Bethenny Frankel and ex-husband Jason Hoppy.Photo: Raymond Hall/GC Images; Turgeon-Steffman / Splash
Bethenny Frankel‘s custody battle against exJason Hoppycontinues.
TheReal Housewives of New York Citystar and her ex-husband are both appearing in court in New York City on Monday to begin a custody trial over their 8-year-old daughterBryn.
Frankel isseeking primary custody and full decision-making powerover Bryn. Hoppy wants to keep the current joint custody arrangement the same.
The trial is only expected to last a few days but will interfere with Frankel’s promotional schedule for the upcoming season ofRHONY.
While the reality star was expected to appear onWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenthis week to celebrate the return of the show, she has decided to skip the appearance due to the legal proceedings.
“RHONYis kicking off its new season on Wednesday, but Bethenny won’t be doing any press or interviews this week to promote the show,” a source tells PEOPLE. “She’s really excited for the new season, but her focus this week is her daughter.”
In October, a judge shut down Hoppy’s request thatFrankel undergo drug and alcohol testing.
Judge Michael Katz ruled there wasn’t sufficient evidence to order such testing, telling Hoppy, “I think you are trying to exploit Ms. Frankel to embarrass her. The appeal is denied.”
Hoppy and his legal team had argued Frankel’sdrinking on the Bravo show—and the apparent fatal overdose of her on-off boyfriendDennis Shieldsin August — should require her to submit to an emergency drug test, previously citing“downright dangerous parenting.”
Frankel’s lawyer, however, insisted that she had no evidence that Shields had a drug problem, adding that her on-screen drinking was simply entertainment for the show.
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“With respect to Dennis, the judge said [Hoppy and his team] were trying to use his death to their advantage,” a source familiar with the case told PEOPLE. “The clear implication being that it was inappropriate that they were trying to use that tragedy.”
Though they met almost 30 years ago, Frankel and Shields began datingon and offin 2016. He was foundfound deadof asuspected overdosein his Trump Tower apartment on Aug. 10. He was 51.
source: people.com
