Bethenny Frankel, the entrepreneur and former star of The Real Housewives of New York City, returned from a luxurious New Year's vacation in St. Barths with an unexpected souvenir: a bacterial infection on her face. The 55-year-old Skinnygirl founder shared a candid close-up of the rash on TikTok on January 5, 2026, captioning the video, "POV: You left St. Barths 3 days early and brought home a bacterial infection." She added a humorous note, "Allergic to St. Barths," highlighting the irony of her tropical getaway turning sour.
Frankel's trip, meant to ring in the new year with her 15-year-old daughter Bryn Hoppy—whom she shares with ex-husband Jason Hoppy—quickly became overwhelming. In an Instagram post on January 4, she described St. Barths as "the Hunger Games of holiday socialization" due to the heavy presence of celebrities flocking to the Caribbean island. Despite the chaos, Frankel emphasized the positive moments, writing, "I still found moments that really mattered. I spent special time with friends and my love, Bryn, and rang in the new year in a way that felt genuinely meaningful, surrounded by good people."
Photos from the vacation show Frankel mingling with high-profile figures, including actor Glen Powell, philanthropist Lauren Sánchez Bezos, and influencer Alix Earle. The group partied together as they celebrated the transition to 2026, underscoring the island's status as a hotspot for A-listers during the holidays. Frankel reflected on the experience in her caption, stating, "This trip reminded me of something I’ve always known but sometimes forget: it’s not about what you’re doing, it’s about who you’re with. And real happiness doesn’t come from the setting, the plans, or the noise, it comes from within."
The infection appears to have forced Frankel to cut her trip short by three days, though she has not detailed the exact cause or her treatment in public statements. According to her social media posts, the rash developed during or shortly after the vacation, prompting her early departure. Medical experts not directly involved in her case have noted that bacterial skin infections can arise from various sources, including environmental factors like sun exposure, swimming in contaminated water, or even minor cuts in humid climates—conditions common in St. Barths.
Frankel's candid sharing aligns with a broader trend among celebrities opening up about health challenges, particularly in the wake of high-stress or travel-related incidents. Her post comes amid a series of revelations from other stars about their own medical scares, many of which occurred or were disclosed in 2025. This wave of transparency has sparked discussions on social media about the vulnerabilities even the most glamorous lives face.
For instance, Nikki Garcia, known from Total Bellas, revealed in July 2025 that one of her breast implants shifted after an elbow slam from WWE star Piper Niven during a wrestling match. Speaking to her sister Bella Garcia at the time, Nikki said, "It's OK. We're going to get it fixed one day. I told the doctor, I go, 'Newly divorced, so the minute the boots are hung up, I'm going to come back to you and we're going to make these girls look real good, because these girls are going to get some action in the future and that can't look like that.'" The incident highlighted the physical toll of professional wrestling.
Similarly, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o disclosed in 2025 that she had been living with uterine fibroids—non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus—since 2014, the year she won her Academy Award for 12 Years a Slave. In an Instagram post, she wrote about suffering in silence for over a decade, adding, "When we reach puberty, we're taught periods mean pain, and that pain is simply part of being a woman. We're struggling alone with something that affects us most." Nyong'o's revelation aimed to destigmatize women's health issues.
Model and actress Suki Waterhouse shared a more unusual cause for her health woes in July 2025, announcing on X (formerly Twitter) that she had been hospitalized for a hernia triggered by wearing tight pants six months earlier. She tweeted, "'Suki you never tweet anymore.' Have you ever considered I wore pants so tight 6 months ago it caused a hernia & I’ve been too scared to tell you?" The Daisy Jones & The Six star's post drew attention to how fashion choices can lead to serious physical strain.
Actor Brian Austin Green, famed for Beverly Hills, 90210, underwent surgery in April 2025 after his appendix nearly burst. In an Instagram video, he recounted, “Last week, I started feeling some pain in my stomach. I ended up going to the emergency room, and I had a perforated appendix. Not quite burst, but just before.” He described the recovery as “not an easy process,” marking it as his first major surgery.
Soccer player Savannah DeMelo faced a frightening moment on September 14, 2025, during a match between Racing Louisville and Seattle Reign at Lumen Field in Seattle. The U.S. Women's National Team midfielder collapsed minutes into the game, sitting down slowly before falling, as reported by Reuters. The National Women’s Soccer League stated on X that night, “Savannah received immediate on-field care from medical personnel and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. She is stable and alert." Details on her condition remain limited, but the league confirmed her stability.
Comedian Adam Devine opened up in a 2025 episode of the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast about long-term effects from a childhood accident at age 11, when he was hit by a cement truck. “It’s been a nightmare,” he said. “I have spasms all over. For a while, [the doctors] told me I was dying—literally, within this last year.” Devine noted that the pain fluctuates, leaving his body with ongoing issues.
Bachelor Nation's Jason Tartick described a severe back injury in March 2025 on his Trading Secrets podcast, saying he crawled to the hospital after pain worsened during an RV trip. “Right now, knees to my toes, it’s, like, still tingly, which is crazy,” he explained. Despite previously squatting 295 pounds, he added, “I can’t do a squat on my foot. I can’t do a one legged squat, I fall. It’s like I had a stroke or something.” With specialist care and steroids, Tartick reported being on the mend.
In the reality TV world, Gina Kirschenheiter from Real Housewives of Orange County shared that her ex-husband Matt Kirschenheiter suffered a heart attack in March 2025 but survived. Meanwhile, comedian Tracy Morgan experienced a medical emergency at a New York Knicks game in March 2025, being wheeled out of Madison Square Garden. The next day, he updated on social media that it was food poisoning, saying he was recovering.
Actress Christy Carlson Romano recounted a near-tragic accident in February 2025 while shooting clay pigeons for her husband Brendan Rooney's birthday. "There was another party with us and they unsafely fired in the wrong direction and shot me in the face," she wrote on Instagram. Hit in five places, one fragment lodged behind her eye, which doctors deemed too risky to remove surgically. "I saw my life flash before my eyes," she added, urging others to "hug the people around you every chance you can. Life can change in an instant."
Amy Schumer credited online trolls for helping diagnose her Cushing syndrome in early 2025, revealed on the Call Her Daddy podcast. After press appearances left her face puffier, commenters—including doctors—suggested the condition, linked to steroid injections from her breast reduction and C-section scars. "Wait, I’m getting trolled by doctors?" she recalled. In a February 2025 newsletter, Schumer noted relief that her type would resolve naturally, calling it "the greatest news imaginable."
Other incidents include AHL hockey player Casey Fitzgerald's neck injury in December 2024 from a skate blade, requiring 25 stitches; his father, New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald, told ESPN, "We're very lucky. I don't wish that on any parent." Hailey Bieber's 2022 transient ischemic attack (TIA) from a blood clot tied to a heart defect was resolved with surgery. Justin Bieber's 2022 Ramsay Hunt syndrome caused facial paralysis but improved. Jamie Foxx detailed a 2023 brain bleed and stroke in his 2024 Netflix special, saying, “All I can tell you is that I appreciate every prayer, because I needed every prayer.”
Reality star Tracey Yukich claimed she "died" during a 2000s The Biggest Loser challenge from rhabdomyolysis, her organs shutting down. Emilia Clarke survived two brain aneurysms in 2011 and 2013, detailed in a 2019 New Yorker essay, now reporting she's "at a hundred per cent." Snoop Dogg's daughter Cori Broadus suffered a severe stroke in January 2025, expressing gratitude for her family's support.
Frankel's infection, while minor compared to some, fits into this pattern of celebrities using platforms to share vulnerabilities, potentially raising awareness. As she defended Alix Earle's rumored romance with Tom Brady in a January 5 TikTok, saying, "Why aren't they allowed to do what they want to do? They're two consenting adults. Life is short. Do what you want to do, live how you want to live," and adding, "And everyone can f--k off," she emphasized living authentically amid scrutiny. No further updates on her recovery have been shared, but her lighthearted tone suggests she's handling it with her characteristic resilience. This cluster of health stories in late 2025 and early 2026 may encourage more open conversations about celebrity well-being beyond the glamour.