Jessel Taank on Jenna Lyons’ Partner Skipping RHONY Filming: A ‘Double-Edged Sword’

As always, the partners of Real Housewives stars often find themselves drawn into the drama, whether they like it or not. Some, however, choose a different path—keeping their private lives away from the cameras. This is the case for Jenna Lyons on The Real Housewives of New York. Her co-star, Jessel Taank, recently shared her thoughts on Jenna’s decision to keep her relationship off-screen, contrasting it with her own situation where her husband, Pavit Randhawa, is fully exposed to the show’s chaos.

Jenna and her girlfriend, Cass Bird, made their relationship public in July 2023 with a social media post showcasing their romantic Mediterranean getaway. Despite this, the former J. Crew president has opted to keep Cass away from the RHONY cameras.

Reflecting on this choice, Jessel Taank commented on the “mindset” of Jenna and Cass, suggesting that they might not be ready to share their relationship on national television.

In an exclusive interview with People last week, Jessel opened up about the challenges that arise when some cast members are open about their personal lives, while others choose to stay private.

“I think it really is a double-edged sword,” she said. “At the same time, [my husband] Pavit turned around one day and was like, ‘I didn’t sign up for this. You did. I don’t really feel comfortable being on camera.’”

While such decisions can’t be forced on anyone, Jessel acknowledges the complexities involved. Although Pavit has his reservations, he has managed to turn his appearance on the show into an opportunity, even becoming a food influencer. Yet, he’s not completely immune to the drama, as he recently found himself in the spotlight when Sai De Silva joked that he looked like Dory from Finding Nemo.

“You can’t really force someone to all of a sudden share their lives on national television. And so I think that’s kind of where Jenna and Cass, their mindset is at,” Jessel shared.

Although Cass has chosen to stay off-camera, her presence was still felt when her mother made an appearance. During the Season 15 premiere, Jenna invited Cass’ mother over to help her sort through her closet.

“Nancy is my girlfriend Cass’ mother, and this visit is the first time she and I have ever met. She’s been funny and lovely and sharing stories about Cass. It’s been awesome,” Jenna shared in a confessional interview.

Catch The Real Housewives of New York on Tuesdays at 9/8c on Bravo.