Has the Success of Luann de Lesseps' Cabaret Gone to Her Head? The RHONY Singer Reacts to the Housewives' Concerns
The Real Housewives of New York City chanteuse addressed the ladies' reunion comments on WWHL.
Luann de Lesseps' #CountessAndFriends cabaret show seems to have given The Real Housewives of New York City singer the spring in her step back following a difficult year, which included her divorce from Tom D'Agostino, her arrest, and two trips to rehab. However, some of the other New York Housewives expressed during this season's reunion that they feel the cabaret show has changed Luann — and not necessarily for the better.
In particular, Bethenny Frankel and Dorinda Medley shared that they felt like the success of her cabaret show had gone to Luann's head. They also expressed that they felt like Luann had gotten a big ego after she was arrested last Christmas Eve in Palm Beach, Florida. "I think she got confused between fame and infamy," Dorinda said during the reunion. "My mother always says, 'In the face of devastation, humility should prevail.'"
Luann, who had returned to rehab in July and was therefore not present for the taping of this season's RHONY reunion, got the chance to address Dorinda and Bethenny's comments on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Wednesday night. "Yeah, I'm not taking advice right now from Dorinda. Thank you for those two cents," she said (clip above). "But I will say my cabaret to me is everything. I found my calling in my life, and if that makes them uncomfortable, that is too bad for them, that's all I've got to say."
At the reunion, there was also talk of whether it was healthy for Luann to be in a cabaret environment during her recovery, given the scene's reputation for alcohol and partying. "I totally get that, the cabaret environment is that, but when I do my shows, it's just I'm onstage, and I'm doing my thing, so I don't let it really affect me," Luann said in response on WWHL. "So I understand their concern, and I appreciate it, but I'm good because I'm onstage doing what I love."
Luann debuted her cabaret show at Feinstein's/54 Below in New York City in February. Since then, she has performed all over the East and West Coasts. After making her triumphant return to the stage in August following her second stay in rehab, Luann provided an "important update" on her cabaret career on Instagram: "I went to see Chita Rivera the other night doing a cabaret at 54 Below, where my show is. And that's kind of my home in New York; [it] is 54 Below, and I must say: I saw Chita Rivera, she's 85, and I said, 'Wow, I can do this 'til I'm 85 years old.' I really feel like I found my calling."
See Luann's cabaret in action, below.
