Bethenny Frankel is getting real about co-parenting.
The former “Real Housewives of New York City” star shared rare insight into her and ex-husband Jason Hoppy’s dynamic when it comes to their 16-year-old daughter, Bryn Hoppy.
“I want to be in a successful relationship for myself and my daughter because we’re rolling very light and it comes up during holidays,” Frankel admitted while on Tuesday’s episode of the “Aspire” podcast. “It comes up just in different ways with our unit.”
The businesswoman claimed there are “a lot of personal things” happening within Bryn’s “family dynamic” at the moment.
As a result, Frankel wants her teen “to be more part of a community.”
“I want a unit, I want a family,” she confessed to host Emma Grede. “I want to be part of a team, and I want to work for sure because I believe in the power of purpose and I believe in being connected to something. I just want enough of the vehicle that I can still connect with an audience in the way that I do now and laugh.”
Frankel, 55, and Jason, 54, tied the knot in 2010 before splitting in 2012.
The exes had a contentious divorce and bitter custody battle over Bryn.
Frankel and Jason reached a custody settlement in 2014, but their divorce wasn’t finalized until 2021.
At the time, a judge ultimately ruled Frankel did not have to pay her ex child support since Bryn resided with her the majority of the time.
Jason said during a 2021 court hearing, “I will not spend the remainder of Bryn’s childhood fighting as we share joint physical custody. Bryn knows I love her, I want her and I will always be available for our time together.”
Last year, Frankel and Bryn relocated to the Sunshine State.
“Bryn is Bethenny’s top priority, and the decision to move to Florida was all about supporting her,” a source told Page Six at the time.
“The move reflects Bryn’s academic and athletic goals and was made with her physical and emotional well-being front and center,” the insider continued.
Frankel told fans in a candid video that her and her mini me were moving for “personal and professional reasons.”
“Something has arisen that made this the best and healthiest for myself and my daughter,” she said in an Instagram clip.
Frankel described the move as the “healthiest life choice” for her family.
That same year, the Skinnygirl founder opened up about her lengthy divorce from Jason.
Frankel said, while on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, that despite her horrific childhood experiences, “nothing compares to what my divorce was for 10 years. Nothing.”
“It was so traumatic. It was 10 years of my life. I lost hair. I thought I would never survive it. I didn’t want to,” she confessed to Cooper as she got choked up. “I had to because of my daughter. I literally thought, ‘I’ll never be happy again.’”
In 2017, Jason was arrested for allegedly emailing Frankel a series of abusive messages and showing up at Bryn’s school to threaten her.
He was charged with aggravated harassment in the first degree, harassment in the second degree and stalking in the fourth degree. Jason denied the charges.
However, Frankel made it clear that she tries to “never talk bad” about Jason in front of Bryn.
“Just because you’re not saying it in front of the child, it doesn’t mean they don’t feel,” she stated. “It’s a long road. Your kids will become cognizant, and they will understand. You don’t have to say it to them. You don’t have to prove it to them.”
