Jessel Taank is standing by her blunt questions about Carolyn Bessette.
The “Real Housewives of New York City” newcomer, 46, addressed the backlash Wednesday morning in an exclusive interview Radio, defending her decision to ask Carole Radziwill whether the late fashion icon was a “bitch” during Tuesday night’s episode. Taank, who works as a fashion publicist, framed the comment as professional curiosity rather than malice.
“It’s only because, from fashion girl to fashion girl, we are a little bit bitchy and cold,” Taank explained on the radio show. She admitted she “maybe shouldn’t have led with the ‘B-word,'” but quickly pivoted to self-deprecating humor, joking that offending people is what she does “best.”
The exchange unfolded during the first brunch of Season 16, which marked Radziwill’s return to the franchise after an eight-year absence. Taank pressed the former journalist with multiple questions about her late relatives, including whether there was a “curse” on the Kennedy family and what she thought of “Carolyn Bessette summer,” the minimalistic style trend inspired by Bessette’s neutral palette of whites, blacks and beiges.
“I don’t know Carolyn Bessette personally, so I was just curious, did she have a demeanor where she was sort of cold and maybe a little bit of a fashion diva?” Taank said, recounting her thinking.
Radziwill’s connection to the subjects runs painfully deep. She was married to Anthony Radziwill — Kennedy Jr.’s cousin and best friend — from 1994 until his death from cancer just weeks after the 1999 plane crash that killed Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, and Carolyn’s sister Lauren Bessette. Carole appeared visibly uncomfortable during the brunch and ultimately left the gathering.
Taank said Radio she now understands Radziwill’s perspective. “I understand where Carole’s coming from,” she said. “Obviously, her best friend, who is no longer with us, in her eyes, was reduced to a trend. But in my eyes, I was like, ‘No, we’re celebrating her.'” Taank added a direct compliment: “She had incredible, impeccable style.”
The curiosity wasn’t hers alone, Taank insisted. She said “everyone was a little bit curious” about Radziwill’s friendship with Carolyn, particularly after the release of Ryan Murphy’s “Love Story,” which dramatized Bessette’s relationship with Kennedy Jr. “Carole really lived that experience with them; and for us, we’re just seeing what we’re seeing on the TV show,” Taank noted. She characterized the group’s interest as “all in innocence,” saying they “didn’t know” they were going to “upset” Carole.
The questioning tapered off as the season continued. Taank said the cast became more sensitive after witnessing Radziwill’s emotional response. “I think it did resurface a lot of emotion [for Carole], so we were cognizant of that after that,” she explained.
The incident that sparked Taank’s radio defense occurred during a group brunch filmed for the Bravo series’ sixteenth season premiere cycle. Multiple cast members gathered to welcome Radziwill back to the show, but the conversation quickly turned to her past connections. Taank’s questions about Carolyn Bessette’s personality, the Kennedy family “curse,” and the viral fashion trend named after her dominated the scene, with Radziwill growing increasingly distressed before excusing herself. The moment generated immediate viewer reaction online after Tuesday’s broadcast.
Taank’s fashion-industry background informed her entire approach to the sensitive topic. As a publicist working in the same world Bessette once inhabited, she claimed she saw the questions through a professional lens rather than a personal or historical one. The “fashion girl to fashion girl” framing, however, did little to soften the impact on Radziwill, who had lived through the actual losses being discussed.
The controversy arrives as “RHONY” attempts to rebuild its audience with a retooled cast mixing veterans like Radziwill with newcomers including Taank. The season has already leaned heavily into Radziwill’s documented history, using her connections to one of America’s most famous families as both character background and plot engine.
“The Real Housewives of New York City” airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo, with episodes streaming the following day on Peacock.
