RHONY’s Carole Radziwill Slams Jeffrey Epstein Question in New Trailer

Carole Radziwill Returning for ‘Real Housewives of New York City’ Season 16Carole Radziwill is getting real with the housewives again. The former journalist is officially returning for season 16 of The Real Housewives of New York after an eight-year hiatus, and the newest teaser proves it’s not one fans should miss. In the trailer released July 21, Radziwill admits she “can’t believe” she’s returned to join as a “friend of” cast members Sai De Silva, Erin Lichy, Jessel Taank, Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond and Daisy Toye. And immediately, she faces an awkward moment during a day in the city. The 62-year-old is heckled on a New York City street while with Lichy with a passerby calling her “the one from the Epstein files,” nodding to her mention in some of the uncovered documents from disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. While her costars only react with confusion in the moment, a later scene in a tropical location alongside De Silva sees Radziwill discuss her Epstein connection again. As the Scout in the City blogger asks Radziwill in the scene, “You never went to the island?”The former Kennedy in-law didn’t hold back with her response. “No,” Radziwill emphasizes. “You think I’m part of an international sex-trafficking ring?” Elsewhere in the new trailer, Toye makes her appearance with lifestyle guru Martha Stewart and later mentions being part of a “lavender marriage” with her husband Eugene Toye. Trust, there is plenty of arguing over dinner, too. At one point, Glassman yells at Taank at a meal with the whole cast claiming the entirety of New York City knew about a rumor being discussed. In another clip, Radziwill appears to address the cultural obsession with Ryan Murphy’s Love Story series, which followed the romance of John F. Kennedy Jr.—the cousin of her late husband Anthony Radziwill—and her friend Carolyn Bessette before their tragic 1999 deaths, saying in a voiceover, “Everyone’s American love story is my American horror story.”Rich Polk/BravoAlthough Radziwill’s direct address of her Epstein affiliation certainly raises eyebrows ahead of the upcoming RHONY season, the longtime reality star has not shied away from addressing her ties to the disgraced late financier and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. (He died by suicide in 2019 awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.) “I never knew Jeffrey Epstein,” Radziwill—who was mentioned by name in Maxwell’s emails released in the files—told the New York Times in an interview published in March, although noting she was at one point close to Maxwell adding: “Imagine knowing someone and even being friendly with them and then they turn out to be, like, a monster.” And Radziwill emphasized that Maxwell’s Epstein affiliation—and 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with him to sexually abuse minors—was a complete shock to her. “The thing about her that made it easy for me to spend any time with her at all was that she was very intelligent, she was educated,” she explained. “If you lined up 10 women and you asked, like, pick the woman who would be involved in an international sex trafficking ring, it would not be her.” For more on the Real Housewives and the women behind the franchise, keep reading…Adam Olszweski/Bravo175-178. 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Jennie Nguyen, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake CityUtah's newest season two Housewife went out with a bang (and not in a good way). In January 2022, Jennie was fired after "offensive" and racially insensitive old Facebook posts resurfaced online. Jennie later apologized but the damage was done.Kelsey McNeal/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank169. Quinn Fry, The Real Housewives of Orange CountyHer defining trait was "cougar."Tommy Garcia/Bravo168. Jen Armstrong, The Real Housewives of Orange CountyThe Orange County doctor was never a source of drama during season 16 and her brief marriage troubles with eternally shirtless husband Ryne (or Ryan?) were less than riveting. 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Shamari DeVoe, The Real Housewives of AtlantaA one-and-done Housewife, Shamari was at least fun?Tommy Garcia/Bravo163. Peggy Sulahian, The Real Housewives of Orange CountyWhile it was nice to see some diversity in the lily-white O.C., Peggy ultimately proved to be a frustrating presence in season 12. The fights she chose to pick were bizarre, and often involving someone using a word she simply didn't understand, and her decision to simply hide out in her room for an entire day during the trip to Iceland proved that she wasn't really cut out for this Real Housewives life.Jai Lennard/Bravo162. Nneka Ihim, The Real Housewives of PotomacInstead of bonding with fellow Nigerian costar Wendy Osefo during season eight, Nneka's first season storyline centered entirely around her allegedly accusing Wendy's mom of being a witch (yes, seriously). We wish we could have seen the two bond over their shared culture rather than fighting with no resolve.Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank161. Noella Bergener, The Real Housewives of Orange CountyNoella spun through season 16 like a tornado of frantic energy. While her personal struggles were somewhat compelling (her husband James up and left the country and asked for a divorce right before filming started), it was her constant drama with queen bee Heather Dubrow that helped her not land completely at the bottom of the list. Maybe with more time and another season, we'll warm up to Mrs. Bergener.Tommy Garcia/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank160. Siggy Flicker, The Real Housewives of New JerseyFrom peacekeeper in her first season to unrelenting complaints about a thrown cake and unfounded claims of anti-Semitism in her second (and last) season, we're not sure we've ever seen a quicker Real Housewives fall from grace than this one.Alex Martinez/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank159. Amber Marchese, RHONJEverything Amber and her husband Jim did seemed to reek of desperation. Plus, he was involved in more of the drama than she was. 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The author, financial advisor and self-professed "Money Queen" rubbed not only her castmates the wrong way, audiences were also put off by Amanda's obsession with material things and questionable career advise. But it was her refusal to engage in any sort of confrontation with her castmates that truly signaled she wasn't made out to be a Housewife. It's a hard job, and not everybody is meant to do it.Mike Pont/Getty Images153-154. Teresa Aprea and Nicole Napolitano, RHONJSo unnecessary they couldn't even get individual taglines.Chris Haston/Bravo152. Nina Ali, The Real Housewives of DubaiMuch like co-star Sara Al Madani, Nina exemplified a multidimensional, successful Arab woman who is blending modern life with centuries-old cultural traditions. She avoided most of the season one drama and was sometimes overshadowed by her co-stars' bigger, louder personalities.Bravo151. 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Sara Al Madani, The Real Housewives of DubaiSara's positive, enlightened outlook on life was certainly pleasant, but didn't provide for much drama (besides that one time she offered co-star Caroline Brooks some not-so-well received parenting advice). However, the tech entrepreneur shattered stereotypes of what it means to be a modern Muslim woman in the Middle East and for that we applaud her. Andrew Eccles/Bravo144-145. Rachel Fuda & Danielle Cabral, The Real Housewives of New JerseyRHONJ's season 13 newbies certainly fit the mold of your typical Garden State Housewife and quickly found themselves in a season-long fight over literally nothing that Andy Cohen deemed pointless at the reunion. The former friends unfortunately didn't bring much more substance during season 14.For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App