Real Housewives of New York

The "Real Housewives of New York City" is making a little history ... now that producers have hired their first Black cast member in the show's 13-year run.

TMZ's learned the Bravo series hired Eboni K. Williams to join the Big Apple ladies for season 13, which is already in production. The attorney and TV host is ecstatic about her new gig, telling us ... "NYC is filled with successful and dynamic Black women. I’m excited to join this legendary franchise as the first Black housewife. Can’t wait to share a slice of life in this city that hasn’t been seen before."

She added, "Anyone who’s aware of my work knows I don’t hold back. I’m going to keep it just as real here as I do everywhere else."

The 37-year-old Charlotte native co-hosted "FOX News Specialists" before leaving FNC at the end of 2018. For a short time, Eboni co-hosted a talk show on WABC Radio in NYC and currently co-hosts "State of the Culture" on Diddy's REVOLT TV.

Eboni earned her law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law -- and she clerked for Louisiana's Secretary of State and the state's Attorney General. Bottom line ... she can hold her own in an argument, which should come in handy.

As we reported, the show's producers also shot with Bershan Shaw, another potential Black housewife. In the end, they decided Eboni was the better fit as a full-time cast member. We're told it's still possible Bershan will make appearances.

"The Real Housewives of New York City" is fulfilling its pledge to become more diverse by welcoming motivational speaker Bershan Shaw into the fold ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to production tell TMZ ... 'RHONY' started shooting the upcoming 13th season this week and Bershan has been recording around Manhattan with some of the housewives ... who, as you know, are all white.

Our sources say it's unclear at this point if Bershan will be a full-time housewife, or just a "friend of the show" to start -- but, nonetheless, she's been filming.

TMZ broke the story ... 'RHONY' producers set out to diversify a cast that was nothing but rich, white women in season 12, and producers were actively searching, and in talks with potential new faces for season 13.

Now, it appears producers have landed on Bershan, who will bring a lot more to the table than just being the first Black cast member.

Bershan is a business coach, actress, motivational speaker and, most impressively, a 2-time breast cancer survivor.

Leah McSweeney is the new star who became a fan favorite on Season 12 of "The Real Housewives of New York City," but she might be a one-and-done sensation ... unless Bravo ponies up.

Sources close to the show tell TMZ ... Leah is only being offered a "minuscule" pay raise for the upcoming 13th season of 'RHONY' -- which would be her second -- and she feels disrespected.

We're told the breakout 'Housewife' is holding out for an offer she feels is more deserving, considering what she brought to the table in her debut season ... and she won't return until she gets it. The clock is ticking, though -- the new season's supposed to start shooting in a week or 2.

Our sources say McSweeney made $3k per episode last season, which netted her about $60k, and she feels Bravo is trying to underpay her with a similar offer for Season 13.

Interestingly, the holdout comes on the heels of Leah updating her Instagram bio to show powerhouse talent agency, WME, is now repping her.

For those who don't know ... Leah got on the show through her relationship with Tinsley Mortimer, and fans felt she was a refreshing and exciting addition. Getting naked and throwing tiki torches around the pool at Ramona Singer's Hampton's crib will do that for ya!

The "Real Housewives of New York" are going to look a little different this upcoming season ... we've learned producers want to feature more than just rich, white women.

Production sources tell TMZ ... 'RHONY' is looking to diversify the current all-white cast for season 13, and producers are actively searching and in talks with some potential new faces.

There's already a few openings, which in theory makes it easier to make the cast more diverse ... Dorinda Medley announced Monday she's leaving the show, following Tinsley Mortimer out the door.

Our sources say Dorinda was not fired, and her departure was a mutual decision that had been previously discussed before she and Bravo ultimately pulled the trigger.

We're told rumors of Ali Wentworth, wife of George Stephanopoulos, potentially joining 'RHONY' are NOT true ... there's no talks about her coming on board and she's not in the running to join the show.

Fact is ... Ali would not add any diversity to a cast that was nothing but white women in season 12.

Producers are up against the clock here too ... we're told 'RHONY' is slated to start shooting in the Fall.

Bethenny Frankel's former residence is finally off the market ... someone just scooped up her two-bedroom condo and is ready to live like a real housewife.

The former 'RHONY' star recently slashed the listing price from $5 million to $3,995,000 ... and now it's got a new mystery owner.

The 2,392-square-foot SoHo loft looks amazing ... it's on a cobblestone street in the historic cast-iron district, with a wood-burning fireplace and a small balcony -- the only one of its kind in the building.

The home is decked out with walnut flooring throughout, plus an internal atrium and a sunken living room with 14-foot ceilings and triple-paned arched windows. The master bedroom includes a huge walk-in closet and a marble bathroom with a steam shower and soaking tub.

Floor-to-ceiling glass windows encompass the bedrooms, and the second room comes with built-in speakers to set the vibe. There's also a grand hallway perfect for displaying art, and a powder room. The building includes a common rooftop terrace.

Luann de Lesseps is giving things another chance with her ex-boyfriend ... telling us she's officially back together with her talent agent.

We got the 'Real Housewives of New York' star Wednesday at Hunt & Fish Club in New York City ... and Luann told our guy she's once again dating Rich Super.

Luann was actually on her way to meet Rich for a romantic dinner and Broadway show when she told us things are going great the second time around.

You'll recall ... Luann and Rich first started dating back in 2018, when he was in the middle of divorcing his wife. The pair dated for a short while, until Rich dumped her right before her stint in rehab.

Luann tells us she still has a strong connection with Rich ... and not only because he's helping her become a rising cabaret star. Although, it's clear she's really happy with her nationwide tour, so far.

As for what many call a major no-no -- mixing business with pleasure -- Luann's enjoying it. One woman's taboo is another's treasure.

Andy Cohen just might give politics a shot ... especially if he's successful in his mission to get NY State to legalize paid surrogacy, and we got him taking his campaign to the streets.

The 'Watch What Happens Live' host was leaving the Sirius building Wednesday in NYC when he got amped up about the proposed bill, and delivered a message directly to Gloria Steinem. She's been opposed to the measure, but Andy urged the famous feminist she needs to take a closer look at the language of the bill.

He added ... he has surrogacy to thank for the birth of his son, Benjamin, in February. He had to go through the process in California because it's still illegal in New York.

So now, he's fighting for NY couples to have the same options he had ... without having to travel cross country. When you see the video, Andy definitely has the look and feel of a stumping candidate.

We asked him, point blank, about throwing his hat in a political ring -- watch, he does NOT say no.

Luann de Lesseps is still pissing off judges and her probation officer, but her real-life problems are NOT jeopardizing her reality TV future with 'Housewives' -- at least, not yet.

Sources close to the "Real Housewives of New York" production tell TMZ ... Luann's position and security on the show are as strong as ever, despite the fact she continues to run into trouble while on probation for her drunken arrest case from 17 months ago.

As we reported ... she's already violated the terms of probation at least twice ... once for failing to prove she was going to AA meetings, and more recently for downing a couple mimosas.

After her most recent violation, she was slapped with newer, even stricter terms.

Our sources are clear though -- Luann's job is not on the line, and higher-ups haven't even discussed the possibility of firing her ... despite reports suggesting otherwise.

Fact is, Luann is great for TV right now because the fallout from her arrest offers up juicy drama and an interesting narrative for viewers. Translation ... ratings, baby!!!

One other thing our sources say should be taken into account ... some of the other 'RHONY' cast members have gotten wasted on-camera before, and have endured plenty of public embarrassment -- and they're still there.

Luann de Lesseps felt the cold steel of handcuffs Thursday, but she's NOT going back to jail for violating her probation by downing a couple of mimosas.

The 'Real Housewives of New York' star went before a Florida judge and during the hearing they put her in cuffs ... but the State's Attorney for Palm Beach County State tells TMZ ... she was not taken to jail ... contrary to several reports.

As we've reported ... Luann recently told her probation officer she had "2 glasses of mimosas after a performance" in Chicago. That's a major no-no because she's supposed to stay away from booze for a whole year under the plea deal she struck in her drunken arrest case.

We're told the court didn't believe she was taking her probation seriously -- so the judge ordered additional probation conditions for Luann. They include keeping a breathalyzer in her car, weekly telephone counseling, monthly in-person meetings with a psychiatrist and taking the prescription drug Antabuse ... which treats alcoholism.

Luann de Lesseps admitted to downing 2 mimosas ... and that's landed her a date in court with a judge.

The 'Real Housewives of New York' star told her probation officer last week she drank "2 glasses of mimosas after a performance" in Chicago ... according to docs obtained by TMZ. That, of course, is a HUGE no-no because she's supposed to lay off booze for a year under the plea deal in her 2017 Christmas Eve bust.

The probation officer presented Luann with 2 solutions -- immediately enroll in outpatient treatment for the failed sobriety test or submit to wearing an ankle monitor. According to the NY Post, Luann refused both ... saying her schedule's too busy for treatment, and the ankle monitor was too intrusive.

As a result, she's now due in court on May 23 for a probation violation hearing.

Not coincidentally, we think, Luann was accused back in February of not taking her probation seriously.

Lee Radziwill, the sister of Jackie Kennedy who was a world famous socialite ... has died.

Radziwill -- whose daughter-in-law, Carole Radziwill, is a cast member on "Real Housewives of New York" -- died Friday at her home in New York City.

Jackie and Lee were the most famous sisters in the world in the early '60s. She went by Princess Lee Radziwill. The title was bestowed when she married Polish aristocrat, Prince Stanislaw Albrecht Radziwill.

The joke in the U.S. for years was that Lee wasn't really a princess, or if she was no one knew the country associated with the title. Gilda Radner famously mused as Roseanne Rosannadanna on 'SNL' that no one knew what she was princess of.

Lee circulated in high society, with friends that included Truman Capote, Rudolf Nureyev and Andy Warhol.

Lee and Jackie were extremely competitive growing up, and Lee often said it was hard for her to measure up to the future First Lady. She recounted in her autobiography her dad favored Jackie, adding, "That was very clear to me but I didn't resent it because I understood he had reason to."

Lee was married 3 times. Her third husband was film director Herbert Ross.

Lee had 2 children.

She was 85.

Luann de Lesseps is getting a wake-up call from her probation officer, because the PO says she's not keeping up with the terms of her probation from her drunken arrest case ... TMZ has learned.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Luann is failing to prove she's been attending the required 2 AA meetings per week ... and she's not complying with taking random sobriety tests.

The 'Real Housewives of New York' star is not being punished for blowing off parts of her probation, but she's essentially being told to get it together, or else. In the docs, her PO says she's been under supervision for 6 months and has failed to comply with the conditions.

As we reported ... Luann is on probation after striking a sweet plea deal. She has to knock out 50 hours of community service by August 28 ... and, according to the docs, she's halfway through, having completed 25 hours.

As we reported, Luann was arrested on Christmas Eve in 2017 for attacking police during her bust. There's video of Luann telling a cop she'd kill him if he kept touching her.

Kelly Bensimon is one smoking hot mom -- the former model and 'Real Housewives of New York' star hit the beach to prove her hotness is still on point.

Seriously, 50-year-old Kelly went peak MILF when she slipped her rockin' bod into a couple of sexy swimsuits from Melissa Odabash and turned up the heat for a Miami photo shoot.

Check out the gallery ... Kelly wasn't afraid to get down in the sand and the surf. She also did her best "Baywatch" from a lifeguard tower.

If Harry Dubin's looking at these pics ... he's gotta be pissed Kelly's not on his lengthy list of 'RHONY' hookups. Sorry, bro.

The only person NOT hyped about this is Father Time.

Ramona Singer and Harry Dubin are just friends -- friends who had one drunken makeout sesh -- but we're told they're definitely not banging ... not at this point.

Sources close to the kissing pals tell TMZ ... the 'RHONY' star and Dubin are not dating or even going the "friends with benefits" route. Despite the fact they were inhaling each other's faces Friday night in NYC, we're told there was nothing Biblical about how the night ended.

Translation: no nookie.

Our sources say Ramona and Harry were just talking and flirting and maybe definitely had too much to drink ... which led to the passionate kiss. We're told both are happily still single though.

As you 'Housewives' fans know ... Harry's got a long history with the 'Housewives' -- he's divorced from Aviva Drescher and is a former flame of Sonja Morgan and Luann de Lesseps.

We probably shoulda put a graphic warning on this ... but yeah, that's Ramona Singer heading down the well-beaten 'Housewives' path to Big Apple bachelor Harry Dubin's lips.

We got these shots of Ramona and Harry devouring each other's faces in NYC. We're told the booze-fueled makeout sesh went down around midnight Friday at Pomona restaurant in Midtown.

The 'RHONY' star -- clearly single and ready to mingle -- hooked up with Harry in a lounge area of the hot spot, locking lips most of the night ... according to witnesses.

We're told Tinsley Mortimer was also there, but wasn't engaging in any softcore PDA like this.

Ya gotta hand it to Harry ... the dude must have something going on, having now hooked up with nearly a handful of 'Housewives' -- from his ex-wife Aviva Drescher to former flames Sonja Morgan and Luann de Lesseps.

Might be time to expand your dating pool, bro.

Jill Zarin's return to "The Real Housewives of New York City" will touch on the new man in her life and her relationships with other cast members ... but her story's only getting part-time shine.

Production sources tell TMZ ... Jill's role on the upcoming season of 'RHONY' that of contributor -- not a regular -- as a "friend" to full-time 'housewives' like Ramona Singer, Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Sonja Morgan and Tinsley Mortimer.

We're told Jill's filmed episodes for Season 11 in which she divulges details about how she's found happiness with her new boyfriend, Gary Brody, following the death of her husband Bobby earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. Jill appeared briefly in Season 10 when the cast attended the funeral.

Our sources say it's unclear how much the show will touch on Jill's life in the aftermath of Bobby's death or her new rug line business, Jill Zarin Rugs Collection, but will definitely cover her relationship with Brody ... who she started dating a couple months ago.

We're told the 2 have known each other longer, but bonded over tennis and things got serious quickly -- they're already living together in Manhattan.

As for Zarin's "friend" status with the cast ... we're told it doesn't apply to Bethenny Frankel, with whom she had a notorious falling out years ago. Our sources say the women are cordial, though still not close enough to hang out.

As we reported, Frankel dealt with a tragic loss of her own recently ... when her boyfriend died of a suspected OD. It's highly likely 'RHONY' will cover that incident.

The new season is expected to premiere in Spring 2019. We reached out to Bravo ... so far, no word back.