Andy Cohen and Jeff Lewis have both voiced their strong disapproval of fashion designer Rebecca

Minkoff after she orchestrated a pregnancy scare and paternity scandal involving the cast of The Real Housewives of New York City (RHONY).

Minkoff, who is known for her work in the fashion industry and her occasional appearances on reality TV, created a media firestorm when she played a prank on some of the RHONY women.

The prank involved an elaborate story about an unexpected pregnancy and a paternity scandal that left many of the women on the show shocked and confused.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from Andy Cohen, the executive producer of The Real Housewives franchise and host of Watch What Happens Live,

and Jeff Lewis, a television personality and longtime friend of Cohen. Both men have publicly slammed Minkoff for her involvement in the prank,

citing the emotional distress it caused to the women involved and the potential harm it could do to their reputations. Cohen, known for his sharp wit and no-nonsense approach to the often tumultuous world of reality TV, called Minkoff’s actions “irresponsible” and “in poor taste,” especially given the sensitive nature of pregnancy and paternity issues. He emphasized that while RHONY is a show known for its drama, such pranks could cross a line and leave lasting emotional consequences for the people involved.

Jeff Lewis, who has long been a fixture in the world of celebrity gossip and pop culture, also weighed in on the controversy, expressing his frustration with Minkoff’s decision to prank the RHONY cast. Lewis questioned why anyone would think it was acceptable to create such a scandal for the sake of entertainment, particularly when it involved issues as serious as paternity and pregnancy. According to Lewis, the prank not only embarrassed the cast members but also took away from the authenticity that The Real Housewives franchise has worked hard to build. “These women’s lives are not a joke,” Lewis said, adding that manipulating emotions for the sake of a laugh or a story arc can have damaging consequences in the long run.

The pregnancy scare and paternity scandal were designed to spark drama on the show, but the backlash suggests that it may have backfired. While the Real Housewives franchise thrives on conflict and sensational moments, many fans and critics felt that Minkoff’s prank went too far by manipulating deeply personal topics for the sake of television drama. The women involved in the prank were reportedly blindsided by the situation, and some felt betrayed by the designer for creating a fake scenario that toyed with their emotions. The prank appeared to blur the line between reality and scripted drama, leaving viewers to wonder whether the women’s reactions were genuine or orchestrated for the cameras.

The controversy has raised important questions about the ethics of reality TV and the responsibility of producers and participants in creating content that is both entertaining and respectful. While reality television often thrives on exaggerated storylines and emotional moments, it also relies on the authenticity of the participants to keep viewers engaged. In this case, Minkoff’s prank may have compromised that authenticity, leaving fans to wonder whether the drama on RHONY is becoming too manufactured. As the fallout continues, it remains to be seen whether Minkoff will address the backlash or offer an apology to the cast for the emotional toll the prank caused.

In the end, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about the blurred lines between real life and entertainment. While reality TV has always been about showcasing larger-than-life personalities and dramatic moments, there’s a fine line between creating compelling content and crossing boundaries that could harm the people involved. Andy Cohen and Jeff Lewis’s public criticism of Minkoff highlights the ongoing debate about the ethics of reality TV pranks and the potential for long-term damage when the stakes are raised too high. Whether this scandal will have lasting repercussions on Minkoff’s career or the Real Housewives franchise remains to be seen, but it has certainly made a mark on the current season of RHONY.