In a raw and emotional episode of the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast, Bethenny Frankel opened up about the harrowing 10-year ordeal of her divorce from ex-husband Jason Hoppy, describing it as more traumatic than the chaotic elements of her troubled childhood. The 55-year-old former star of 'The Real Housewives of New York City' fought back tears as she recounted the toll the legal battle took on her life, emphasizing that it surpassed even the darkest moments she witnessed growing up.
Frankel, speaking on the December 3 episode, delved into her past before pivoting to the divorce, which she said felt like an unending nightmare. 'I have seen my mother slit her wrists. I have lived my whole life chasing her into bathrooms, trying to catch her throwing up. I’ve been around guns, the mafia, the race track. I’ve been through everything,' she said, according to a report from Us Weekly. She contrasted these experiences with the divorce, stating, 'I have seen everything. Nothing compares to what my divorce was for 10 years.'
The couple's marriage, which began in March 2010, ended in separation by December 2012, but the formal divorce process dragged on for a decade amid fierce disputes. A major flashpoint was custody of their daughter, Bryn, who is now 15. According to Us Weekly, the divorce was finalized in March 2021, though it had reportedly been settled for two months prior to that announcement.
Frankel described the experience as profoundly damaging, saying it led to physical symptoms like hair loss and a deep sense of despair. 'It was so traumatic. It was 10 years of my life, I lost hair. I thought I would never survive it. I didn’t want to,' she shared on the podcast, holding back tears. 'I had to because of my daughter. I literally thought I’ll never be happy again.'
She portrayed the divorce not just as a legal fight but as a gauntlet of personal attacks. 'I treated it like a marathon, and I went one mile at a time, and I checked every box,' Frankel explained. She alleged various forms of misconduct from her ex, including 'fraud, it was stealing, it was hacking, it was harassment, it was abuse.' While she did not name Hoppy directly during the podcast, the context clearly pointed to their well-publicized split.
The tensions escalated dramatically in 2017 when Hoppy, also 55, was arrested after allegedly threatening Frankel outside their daughter's school. According to reports, he showed up uninvited and made threats, leading to a six-month order of protection that barred him from contacting his ex-wife. This incident underscored the volatile nature of their post-separation interactions.
Legal battles continued, with Frankel filing for custody in 2019. A judge approved the divorce that year, but details of the final custody agreement remain private. 'It was torture,' Frankel claimed on the podcast. 'Literally, the only thing that got me through was saying, ‘One day I’ll be able to help people.’ It was millions of dollars — that’s not even important. … It was torment from one minute to the last minute of the 10th year.'
Reflecting on the financial and emotional drain, Frankel warned others about the pitfalls of entering marriage without safeguards. She advised women to secure a 'very clear and good prenup' before tying the knot, a lesson she learned the hard way. 'I cannot express it enough, because when you want to be out of something, you have no idea,' she said. Frankel previously disclosed that she had opted against a prenup at the start of her marriage to Hoppy.
Her message carried a stark cautionary tone: 'Every woman needs to know, do not f*** around and find out. It was the worst thing that I could ever wish upon a person.' This blunt language highlighted the intensity of her feelings, framing the divorce as an experience she wouldn't wish on anyone.
Throughout the ordeal, Frankel took care to shield her daughter from the negativity, though she acknowledged the subtle ways children pick up on tension. 'While I never talked bad about [Hoppy] in front of my daughter, she felt the bad energy,' she noted. 'Just because you’re not saying it in front of the child, it doesn’t mean they don’t feel.'
She emphasized the importance of maintaining respect for the other parent in front of children. 'You should never, ever say a bad thing about the other parent, ever, because it is the worst thing you could do to a child,' Frankel advised. To help Bryn navigate the situation, she shared stories from her own childhood, explaining, 'I have navigated it by always telling her that she is loved, and letting her know a lot about what my childhood was like, because everybody has something and things make you stronger.'
Frankel's early life, marked by her mother's mental health struggles, provided a backdrop that made the divorce's impact even more poignant. She described those family issues as 'child’s play' compared to the divorce trauma, underscoring how the legal fight overshadowed her past hardships.
The podcast appearance comes years after the divorce's resolution, suggesting Frankel is now in a place of reflection and healing. Her story resonates in the broader context of high-profile celebrity divorces, where public scrutiny often amplifies private pain. While Hoppy has not publicly responded to these recent comments, past reports indicate he has maintained a low profile following the custody resolution.
Experts in family law often echo Frankel's prenup advice, noting that such agreements can streamline separations and protect assets. In New York, where the couple's case unfolded, prenups are enforceable if they meet certain criteria, providing a layer of security in an otherwise unpredictable process.
As Frankel moves forward, her experience appears to fuel her advocacy work. The podcast episode, hosted by Alex Cooper, allowed her to transform personal torment into a platform for empowerment, potentially aiding others facing similar battles. With Bryn now a teenager, Frankel seems focused on fostering resilience, drawing from her own journey of survival.
The divorce's long shadow highlights the complexities of co-parenting after acrimony, a challenge many families face quietly. Frankel's willingness to share these details may encourage more open conversations about the hidden costs of marital breakdowns, reminding listeners that even those in the spotlight endure profound struggles.