Bethenny Frankel is opening up about her love life and why she’s been avoiding dating. In a TikTok video posted over the weekend, the “Real Housewives of New York City” alum shared a candid “confession,” telling followers she feels hesitant to start a new relationship.
Frankel Compares Dating Hesitation to Fear After Food Poisoning
She clarified she is not “actually actively afraid” but rather “hesitant,” comparing her feelings to the lingering fear that follows a nasty bout of food poisoning.
“You know how when you get food poisoning, you’re just scared to eat that food again, even though rationally you know that you’re likely not gonna get food poisoning again from that same food? But you just can’t bring yourself to do it,” she explained. “That’s how I am after all of these months of not dating at all.”
Why Frankel Is Hesitant to Take the Leap
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)The 54-year-old said she will often hype herself up and begin talking to someone, only to “run away” soon after. “I’ll just stop texting. It’s not a breadcrumb thing. I’m not a breadcrumber,” she explained, referring to the term for sporadic attention without real commitment.
(Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)Instead, Frankel said it’s like dipping a foot in a pool, finding it too cold, and deciding not to get in. “And I’m doing that a lot,” she admitted. “So maybe one day the pool will be warm, and it’ll be a beautiful enough day to like get in, but until that day, I’m not even dipping my toe in anymore.”
Frankel Reacts to ChatGPT’s Celebrity Dating Picks, Including Leonardo DiCaprio
On Instagram, Frankel had some fun with her followers after revealing which celebrities artificial intelligence thinks she should date.
She posted a playful video, saying, “Someone from my team just sent me the top five matches for me on ChatGPT. Let me tell you the top three.”
The first name she mentioned was Leonardo DiCaprio, famously known for dating women in their 20s, even though he turned 50 last November.
Frankel Details Her Past Dating Struggles
In June, Frankel posted a video on Instagram discussing the challenges of dating men in their 50s, claiming, “this is the age where they like to breadcrumb… They are looking for adult pen pals that perhaps they could sleep with.”
Her last public relationship was with Tom Villante, with whom she was last seen in December 2024. Before that, she was engaged to Paul Bernon.
Family Life & Past Marriages
Frankel shares her 15-year-old daughter, Bryn, with her second husband, Jason Hoppy. She was previously married to Peter Sussman.
While she may not be ready to re-enter the dating world just yet, her candid honesty struck a chord with fans who related to her hesitation and humor.
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Bethenny Frankel, 54, Gives Vulnerable Update on Dating Life