Bethenny Frankel's 'Lost At Sea' Story A Scam?

Last week, former "Real Housewives of New York" star, Bethenny Frankel, told Ellen DeGeneres a dramatic story of being "lost at sea." However, Tim Russell, the man who was called to rescue the reality star is now speaking out, telling a very different tale.

According to JewishJournal.com, although Frankel claimed to be at sea with no GPS, that's just not the case: "When the therapist called Tim [Russell] to help, he told them his exact coordinates, which he read off of the GPS system. They did call the Coast Guard, and the USCG suggested he call a tow company because there was no danger."

Russell, who has worked on the sea for over 40 years, explained that they didn’t need him but Frankel’s therapist insisted he come and help the reality star and the filming crew she had on the boat with her.

“Mr. Russell thought it was bizarre, and did not know what was going on, but did not want to ignore the call incase there was an issue so he went out to get them,” the Jewish Journal points out. “When Tim got there, he saw that the boat was fine. There were 9 people on the boat. Bethenny, Jason, the therapist, and a Bravo film crew of six. They did not need a tow, as the boat was fine. They simply followed Tim and his wife back to the shore with no towing and a functioning GPS.”

Claiming she had been lost at sea for over 21 hours and was worried she may never see her little girl again, the reality star even told DeGeneres that she was so grateful to the man that rescued her, she tipped him $2,800 dollars -- an anecdote that Russell says never happened. However, what's most disturbing is Russell's recollection of Bethenny, once arriving back at shore, kissing the dock -- after her crew got out of the boat first to make sure they captured it on tape, of course.

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Comments

[Lennart Martinson]

05:08 PM on 10/13/2011

WOW, and now we are sooooo startled to find out that a "real housewife" has been lying ... how will we be able to sleep?

[DrucillaBee]

09:07 PM on 10/11/2011

This is NOT a good look B! How dreadful! (in the words of Dwight from real housewives of Atlanta) lol

[harumpf]

07:29 PM on 10/11/2011

Why are you (Rob) using Ilana Angel at the Jewish Journal as a source for this (or any) story? Everyone who pays attention knows that Angel is some weird, stalker-like blogger who uses anonymous Twitter posters as HER sources. Her columns are full of lies and fantasy.

Are you too lazy to do your own homework, or are you just happy to use known discredited bloggers as sources as an excuse to slam someone when it suits your aims?

[trumbull desi]

09:27 AM on 10/17/2011

Are you too lazy to do your own homework, or are you just happy to use known discredite­d bloggers as sources as an excuse to slam someone when it suits your aims?

~ ~ ~ ~

I'm going with all of the above.

[Amy Smth]

06:41 PM on 10/11/2011

Bethenny Frankel is a Liar, a Fake, and a PHONY...!!!!....Who would lie about being stranded in a Boat in the Ocean, involve the Coast Guard and then lie about what happens....For the Publicity....??!!.....She should be thrown in Jail...!!!!

_______________________________________________________________________

[IsabelRingin]

01:47 PM on 10/10/2011

These reality stars are really getting out of hand. There's a little too much crying wolf. All of these false alarms just to promote themselves, their shows, their brands, whatever. Its getting out of hand. Next they'll all be setting off fire alarms in every high rise building they enter, so they can tell their survival story on Dr. Phi.

[pitciarn]

04:52 PM on 10/13/2011

BTW; Dr Phil is not a real DR. He gave up his License Prior to the show, Okrah found him and made him a Household name.

[kel]

10:18 AM on 10/10/2011

Yikes:

I liked her and her hard working marketing etc. However when she married a great guy, with a loving family and sort of told her husband no they couldn't go see them as much as he wanted it seemed mean & hurtful. They lost a child and only have Jason.

She's set in life selling her Skinny Girl bottle.
I tried it and am not all that impressed. (great marketing).

[angad]

04:46 AM on 10/10/2011

Demi Moore Meets With A Divorce Lawyer http://goo.gl/QHuAr

[chardonnay48]

10:12 PM on 10/09/2011

She's kinda scary.

[Blackstonia]

06:23 PM on 10/09/2011

Apparently this Bethenny Frankel is a liar. I don't even know who she is.

[Greenblue]

04:52 PM on 10/13/2011

a narcissist who's shooting herself in a foot..Instead of seeking real help, she's airing her "therapy" with that quack who just wants to be on tv..gross

[lillypad1]

04:49 PM on 10/09/2011

Not nice to punk Ellen....

[Endora9]

04:09 PM on 10/09/2011

She fabricated a past that prompted her own mother to call her a liar. Everything about her is phony. Even her marriage and pregnancy were choreographed so that she would get her own spin-off from the Housewives show. This woman is desperate for celebrity and clearly will say and do almost anything to get it. I hope BRAVO is getting a cut of her fortune selling margaritas to all the suckers who apparently can't make their own.

[trumbull desi]

09:42 AM on 10/17/2011

And you know all this how?

[Leo F Venuti]

03:56 PM on 10/09/2011

Ever think maybe she was freaked out at sea? Maybe it was a show stunt or just maybe someone is trying to make money off a woman that just made 100 million bucks.

[colbert for president]

02:11 PM on 10/12/2011

she lied about the 100 million bucks, too. she and her partner sold the drink mix co. for $8.1 million that they split and then paid taxes. the lies keep coming.

[Leo F Venuti]

03:25 AM on 10/14/2011

I think you've been watching too many tabloid shows

[jasw69]

08:31 PM on 10/14/2011

Well if you believe everything the Huff Post says, which by the the way, they have issued a tiny "CORRECTION" saying: Our reporter misread the $8.1 million figure in the financial documents. As Forbes points out, the number refers to the amount of Skinnygirl attributed to goodwill, not the total purchase price. We regret the error.

If you think about this liquor line and how they couldn't keep it on the shelves for months and months, do you really think it would sell for a mere $8.1M? Then have I got a deal for you! The only lie I'm reading is coming from the Huff Post. Wonder what their kickback is...

[dztmseh70]

03:22 PM on 10/09/2011

I briefly watched her when she was on "Housewives of New York". There are NO housewives in the world like these women. I have not watched it since.

[Bessi]

02:10 PM on 10/09/2011

Seriously? Why does HuffPo not just set up a public blog section if they are just going to take stories from other blogger - and not credible ones.

[TVannie]

01:11 PM on 10/09/2011

Bethany doesn't need help ruining her career, she can do it all herself.