Jill Zarin Questions Luann de Lesseps About Her Sobriety in RHONY Return

Dave Quinn
Updated

Jill Zarin will be back on The Real Housewives of New York City next Wednesday, May 1 — and she’s coming with some tough questions for her pal Luann de Lesseps.

The original RHONY star, who left the show full-time following season 4, has returned again as a guest this season. In a clip of the episode, she sits with de Lesseps to talk about the Countess’ drinking after a match of tennis.

As fans know, de Lesseps has been sober since her second stint in rehab. But working on her popular #CountessAndFriends cabaret show often finds her in an environment where alcohol is present.

Is that hard for de Lesseps? That’s what Zarin wants to know. “I have a question for you with your sobriety: How do you handle being in a nightclub situation?” Zarin, 55, asks de Lesseps, 53.

RELATED: Luann de Lesseps Confirms Lawsuit Filed Against Her by Her Kids and Ex Has Been Dropped

Luann de Lesseps and Jill Zarin | Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Luann de Lesseps and Jill Zarin | Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Though de Lesseps has remained strong, she admits that “it’s not easy.”

“I can deal with people drinking, I can’t deal with sloppy,” de Lesseps says. “I didn’t drink at home, I didn’t hide alcohol, I didn’t do any of that. I am just a different alcoholic. The reason I say it that way is because most people wouldn’t consider me an alcoholic at all.”

“One drink for me throws me off,” de Lesseps adds. “A doctor that’s very close to me, he said, ‘You know what? You’re not pretty when you drink.’ I went, ‘What?’ He said, ‘Yeah, your face changes, you’re not pretty.’ I started looking at pictures of myself and saw a face I didn’t like.”

RELATED: RHONY Housewife Luann de Lesseps Says Sobriety ‘Is a Struggle’

Back in November, de Lesseps told PEOPLE that she’s feeling stronger than ever.

“I’ve gotten so more accomplished in the last six months than I have in the past couple of years!” she joked. “I mean, really — I’m just more on my game, more present, and more clear-headed. It’s crazy what not waking up with a hangover will do to you!”

De Lesseps also stressed that being sober has helped her handle conflicts between her and other cast members. “When you’re sober, you can deal with everything a lot better,” she said. “Things that used to rock my boat don’t rock my boat as much.”

The Real Housewives of New York City airs Wednesdays (9 p.m. ET) on Bravo.