Reality TV shows often mimic the highs and low of our real-life relationships, only at a much more dramatic pace. Arguments escalate quicker and friendships are made and lost at record speed. That’s because reality television shines a spotlight on all the things you’d normally ignore, like the little slights you feel or things you wouldn’t normally take personally.
Shows like the Real Housewives series also introduce cast members to each other and put them in situations where the viewers are able to see a friendship grow from the beginning. In some cases, like the friendship between Carole Radziwill and Heather Thompson, the people involved become actual, real-life friends. In others, they go back and forth so much that they can only be called frenemies.
Here are some of the most popular frenemies that have developed and spotted on reality television.
Did you ever have a friendship where everything you said and did got read into by your friend? That seems to be the case with Kyle and Lisa from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Both ladies seem to have a great sense of humor, although it might not be the same sense of humor. Lisa has her British wit while Kyle has her silly side.
Lisa has felt that Kyle hasn’t backed her up when people have said things against Lisa or made up gossip. The failure of a friend to have your back is a major cause of friendship fail even if you’re not on reality TV, but when your friendship is in the glare of the spotlight it makes it even harder to get through.
This pair arguably started the popularity of the word frenemy. They were really close pals, then they weren’t. Then they put up with each other long enough to finish their hit show, The Simple Life, but they’ve never been back to being true blue friends.
However, that doesn’t mean that their friendship is over completely. As is the case sometimes with long-time friends, they still communicate. Early in 2014, Nicole admitted that Paris had been in her life since she was just two years old, and that there was “a strong friendship between our families and we'll always know each other.”
Long-term friends like this (even when they go through a “frenemy stage”) find a way to keep their distance and yet still remain cordial to each other. They might sincerely wish each other well but not have a desire to go back to the way the friendship once was.
Fans of the Real Housewives of New York are still hoping Bethenny Frankel and Jill Zarin kiss and makeup. Their feud seemed to come out of nowhere, with them ending up as good friends at the end of Season 2 and feuding at the start of Season 3.
Zarin admitted that she’d staged the fight for ratings, and was surprised when it took down their real-life friendship. Money may have been a part of Zarin’s motive in creating the fight as well. She said she “brought in” Bethenny to the show and wasn’t compensated for it as she felt she should have been, saying, “…I don’t get a percentage of anything she [Bethenny] spins off.”
Bethenny said she feels her spinoff show was at the root of the rift, and said that Jill even asked the other cast members not to film with Bethenny.
Anyone that watched Vanderpump Rules’ second season saw a fight between former besties Stassi and Kristin that will likely go down in reality show history. Stassi even slapped Kristin across the face when she asked Kristin if she’d slept with her former boyfriend Jax Taylor and she denied it. (Later, she admitted she had.)
Sleeping with your boyfriend is a major betrayal, and it would take a genuine effort on each person’s part in order for the friendship to heal. Kristin would have to demonstrate truthfulness and build trust with Stassi, and Stassi would have to learn to trust her little by little in order for this to work. Definitely not an easy thing, which is why having these two reunite as friends again is unlikely.
Sources:
Shows like the Real Housewives series also introduce cast members to each other and put them in situations where the viewers are able to see a friendship grow from the beginning. In some cases, like the friendship between Carole Radziwill and Heather Thompson, the people involved become actual, real-life friends. In others, they go back and forth so much that they can only be called frenemies.
Here are some of the most popular frenemies that have developed and spotted on reality television.
Kyle Richards and Lisa Vanderpump
Did you ever have a friendship where everything you said and did got read into by your friend? That seems to be the case with Kyle and Lisa from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Both ladies seem to have a great sense of humor, although it might not be the same sense of humor. Lisa has her British wit while Kyle has her silly side.
Lisa has felt that Kyle hasn’t backed her up when people have said things against Lisa or made up gossip. The failure of a friend to have your back is a major cause of friendship fail even if you’re not on reality TV, but when your friendship is in the glare of the spotlight it makes it even harder to get through.
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie
This pair arguably started the popularity of the word frenemy. They were really close pals, then they weren’t. Then they put up with each other long enough to finish their hit show, The Simple Life, but they’ve never been back to being true blue friends.
However, that doesn’t mean that their friendship is over completely. As is the case sometimes with long-time friends, they still communicate. Early in 2014, Nicole admitted that Paris had been in her life since she was just two years old, and that there was “a strong friendship between our families and we'll always know each other.”
Long-term friends like this (even when they go through a “frenemy stage”) find a way to keep their distance and yet still remain cordial to each other. They might sincerely wish each other well but not have a desire to go back to the way the friendship once was.
Jill Zarin and Bethenny Frankel
Fans of the Real Housewives of New York are still hoping Bethenny Frankel and Jill Zarin kiss and makeup. Their feud seemed to come out of nowhere, with them ending up as good friends at the end of Season 2 and feuding at the start of Season 3.
Zarin admitted that she’d staged the fight for ratings, and was surprised when it took down their real-life friendship. Money may have been a part of Zarin’s motive in creating the fight as well. She said she “brought in” Bethenny to the show and wasn’t compensated for it as she felt she should have been, saying, “…I don’t get a percentage of anything she [Bethenny] spins off.”
Bethenny said she feels her spinoff show was at the root of the rift, and said that Jill even asked the other cast members not to film with Bethenny.
Stassi Schroeder and Kristin Doute
Anyone that watched Vanderpump Rules’ second season saw a fight between former besties Stassi and Kristin that will likely go down in reality show history. Stassi even slapped Kristin across the face when she asked Kristin if she’d slept with her former boyfriend Jax Taylor and she denied it. (Later, she admitted she had.)
Sleeping with your boyfriend is a major betrayal, and it would take a genuine effort on each person’s part in order for the friendship to heal. Kristin would have to demonstrate truthfulness and build trust with Stassi, and Stassi would have to learn to trust her little by little in order for this to work. Definitely not an easy thing, which is why having these two reunite as friends again is unlikely.
Sources:
- Daily Mail, “Nicole Richie Talks Former Bestie Paris Hilton and Her Simple Life Days” (January 24, 2014)
- The Hollywood Reporter, “Jill Zarin Dishes On Her Firing” (January 2, 2012)
- Huffington Post, “Jill Zarin: Bethenny Fight Was Ratings Stunt” (October 16, 2012)
- Jezebel.com, “Bethenny Reveals Real Reason Behind the Jill Zarin Feud” (June 10, 2010)
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