Bethenny Frankel Hit With Holiday Mishaps After Revealing Her Worst Experience Yet

Bethenny Frankel had to cut her holiday getaway short following the loss of a close friend.

The "Real Housewives of New York City" alum reflected on her trip to St. Barths and how she had to leave early after hearing “heartbreaking news.” Although she did not specify what happened, it appeared to be the death of makeup artist Jasen Kaplan.

Bethenny Frankel had a close relationship with the deceased and honored him with a poignant tribute days before her latest post about her vacation. The tragic incident came weeks after the media personality opened up about her worst experience yet.

Frankel addressed her trip to St. Barths, where she rang in the New Year with her friends and teenage daughter, Bryn Hoppy. She shared eleven slides of pictures and videos on Instagram, chronicling her time on the island.

The first shot captured Frankel with her daughter, with the duo posing confidently for the camera in stunning gowns. The slides showed more moments between the mother and daughter, including a shot of them in their bikinis.

Frankel also revealed she got to spend time with Jeff Bezos’ wife, Lauren Sanchez, and actor Glen Powell. She reflected on these fun moments in the post's caption, sharing that the highs came with their fair share of lows, including a health scare.

Frankel raved about the trip to St. Barths in her lengthy caption, stressing that the holiday mishaps didn't ruin her fun. “Despite leaving early because of some heartbreaking news, dealing with a bacterial infection, and St. Barths being the Hunger Games of holiday socialization, I still found moments that really mattered,” she began.

She explained that she enjoyed spending time with her friends and daughter, especially ringing in the new year “in a way that felt genuinely meaningful, surrounded by good people.” Frankel claimed the trip reminded her of something she sometimes forgot.

The thing was to remember that “it's not about what you're doing, it's about who you're with.” Frankel added that “real happiness doesn't come from the setting, the plans, or the noise, it comes from within.” She received supportive comments from fans, with some mourning the loss of her dear friend.

Frankel's longtime pal and makeup artist, Kaplan, took his final breath on December 31 at the age of 46. TMZ reported that his death was ruled a suicide, with his injuries consistent with a fall from height. He died in a New York City hospital from blunt impact injuries to his torso and extremities. 

A day after his passing, Frankel mourned the loss of her friend on Instagram. She shared multiple pictures and videos capturing their time together, showing how deeply integrated Kaplan was with her family before honoring him in the post's caption.

Frankel described the deceased as “a one-of-a-kind gem” with a vibrant and fun personality. She labeled him caring, supportive, and generous, noting he had connected her to several influential people while remaining a key part of her team.

Weeks before Kaplan's tragic passing, The Blast reported that Frankel had opened up about her worst experience yet. She got candid about her feelings on an episode of Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast.

Frankel claimed that all the hardships she endured from her childhood to adulthood, such as her mother's struggles with alcohol and eating disorders, were nothing compared to her divorce. She tumultuously separated from her second husband, Jason Hoppy, in 2012.

Although she filed for divorce a year later, the former couple's separation was not finalized until 2021 due to their differences. "It was so traumatic. It was 10 years of my life. I lost hair. I thought I would never survive it. I didn't want to," Frankel said about the rocky split.

2025 had multiple trials for Frankel, with The Blast reporting in August that she was willing to brawl at an airport. She had updated fans about her troubles on X, revealing that she had been in a queue when someone jumped the line.

She explained that a woman had tried to take the spot ahead of her; however, she wasn't having it. Frankel claimed she told the woman bluntly that she was ready to throw hands if she attempted to steal her spot.

The line-cutter wasn't the only problem she faced, with Frankel alleging that there had been people "body-checking" as she made her way through security. She admitted that she wasn't in the best mood either, saying, "People are a little hostile. Myself included."

What will Bethenny Frankel share next?