“We had to separate”- The Real Housewives of New York City star Jessel Taank reveals why season 15’s filming was cut short

In a surprising acknowledgment, Jessel Taank of The Real Housewives of New York City disclosed that filming for season 15 was unexpectedly halted due to alleged escalating tensions within the cast.

Speaking during Hayu FanFest, a fan event in London, Taank said,

“We actually had to cut filming short... Someone got put on a plane, and someone got shipped to a hotel. We had to separate, and they couldn’t film anymore."

The comment hints at the intense drama yet to unfold in upcoming episodes of The Real Housewives of New York City, with production even having to separate cast members.

While Jessel chose to keep specifics under wraps, her comments have left fans speculating about the nature of the feud and which housewives were involved.

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The Real Housewives of New York City: Tensions escalate on a cast trip

Taank’s comments came during the Hayu FanFest event in London, an international celebration of reality TV hosted by NBCUniversal’s streaming platform. She appeared alongside The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Sutton Stracke.

She explained the measures production took during tense moments on a season 15 cast trip. The decision reportedly involved flying one cast member back and relocating another to a different location.

Though Taank declined to name the housewives involved in the conflict, viewers may have a clue from the season’s opening scenes, which showed mounting tensions between Brynn Whitfield and Ubah Hassan.

In the preview, the two exchange heated words, with Whitfield calling Hassan a “six-foot f**king toddler” and the latter responding by calling her castmate a “b**ch.”

Currently, speculation centers on these two women as possible cast members in the disruptive dispute, but the exact details will only be known as the season progresses.

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The Real Housewives of New York City episode 5: Highlights

Episode 5 of The Real Housewives of New York City season 15, titled Without a Clue, shifted focus from escalating cast tensions to celebrating Taank’s birthday. Set against a nostalgic 90s-themed party inspired by Taank’s favorite film, Clueless, the episode invited the women to put aside their disagreements temporarily for some light-hearted fun.

Taank, dubbed the “London Princess,” marked her 41st birthday in style, donning several outfits inspired by Clueless’ iconic lead character, Cher Horowitz, while other housewives interpreted 90s fashion in their unique ways. Brynn’s feud with Ubah and Sai De Silva remained unresolved in this episode.

Some tension was diffused through humor as Jenna Lyons dressed as a 90s lawyer and handed out mock legal documents notifying her castmates of “show-related crimes." However, longstanding disagreements still simmered in the background.

Taank’s party served as a temporary distraction. However, Brynn’s early departure for a late-night spray tan and Erin Lichy’s simmering resentment towards Lyons hinted that not all issues had been left at the door.

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The Real Housewives of New York City cast dynamics: Brynn and Ubah

This confrontation between Whitfield and Ubah Hassan continues to intensify throughout the season, with Ubah discussing the dynamics with newcomer Racquel in a separate conversation about identity and challenges in the modeling world.

Reflecting on past off-camera interactions, Ubah shared how Brynn warned her she might be edited as an “angry Black woman” on the show, a comment Racquel interpreted as manipulative.

While Brynn claimed her intentions were supportive, Ubah felt otherwise, explaining she felt pressured to restrain her emotions for fear of the audience's judgment.

The feud affects Brynn’s relationships with other housewives as well. Her dynamic with Sai, which started friendly, now sees her referring to Sai as a “miserable troll,” underscoring the strain Brynn’s conflicts have placed on the cast.

Erin and Jenna, who began the season on good terms, now find themselves in an awkward standoff. The former has felt abandoned by Jenna, despite the two being friends.

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The Real Housewives of New York City airs Tuesday nights on Bravo, with next-day streaming on Peacock.