Bethenny Frankel responds to Carole Radziwill’s ‘White Savior’ remark

Bethenny Frankel pushed back at her Bravo colleague Carole Radziwill’s assertion that she had a ‘White Savior Complex’ after she gave away opened makeup to T.J. Maxx employees in a TikTok video earlier this month.

The Skinnygirl mogul, 52, took to TikTok Sunday evening with a clip in which she responded after Radziwill, 60, earlier said of the gesture: ‘One “word”: #whitesaviorcomplex.’

Frankel, whose friendship with Radziwill fell apart during the 10th season of Real Housewives Of New York City, alluded to ‘a former housewife’ and her remark, noting that she actually used three words, not one, in her attempt to be clever.

‘Someone emailed me and said that’s actually racist to say that to you, and I didn’t know what the term meant specifically, and then I went in and educated myself and looked it up,’ Frankel said. ‘But it’s saying that I am trying to be a white savior to people of color by bringing them makeup.’

Frankel said the assertion of White Savior Complex wasn’t factual, as she had no idea what background the recipients of the makeup would be, as she brought it to one person to disperse to a group of people she didn’t know.

‘We’re just in this time where people just want to say something provocative so people jump on … and everyone’s just trying to come up with some great catchphrase that they can criticize you of,’ she said.

Frankel addressed a comment from a separate person who said she was ‘cosplaying being poor by going to TJ Maxx,’ saying that she’s been shopping there ‘for decades.’

Frankel said that some people have weaponized modern sensitivities to try and get clout for themselves and ensnare others in scandal.

‘People think they can sit behind a keyboard with this terminology, and then go criticize someone,’ she said, ‘and they just hope that they’re going to put the bait on the hook, and everybody’s gonna jump for the fishing rod.’

Frankel said that ‘the truth is, they make themselves look really stupid and really desperate – like everything doesn’t have to be something; some things could just be exactly what they are.’

Frankel said that some uneducated people use buzzword terminology to try and prove their intellect and importance, adding, ‘I’m getting really f***ing sick of stupid people trying to act smart.’

She added: ‘It’s very arrogant, it’s very bombastic and it’s pretentious – so, it’s an education, but as much as cancel culture lives on, I think some people are starting to get frustrated with everything being something.’

Frankel wrapped up in saying, ‘In 2023, calling people names using terminology like that – it could be scary, it’s alarming, it’s provocative, it’s unnecessary, and it’s really, really ignorant.’

Frankel took to Instagram earlier Sunday to laugh off the controversy, in which she was labeled ‘out of touch,’ while her fellow Bravo star Carole Radziwill said she had the aforementioned complex.

‘I’m in a lot of trouble, and I think I’m being cancelled I did something very wrong,’ Frankel joked. ‘People like to use these really big woke words and terms like “narrative” and “gaslighting” just to act like they’re really smart.

‘It’s been all over the Internet that I’m really cheap – which, maybe I actually am cause I won’t waste anything – and that [I have a] White Savior Complex.’

Frankel explained in detail why she has the makeup, and feels compelled to donate the products she doesn’t keep.

Frankel says ‘very very generous’ cosmetics brands routinely send her large assortments of makeup with variety of products in different shades, in hopes of her bringing them exposure with her presence on TV and social media.

Frankel said that she will open the boxes of products to test them, leaving an assortment of open, but unused products.

‘I don’t need three concealers in three shades – I need one concealer and one shade, if that,’ Frankel said of the products. 

Frankel said that while the makeup might be opened, she doesn’t initially use an applicator, and the products are untouched and in perfect condition to be donated to people that might not purchase high-end makeup on their own.

‘I don’t want them to go to waste, I think they’re beautiful,’ she said.

Frankel said that in addition to giving the products to people who work for her, she prepares bags to give people as ‘random acts of kindness.’

Frankel said she organizes she the extra makeup she accrues into ziplocked bags to preserve the products, and each kit includes ‘a foundation, a lip, a powder, etc.’

She wrapped up in joking, ‘So I guess I’m being cancelled, what shall we all do? Thoughts and prayers.’

In an adjacent caption to the clip, Frankel said that criticism she faced over the makeup was an ’embarrassing’ attempt for her haters to try and get at her.

‘People become so obsessed with others and their actions that you live rent free in their head,’ she said. ‘It’s amusing but quite sad to fixate on someone else to garner attention for yourself.’

She added, ‘Call Maryann at RH outlet in Riverhead and ask her how the girls & male manager feel about it!!!’ 

The two-minute clip that conjured up the latest backlash was shared to Frankel’s main TikTok page on September 5 as she stopped by a local T.J. Maxx with her daughter, Bryn, 13.

The TV personality explained that, ‘the women who work here are so nice and they’re always complimenting me on what we buy…’

‘So I wanted to bring them some of the leftover makeup that I just tried, opened up, and put in a giveaway pile,’ Frankel said, and then insisted that, ‘It’s all brand-new.’ 

After taking a quick look at some of the designer items at the store, she then cut the clip to show bags filled with makeup products. 

‘So, we brought over the giveaway stuff and I put it all in separate little bags for my friends here,’ Frankel said. 

Frankel then approached the large check out counter and crossed paths with one of the employees. 

‘This is my friend who compliments my purchases…what’s your name?’ Frankel could be heard asking before continuing, ‘I’ve got some goodies for you in here.’ 

The reality star explained that the makeup items in the bags ‘are all things that have been opened once, and then not used. But, they’re good and fancy and expensive.’ 

However, the employee expressed concern about accepting the makeup and stated that there was a possibility for ‘getting in trouble’ due to not being able to accept ‘any gratuity or gifts.’ 

Social media users jumped to the comment section to offer their responses to the video, with one penning, ‘why film her. she looks scared. is this for clout?’ 

‘Did you think you did something? is this how out of touch with reality rich ppl are ? Open used once? I would never,’ another typed out. One wrote, ‘Man your god complex is OFF THE RAILS.’ 

One TikTok user added, ‘Dude what are you on? Nobody wants your used makeup. These people aren’t your grandchildren. You have money. Give NEW things if you want to be nice.’

Another typed out, ‘Update us if consuela is still working there,’ with Bethenny responding with, ‘Of course she is.’ 

One TikTok user, @ivonnecruz2525, uploaded a video of herself responding to the clip and wrote in the caption, ‘she’s so out of touch. she really thinks she did some thing there #entitledpeople…’

Former Real Housewives Of New York City castmate, Carole Radziwill, slammed the businesswoman on X, formerly known as Twitter, and also reposted the same reel.

Bethenny and Carole used to be close in the past on the Bravo series, but their friendship notably fell apart during the 10th season of the show. 

‘Who sent this to me? Lol. I mean stop this nonsense. So much to unpack but I’m not getting paid to do this any longer. But here…one “word”: #whitesaviorcomplex,’ she wrote. 

Comedian Michelle Collins also took to X to give her own response to the video and penned, ‘Handing out your USED makeup to TJ Maxx employees is DERANGED behavior.’ 

Other Twitter users jumped to the comments to agree with Collins, with one writing, ‘This lady is not well. I am genuinely concerned. It’s giving Wendy Williams vibes.’

Another added, ‘She needs to be shut down she’s terrorizing Maxxinistas!!!’ while one social media user simply penned, ‘This is gross.’ 

Shortly beforehand, Frankel recently took to her Instagram Stories and revealed that she is done with wearing bikinis and explained that a one-piece ‘holds it all in’ more. 

The TV personality further expressed that she wanted to be allowed to eat what she likes without worrying about what she consumes to fit into a bikini. 

After adding that one-piece swimsuits are more comfortable to wear, she soon took down the clip from her stories.