Rebecca Minkoff Reacts to Brynn Whitfield’s Exit from RHONY: ‘Not Surprised’
Fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff says she wasn’t surprised to hear that Brynn Whitfield is leaving The Real Housewives of New York City. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the premiere of A Man With Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole on Tuesday, June 10, Minkoff reflected on Whitfield’s exit following her own recent departure from the Bravo series.
“I wasn’t shocked at all,” said Minkoff, 44. “I think that was in the cards before she even said she was leaving.”
Whitfield, 39, officially announced her exit on Monday, June 9, in an emotional Instagram Stories post. She described her time on RHONY as “one of the most fun, chaotic, and magical chapters” of her life and said it was an “honor” to help relaunch the beloved franchise.
“From day one, I’ve believed RHONY is a fan’s show — we’re just temporary custodians of something that truly belongs to the viewers,” Whitfield wrote.
Although she’s stepping away from the show, Whitfield emphasized that she’s “just getting started,” pointing to her podcast Please See Below and the dating app she co-founded, Hoppy, as her next ventures.
Her departure comes after a tense season 15, which ended with a dramatic finale and two-part reunion. During the cast’s trip to Puerto Rico, Whitfield confronted costar Ubah Hassan over comments suggesting she “slept with someone” to land her role on the show. Whitfield had previously shared her experience with sexual assault with Hassan, making the accusation particularly painful. The confrontation sparked one of the season’s most emotional moments.
Minkoff, who appeared as a friend during season 15, had previously announced her own departure on February 4 — the same day the final part of the reunion aired.
In her Instagram farewell, Minkoff wrote: “2025 is a new beginning for me, and with everything happening in the world, I’m reminded of the importance of family, friends, and community more than ever.”
Looking back, Minkoff said she’ll miss the camaraderie among the cast. “We had a lot of fun together, and I made some great friends out of it,” she shared. “I’ll miss that — and the excitement of meeting fans, which was incredible.”
C/D : People
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