Brynn Whitfield. Clifton Prescod/Bravo
The Real Housewives of New York City‘s Brynn Whitfield addressed questions her castmates might have about her experience as a survivor of sexual assault.
During part two of the season 15 reunion, which aired Tuesday, February 4, host Andy Cohen asked Brynn, “Do you think there’s anyone here that doubts what happened to you?”
The reality star paused before quietly answering, “I don’t know.”
Costars Jenna Lyons and Racquel Chevremont were quick to shut down Brynn’s suspicions, telling her not to confuse where they all stand. Brynn added, “I really would love it if everyone would stop lecturing.”
Tensions arose between Brynn and the rest of the cast during last month’s bombshell season 15 finale. When Ubah Hassan alleged on the group’s trip to Puerto Rico that Brynn slept with someone to secure her role on the Bravo show, Brynn revealed to her fellow Housewives that she was raped in the past — and claimed Ubah knew about the assault. In a heated exchange, Ubah denied that Brynn ever shared that information with her. As the dust settled, Brynn confessed that Ubah might not have “clocked” the revelation at the time it was first made.
Brynn’s assault was revealed to RHONY viewers earlier in the season. During part one of the reunion special, Brynn opened up about the impact of sharing her story publicly.
“[People have talked to me about] the shame of it all and living with the day to day,” she said on the January 28 episode. “Just how it’s not one of those things you can go around and tell. And to have everyone know something so personal as a woman, it’s just different.”
Brynn noted at the time that her approach to coping with what happened was to “suck things up” and “move on,” explaining, “Because if I don’t, I never get out of bed. So you just keep going.”
The conversation continued on Tuesday’s episode when Brynn revealed what she allegedly told Ubah about her experience. “It was the week before BravoCon [in 2023],” she claimed. “I got a phone call that a member of my family had purchased a gun, and I didn’t know if that person was dead or not. First person I called was Ubah because Ubah is a good f—ing friend. … And I just start screaming, like, ‘Why is this happening to me? Why is this my life?’”
Brynn said that she “word-vomited 18 chapters of everything bad that has ever happened to me” while speaking to Ubah. “I was literally rambling like a lunatic,” Brynn said, giving Ubah the benefit of the doubt.
Ubah clarified that the pair were speaking over FaceTime, adding, “I’ve never seen a human being that broken.”
Brynn went on to share that she “didn’t feel loved” by her costars after Ubah turned the tables on her story. “That’s what was so upsetting when I watched it back because I remember standing in the room afterwards and I’m talking to all you guys,” she said, “and you guys are all on the bed and you guys didn’t come and hug me. You were all like, ‘So who was it? How rich was he? Who is this guy?’”
As the rest of the cast denied asking Brynn any questions about her alleged assailant, Jenna put her foot down. “You told us that she might not have clocked it and that felt careless,” the designer said. “Because we had then realized at that moment … the implication.”
Brynn sobbed as Jenna spoke, replying, “Just because I don’t f—ing fall on the ground and scream … and cause a scene and say, ‘F— you, bitches,’ just because I keep my s— together, you’re all holding me accountable for every single goddamn word. … When I say something to someone, I assume that they know it.”
Ubah, for her part, said she remembered the conversation she had with Brynn “very clearly,” wiping tears from her eyes. “She never said it,” Ubah claimed. (Brynn, meanwhile, doubled down on her side of the story in a recent interview with Rolling Stone.)
The twosome appeared to patch things up by the end of the reunion, but Ubah has hinted that she can’t go back to being Brynn’s friend.
“I approached this reunion with immense gratitude, especially for these brave women who stood together in truth,” she noted to Glamour last month. “I deeply appreciate Bravo for breaking the fourth wall, allowing more of that truth to shine through. Without this transparency, my integrity might have continued to be unfairly questioned. But today I stand in clarity, strength, and peace. My heart is full, and I am moving forward with love — free from any shadow that was never mine to carry.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
