Real Housewives of New York City Season 7 Officially Welcomes Bethenny Frankel Back

By Kara Michelle Oct 23, 2014 07:45 AM EDT

Real Housewives of New York City Season 7 Officially Welcomes Bethenny Frankel Back

Bravo officially confirms that Bethenny Frankel will be returning to the Real Housewives of New York City for Season 7. Frankel, an original member of the show who was a cast regular from Season 1 to Season 3, left the franchise after her televised cat-fight with then fellow New York City Housewives Jill Zarin and Kelly Bensimon, who have both also exited from the show. The 43-year-old Bethenny, aside from being a TV personality, is an author of five books and an entrepreneur famous for her Skinnygirl brand.

The Real Housewives of New York City Season 7, once it airs, will have host Andy Cohen back at the show's reigns as executive producer. Regarding Frankel's return, Cohen said, "Bethenny is one of the most popular Housewives in the history of the franchise, and I couldn't be more excited she is coming home to Bravo!"

Bethenny in her statement to the press said: "I'm genuinely excited, with a side of slightly nervous, for my return to The Real Housewives of New York City. Bravo has always been the place on television where I have the freedom to be unfiltered, honest and inappropriate, with an audience who has been with me from the beginning. I can't wait to see what this next chapter brings for all of us. Watch what happens!"

In a talk with US Weekly, Bethenny said her story lines this upcoming season may look different than it did when she was last seen in the reality TV series. Said she, "When I went onto Housewives when I was younger, I didn't have family, I didn't have a business, I didn't have partners. I think basically the important thing is how I'm just being honest about my perspective."

Bethenny will be joining cast members Carole Radziwill, Heather Thomson, Kristen Taekman, LuAnn de Lesseps, Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan according to Bravo.