Former ‘RHONY’ Star Claims Bravo is ‘Punishing’ Her

The Real Housewives of New York City is one of Bravo’s most iconic franchises, known for bringing unforgettable reality TV personalities to the screen. Among these personalities is Jill Zarin, one of the original cast members who helped shape the show into the success it became. However, despite her significant contribution, Jill recently opened up about feeling “punished” by Bravo after she turned down what she called a “pittance” in pay.

Originally, Jill was considered for RHONY: Legacy, a spin-off featuring the OG cast members. However, she did not make the final cut, and the show eventually evolved into a season of The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip. Reflecting on this, Jill shared, “They wanted to punish me, so they didn’t invite me. But really the punishment was for the fans.” Now, after stepping away from the franchise, she’s revealing more about her life beyond RHONY and her current projects. Jill also made it clear that moving forward, she “will never do another TV show in which she doesn’t have control again.”

Jill Zarin’s Life Beyond RHONY

Although Jill Zarin appeared on only four seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City, her presence left a lasting impression on fans. From her close (and later fractured) friendship with Bethenny Frankel to her dramatic entrance during the infamous St. John/Scary Island trip in Season 3, Jill created some of the series’ most iconic moments.

When Bravo announced plans for a new season featuring the original cast members, many fans were surprised and disappointed to see Jill left out. Speaking with The Cut, Jill revealed that she had initially been part of the cast but turned down the offer after feeling she was being underpaid. “They were offering me a pittance compared to the rest of the cast,” she explained. In response, Jill pushed for a “favored-nations” deal, where all the Housewives would be paid equally. However, this pushback led to an unexpected consequence—Bravo ultimately dropped her from the cast.

At the time, reports, including one from PageSix, suggested that there was a stall in the contract negotiations due to cast members pushing for higher pay. Jill later clarified her position, expressing frustration with how Bravo portrayed her demands. “Bravo put out a story that I was asking for a million dollars an episode. They wanted to make me look bad, which wasn’t nice,” she said, reflecting on how her relationship with the network had deteriorated.

A New Chapter for Jill Zarin

Following her departure from RHONY and her conflict with Bravo, Jill has stepped away from reality TV, unless the right project—one where she has control—comes along. These days, she’s focused on her personal life, including helping her daughter plan her wedding, and has no interest in returning to the high-stakes drama of reality television.

The Real Housewives of New York City continues to stream on Peacock, but for Jill Zarin, life after RHONY is all about moving forward on her own terms, without the pressure of the spotlight or the constraints of a network.