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Andy Cohen Responds To Criticism He Let Bullying, Violent Alcoholics Take Over ‘RHOC’ And ‘RHONY’

By Karen de Wilde
Published on: 08:24 PST, Nov 14, 2016

Were the latest seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City and The Real Housewives of Orange County ruined by bullying and drunken, violent outbursts? That’s what some viewers apparently believe. On a recent Ask Andy segment, posted on Monday, Andy’s assistant, Daryn Carp, read to Andy a viewer question that accused him of letting the two shows go down the drain by allowing bullying to take place and for violent alcoholics to take over.

“Why did you allow New York City and OC to go in the crapper due to bullying and violent alcoholics. Are you quitting or giving up Andy Cohen?”

Andy countered the viewer’s opinion that the shows have been ruined. Andy pointed out that New York City’s eighth season gave the show its highest ratings in five seasons. He maintained that some viewers thought it was the best season ever.

“Well New York was, had its highest ratings in five seasons and some people thought it was the best season ever.”

Andy did agree, however, that Orange County got a little dark towards the end of the season.

“And Orange County, uh, got a little dark in the end. Got a little dark in the end. I agree.”

Daryn chimed in that the show was still entertaining. Andy shrugged and clapped his hands.

What bullying and violent alcoholics was the viewer referring to? A major storyline on Season 8 of The Real Housewives of New York City was the other cast members’ negative reactions to LuAnn de Lesseps’ very fast-moving relationship with Tom D’Agostino. Both Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan claimed to have dated Tom, leading them and some of the other cast members to wonder if Tom had ulterior motives in being with LuAnn and whether he could be trusted.

Ramona criticized LuAnn for dating Tom without first telling her, deeming it a breach of “girl code.” Sonja, with whom LuAnn was living at the time, also voiced disappointment that LuAnn didn’t tell her she was dating Tom. Sonja even claimed that she had a “friends with benefits” relationship with Tom for over 10 years that was still going on when he began his relationship with LuAnn.

During a trip to Dorinda Medley’s home in the Berkshires, Bethenny Frankel criticized LuAnn de Lesseps for her behavior, calling her a hypocrite and a phony for pretending that she’s so proper when she’s actually on the prowl for men all the time. Later, during LuAnn’s engagement party weekend in Miami, Bethenny revealed that a friend of hers sent her photos of Tom making out with another woman at the Regency hotel in New York City right after he asked LuAnn to marry him. Bethenny agonized over whether she should show LuAnn the photo. When Bethenny finally did show LuAnn a photo while they were in Bethenny’s room together, LuAnn tearfully called Tom to confront him. LuAnn ended up leaving the room in hysterics, which in turn caused Bethenny to break down.

As for The Real Housewives of Orange County, which is airing its Season 11 Part 2 reunion show episode tonight, many viewers have left comments on social media and blogs proclaiming that Heather Dubrow, Shannon Beador, and Tamra Judge bullied Kelly Dodd. Some viewers thought that Shannon purposefully brought her two friends, Nina and Jaci, to her 70s-themed party in an attempt to take Kelly down. Some viewers also thought that Heather was talking to Kelly in a condescending and bossy manner.

The criticism reached a fever pitch when the cast’s trip to Ireland aired. While in Ireland, Tamra, upon hearing from Shannon that Kelly mentioned that it’s no wonder that Tamra’s daughter doesn’t talk to her, screamed at her while the group was in a luxury clothing store. Kelly claimed that Tamra physically assaulted her while they inside the store.

Later, during the cast’s last night in Ireland, Tamra, infuriated after hearing from Vicki Gunvalson that Kelly talked badly about her behind her back, sent Kelly a text criticizing her and taunting her about Vicki’s betrayal. Kelly tearfully denied that she ever said anything bad about Tamra behind her back.

On the bus ride to the airport, things got even worse for Kelly. Hurt by Vicki’s betrayal, Kelly spilled that Vicki told her that Shannon’s husband, David Beador, “beat the s**t” out of her and that Tamra’s husband, Eddie Judge, might be gay and a cheater. Kelly also yelled out that Shannon needed to shave her chin hairs. Not surprisingly, Shannon and Tamra lashed out at Kelly for her outburst. Heather Dubrow also had a lot to say about Kelly, whispering to Tamra that she feels sorry for Kelly’s daughter, Jolie, for having Kelly as a mother and that Kelly was having a “psychotic break.”

Heather also whispered to Meghan King Edmonds that she’s sorry that the trip was ruined by Kelly. Heather told Meghan that she feels sorry for Kelly, whom she described as “damaged.” When the ladies got off the bus and were talking as they headed into the airport, Heather told Shannon and Tamra to pretend as if they don’t know Kelly.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, after that episode aired, Heather Dubrow responded to all of the criticism by maintaining that everyone behaved wrongly. Heather also stated that viewers need to watch The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 11 reunion show to get the full picture.

Has Andy Cohen himself allowed Kelly Dodd to be bullied? Some viewers recently accused Andy of letting callers who were intent on bringing Kelly down on the air during Kelly’s second Watch What Happens Live appearance. One caller accused Kelly of having an affair, which Kelly quickly denied. Kelly accused Shannon Beador and Tamra Judge of being behind the affair accusation. As the Inquisitr reported, Andy quickly tweeted that the callers went rouge once on the air and apologized to viewers. Kelly in turned defended Andy.

[Featured Image by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images]

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