Alex blames Jill for getting fired on ‘Good Morning America,’ but Jill’s rep tells HollywoodLife.com exclusively that Jill is over Alex’s drama!
Former Real Housewives of New York City star Jill Zarin and Alex McCord are at each other’s throats again — and they’re not even on the show anymore! After news broke last week that both women were fired before starting production on season five, along with Kelly Bensimon and Cindy Barshop, both Jill and Alex seemed sad-but-accepting of Bravo’s decision. But on Sept. 23, Alex and husband Simon van Kempen went on ABC’s Good Morning America and slammed Jill, blaming her for the fact that they were let go! Well, Jill’s rep defends Jill to HollywoodLife.com exclusively!
“She’s a manipulator and she’s very good at feeding information to her own end,” Alex said of Jill on GMA.” “She has been trying to get me off the show for a number of years. She succeeded.”
Simon joined in on the attack, calling Jill a “flawed woman extraordinaire.”
“The word ‘junior high’ has come up a lot about the drama on the show,” he added. “Jill sometimes is still very much stuck in junior high as the girl who was unpopular, who was bullied. And 30 years later, she’s still there.”
Meanwhile, Jill’s trying to be the bigger person and move on past any of this housewife drama.
“Jill is relaxing in the South of France at the moment so the last thing she is thinking about is Alex and Simon or the Housewives show,” her rep tells us. “That said, Alex and Simon’s allegations represent the type of negativity that Jill is happy to move on from. Jill will continue to take the high road and wish Alex and Simon nothing but the best.”
“While it is easy to play the blame game, it is our hope that Alex and Simon will eventually accept Bravo’s decision and proceed with grace to the next stage in their career rather than hold on to past resentments,” continues the rep. “As Jill proceeds with optimism, she is grateful to Bravo for a successful four year run on The Real Housewives of New York City and remains focused on her family and the national launch of her shapewear line, Skweez, Couture at Lord and Taylor.”
Can you believe that this back-and-forth drama is still going on?
— Lindsey DiMattina
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Tiffany
Posted at 5:13 PM on October 31, 2011
I am glad to see Jill will not be back next season. She is so boring, always plays the victim and appears to be insanely jealous of all the other Housewives, especially Bethenny, who was so wise to cut her out of her life! I am sure Jill is NOT happy to have been fired. You can bet on that! Good riddance to a petty, two-faced HW.
Um'''hello???
Posted at 3:54 PM on September 24, 2011
t was a pleasure watching Alex and Simon grow more relaxed and comfortable with themselves over the years, and to witness Alex find her voice and stand up for herself. Alex McCord and Simon were eccentric, but they were genuinely nice people, and that is why despite any differences, Bethenny, Ramon and Sonjia liked them and included the van Kempens in their lives.
I’m extremely disappointed in Bravo rewarding Alex’s courage and good nature by firing her off the show and keeping the dreadful LuAnn whatever-her-last-name-is on the show. It is in very bad taste…”darling.”
And regarding Jill Zarin, she has hardly taken the high road since her firing and has been reported to have said negative things about Alex as well, which, for whatever reason, were not covered here. Jill and LuAnne were intent on getting Bethanny, Alex and Ramona fired or forced off the show, and they almost succeeded with all three. Good for Alex for setting the record straight.
Pablo
Posted at 4:57 PM on September 24, 2011
You must be delusional. How come its alright for Silex to push their way on to GMA after Jill did and talk badly about her on national television. And then all you Jill haters get mad when she defends herself. Whether you like it or not Jill was the star of that show and she was the star because she didnt put up with trash like these people. Alex and Simon are just bitter and jealous of her and anyone with a brain can see how desperate and pathetic they are in this interview. SO HAPPY I NEVER HAVE TO SEE THEM ON TV AGAIN!
jill still sucks
Posted at 1:19 AM on September 24, 2011
Jill Zarin taking the high road..my a$$. She ALWAYS says she’s going to rise above everything, but in the end she turns into a crazy bottom feeder by having SOMEONE ELSE do her dirty work. Come on! She has every gossip site on speed dial and she’s notorious for feeding crap info about housewives she doesn’t like. Bethenny learned the hard way on that one! Alex and Simon need to move on, but saying Jill is taking the high road is like saying Ramona is going to give up Pinot Grigio. Please, don’t get it twisted!
Sidra
Posted at 9:09 PM on September 23, 2011
Simon and Alex are behaving exactly like any narcissist would when confronted with their own failure: It’s not my fault! What a pair of losers.
I think they poisoned the show with their high school hater behavior. They make it all about Jill, but I always noticed that Sonja couldn’t stand to be in the same room with them.
They’re toxic I bet no offers are flowing their way. They’re on the road to Salahi-ville.
Zilly
Posted at 5:15 PM on September 23, 2011
Alex & Simon appearing on GMA for what? To rip on Jill? Now who is still in Junior High?
Its sad, Alex & Simon, may have depended on that paycheck. From the beginning, I didn’t think that they had the $$ that the other wives had, and they tried hard to play the rich game. Reality TV really isn’t a reality for the players until its over.
Alysha
Posted at 5:13 PM on September 23, 2011
OMG ALEX please shut up and go away!
Bobby
Posted at 11:57 PM on September 24, 2011
Jill was Not the star of the show, it was Bethany, and when she left Sonja, Jill is just a jealous, petty, liar of a women. I hope she disappears forever!!!