock.”
“I know,” says Dorinda. “But I shouldn’t have drank at four.”
“Then you shouldn’t be drinking,” Bethenny says. “Because when you drink, you get mean.”
Dorinda apologies and Bethenny says she doesn’t have to apologize, she just wants her to not do it anymore. She says Dorinda scares her when she drinks because of how cutting her words can be.
“I don’t think I’m an alcoholic,” Dorinda says. “I think sometimes I use alcohol as an excuse to exhibit bad behavior.”
In the talking-head interview, a more refreshed Dorinda gives her opinion that Bethenny likes to label people. “It’s just not fair, and it’s not accurate, and Bethenny has had her moments. One night does not define people. But, you know, if she wants to talk about it, we’ll talk about it.”
Although Dorinda does acknowledge that alcohol led to toxic behavior on her part, she chalks it up to not eating enough. Alcohol flows freely during most Real Housewives adventures and the truth is that some people are more prone to overdoing it and using it as a way to cope with trauma, depression and anxiety. Still, if you suspect someone in a group has a problem (or a deeper problem) is it really an effective strategy to call them “a drunk,” when addressing the issue? Dorinda’s right that labels can push people away.
Amelia Cunningham is a Starcasm writer and editor
