Do Sonja and Luann Think Bethenny Frankel and Jill Zarin Could Have Been Friends Again?

It's a long way from Crappie Lake to the Clubhouse, but Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan made the trek. After the premiere of their new show, Luann & Sonja: Welcome to Crappie Lake on July 9, the Real Housewives of New York City alums made their way onto Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.

While there, they dished about their recent experience in Benton, Illinois — and they also touched on their past in New York City. On WWHL, Luann and Sonja revisited an iconic RHONY friendship and falling out, AKA the saga of Bethenny Frankel and Jill Zarin. 

We'll give a little refresher on Bethenny and Jill's friendship breakup below, but first, here's how Luann and Sonja feel about it today. In the Clubhouse, Andy asked his two guests: "If Jill had stayed in Ramona's apartment to talk to Bethenny would they be friends right now, yes or no?" Both women immediately replied: "Yes." (You can check it out in the clip above.) To think, what could have been! 

Now, in reference to the make-it-or-break-it RHONY moment Andy was referring to, here's what went down. During Season 3, Bethenny and Jill's friendship was starting to deteriorate. There was a moment — a pivotal moment, as it turns out — when Bethenny and Jill could have had a heart-to-heart talk at Ramona Singer's apartment. Ultimately, though, Jill decided to leave. 

Years later, Jill appeared on WWHL and reflected on the moment. During a 2022 appearance in the Clubhouse, the RHONY alum said: "I do [have a regret]. Walking out of [Ramona's] apartment that day. Had I stayed and worked it out [with Bethenny], it would have been a totally different season.”

She and Andy Cohen went on to discuss that moment with Bethenny, and Jill revealed why she reacted the way she did at the time. "I felt ambushed ... I don't do well with surprises," she admitted. "I'm not flexible. It's a character flaw of mine that I'm not flexible." However, in reflection, Jill noted, “Now I would handle it differently.”

Since the pivotal moment, Bethenny and Jill have had several run-ins with each other. And though they may never be as close as they once were, the two New Yorkers keep things cordial. 

During a WWHL appearance in September 2020, Bethenny mentioned it all. "I went over there [to her house] shortly thereafter [Bobby's funeral] to introduce her to Bryn, but I haven't seen her since. She texts me every so often. I think she [texted] me 'cause of the Jewish new year. But we don't see each other," she said at the time. "But it's cool. Like, if see her, I'd not give her a hug 'cause it's COVID, but I would hug her if it were not a pandemic." 

In 2022, the former BFFs unexpectedly ran into each other on an airplane. "So this girl walks onto a plane…" Bethenny wrote in the caption of her 2022 post, which featured a photo of the RHONY alum on her flight, with Jill sitting behind her.

She also added the hashtags "mention it all" and "if wings could talk" to the caption of her post.