Bethenny Frankel Takes Divorce Podcast Hiatus To Mourn Mom's Death
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Bethenny Frankel is taking a well-needed break from her "Just B Divorced" podcast as she grieves the loss of her mother, Bernadette Birk.
The "Real Housewives of New York City" alum announced her hiatus in an emotional social media post, noting that her mother's death, coupled with the attention on her podcast, was too much to handle.
Bethenny Frankel Temporarily Halts Podcast Episodes
The reality TV star dropped the announcement on her Instagram Story, explaining that she is halting her "Just B Divorced" podcast following recent events. In her words:
"I have chosen to temporarily remove my divorce podcast as a result of an overwhelming response and an influx of messages that have converged with the most significant loss of my life."
"It is impossible for me to give and process both of these traumatic events at the same time," Frankel continued. She also noted that the "unforeseen circumstances and the reaction to this triggering topic" proved how crucial it was to address the topic of divorce.
The media personality promised the conversation would continue in the coming weeks and assured fans that she would help them navigate their "challenging divorce journey" before signing out: "I love you all and am so grateful to you for supporting me in both areas."
Frankel Announced Her Mother's Death In A Poignant Post
Over the weekend, Frankel addressed her mother's passing in a poignant post on Instagram. She shared a carousel of images detailing the late matriarch's youth and the precious memories she shared with her daughter.
One of such tender moments showed Birk celebrating her daughter at her wedding, presumably her first marriage to Peter Sussman, given the throwback images. Frankel captioned the slideshow with her grief and love for her mother, writing:
"My mother has died of lung cancer. She was complex, in pain, isolated, and had demons. She was the most stunning woman you have ever seen, who left her abusive home as quickly as I ran from mine. I was born on her [birthday.]"
According to Frankel, her mother was "brilliant, funny, cultured, and wise," yet several demons plagued her. The list included "a lifelong eating disorder, alcoholism, abuse, smoking, and self-destruction."
Frankel Says Her Late Mother Was 'Selfish In Life'
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In her emotional statement, Frankel explained that she was an adult long before her daughter, Bryn's age, and had experienced things that no young child should endure. Nonetheless, she was grateful to her mother despite their differences.
"We reconnected so my daughter could know and love her. She adored Bryn, and they shared a love of art. She had one friend, so my lifelong wish was granted that she wasn't alone," Frankel continued in the post, adding:
"She was selfish in life, yet selfless in death. She left what little she had to my daughter, wished to be cremated, and wanted no one to be notified besides me."
Frankel praised her mother for doing the best she could and hoped she was finally at peace. She concluded her statement with a message to fans, advising them to connect with their loved ones before it was too late.
Who Was The Reality TV Star's Mother?
The media personality's mother was an interior designer and model who tied the knot to horse trainer Robert J. Frankel. Unfortunately, the couple separated when their daughter was four years old.
Birk moved on with another horse trainer, John Parisella, who was also her ex-husband's friend. Over the years, Frankel has addressed her relationship with her mother as complicated and once claimed the deceased was "never a mother" to her.
She shared more details about her rocky upbringing in the book, "A Place of Yes," per The Sun. She partly wrote: "For me, my mom was a wild card. One minute, she was my best friend. The next minute, she was screaming."
Bethenny Frankel & Her Mother Were Estranged For Years Before Her Death
The mother and daughter were estranged for years before Birk's death and would occasionally exchange harsh words about one another in the media. When Frankel got selected to be a Shark Tank judge, the late matriarch said:
"She is a moron. She got very lucky, and she just knows how to surround herself with people who are intelligent. Bethenny is a liar and a shark. She ran through my guts. She will get along with the other sharks."
Birk also fired back at Frankel's claim that she had contacted her mother following her daughter's questions about her parents. "I don't think she really reached out; her daughter Bryn asked about me. She didn't reach out; the daughter did," the late matriarch explained.
"Well, I just said hello. I don't know the child. I've never seen her, so it was a very short little conversation," Birk continued, adding: "I asked her about her school and her age and just simple little questions. I didn't really speak to the mother that much."
