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Almost a week after a classless youtube video of her 16-year-old daughter made it’s way online (the video has since been removed from Youtube), Countess LuAnn de Lesseps is finally breaking her silence and denouncing her daughter Victoria de Lesseps’ actions, which included rolling up a joint and using the N-word.
In a statement given to Popeater, the Real Housewives of New York City star calls her daughter’s actions “unacceptable” and promises to use this setback to teach her about the consequences of said actions.
“I am the parent of a teenager, and as any parent can attest, teenagers go through periods of doing things that are wrong and not appropriate and that are later regretted,” said LuAnn. “My daughter Victoria knows that the behavior she exhibited was unacceptable. I have chosen to deal with this as a private family matter and an opportunity to discuss consequences of our actions.”
If you recall, LuAnn’s costar Ramona Singer re-tweeted the video after a fan tweeted it to her. Ramona then took down the tweet almost immediately. And now, Ramona is once again apologizing for her actions in a brief interview with Popeater’s Rob Shuter calling the re-tweeting “accidental.”
“I’m not very tech savvy, and [I'm] heartbroken that I accidentally retweeted this. I called Luann and Victoria immediately to apologize and tell them to remove the video. Regardless of our catfights on the show, our children are off-limits,” stated Ramona.
Alex McCord and hubby Simon Van Kempen however seemed to have a different take on things as they feel LuAnn should be more forgiving towards Ramona based on her own past actions.
“None of us are perfect, and sometimes we all tweet or retweet a little too hastily,” Simon said. “But it would be a little duplicitous for LuAnn to complain too much about Ramona’s regretful retweet when both she and Jill Zarin had great fun lambasting our oldest son throughout the third season.”
Alex added, “In the four years we’ve been involved with ‘Real Housewives,’ neither Simon nor I have ever said anything negative about any other castmates’ children. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for many others on the show.”
And finally, while LuAnn wants to deal with this issue privately and understandably so, Rob does report that Bravo cameras were on hand a few days ago to film an event during which Ramona, Alex and others discussed the issue. Which raises an important question – Is it fair for LuAnn to not want this issue discussed on camera?
One side of the argument is that LuAnn signed up for the show and to put her life on television, good or bad. Plus the issue is already public knowledge and involves a costar. Another side of the argument is that though LuAnn signed up to do the show, her daughter did not and should not have her dirty laundry aired on TV. Which brings us to the question…
TELL US – DO YOU THINK IT’S FAIR THAT LUANN WANTS THE VICTORIA/RAMONA STORYLINE OUT OF THE SHOW? SHOULD BRAVO LEAVE IT OUT? THOUGHTS ON LUANN’S COMMENTS?
I think LuAnn is wise to want to keep this a private, family matter. Bravo should respect her wishes regarding this. LuAnn’s comments say just enough; not too much, not too little.
LuAnn wants the positive sides of her kids on Bravo but she freaks when there is negative stuff too. Either have your kids all in or all out.
I haven’t heard or read anything where LuAnn has made any comments about Ramona, So I don’t know what the fuck Simon and Horse Face are going on about her being more forgiving of Ramoaner. Personally LuAnn should give that nutbag an old fashion ass kicking. You know LuAnne could do it too.
LuAnn seems to be handling it fine, I say keep it private. I don’t really care to see what she does. There is plenty of other stuff going on especially with this group women to keep me entertained and that should be enough for the rest of us.. if it not too bad.
I totally agree that it’s a catch-22 to say you want to handle the matter privately but then discuss it on camera. It’s as if Luann is turning the incident into a moment about her, where she can show she’s a good parent and save face. In my opinion, it would be better if Luann discussed it privately with her family, and stood by that everywhere publicly, refusing to talk about it with anyone, especially Bravo. If she talks to Ramona about it, then it should be about the retweet, not the footage.
Otherwise, children should be off-limits. There are things that parents are doing on these shows that will affect their children later when it comes to character evaluations (ARE YOU READING THIS, TERESA???), and that’s because that’s the world we’re living in now. Suddenly Tommy Manzo is the genius for refusing to let his daughter get involved in the show.
Luann and Jill have both talked about Simon & Alex’ children on camera. They need to realize this type of thing comes with the territory. And besides, even if Ramona retweeted it on purpose, Victoria was doing something she knew may become public. It’s not like Ramona talked about or did something to an innocent child like Francious. I remember when Jill asked why they named him that. She’s so ignorant.
While Luanne signed up for the show – I understand that her daughter did not
Alex & Simon signed up for the show – and I highly doubt their little boys did
With that, this is a toughie – we will all have our own opinion – I think me (as a viewer) would like to know what’s going on – you signed up for the show so tell us; don’t leave the bad parts out
I’m sure Alex & Simon did not appreciate the girls laughing and talking about how 2 year olds are not behaved – which is common sense
If kids are off limits then it should go across the board – not only when something bad happens with your kid
So when The Countess is gracing us with her presence, kissing both cheeks of the girls and saying darling…we know it’s all for appearances – god forbid we know that the countess has other issues in life aside of a divorce
you do the crime – expect everyone to want to know about it
BRAVO SHOULD LEAVE IT OUT OF THE SHOW. IT SHOULD BE HANDLED PRIVATELY AND WHAT EVER HAS BEEN DISCUSSED PUBLICALLY SHOULD END. VICTORIA IS A MINOR AND HER BEHAVIOR SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO PUBLIC OGLING AND THE INCREDIBLE STUPIDITY OF THE THE BRAVO VIEWING PUBLIC.
Ahem…..Luann has criticized Alex and Simon’s boys.
We are being told Luann was discussing this with the other wives so who knows what she said to Ramona – I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant.
Although I love the fact that Ms perfect has tripped with her own child she has valid points about teenagers. At the same time she should have thought of that before she criticized other. All that being said, I agree that TV isn’t the place where this should be discussed. None of us are perfect and the kid is 16. Cut her some slack.
Silex should shut up. Alex is so annoying.. Why would she continue to bash Jill who has nothing to do with this. Bravo had her kids acting a fool on camera. Bravo did not film LuAnn’s daughter thus making it not fair game. Furthermore by the time Alex’s sons are older they will not even care about this show. LuAnn’s daughter is at a more critical point in life…. the castmate’s that make negative comments about it are losers. Just the way they were pissed when Bethany’s pregnancy was confirmed. This should be treated the same!
@Bryan
I am not sure how long you have been a viewer of Housewives of NY; but, LuAnn on a number of occasions has made bad comments about Simon and Alex child(ren) all the time.Therefore, I understand where the two of them are coming from.
I ALWAYS say DO NOT talk about other people children when you have children yourself.
I think complaining about a friend or acquaintance’s misbehaving toddler and what is going on with LuAnn’s child is comparing apples and oranges. Who doesn’t complain about people with young children? My boys are two years apart and when we took them to restaurants when they were young even I didn’t want to be seated with them!
And I don’t care how un-techie Ramona is, who the hell retweets a video without first viewing it? Especially someone who is a pseudo-celeb with a following? So either she is lying and knew exactly what she was posting . or she is stupid enough to just re-tweet without viewing ? In which case, everbody send all your stupid spam shit straight to Ramona because apparently she will post any damn thing.
I think LuAnn addressed the situation as well as can be expected. She didn’t lie about it or make excuses for her daughter. You can teach your children good values and morals, but at the end of the day , they are still going to do what they are going to do and that includes sometimes getting in trouble.
I dont quite get people trying to make it ok to make fun of toddlers! They were NOT just discussing the kids, they at times, made fun of them. I dont find that more acceptable. Its just the opposite to me.
I remember a little while back a commenter telling me that these children are getting paid – it was a discussion involving Nene and Bryson
Are certain children getting paid and not all? I know some are very young but, I thought if they appear on the show – they are getting paid
@ 12 Scottie –I take it you got your ass kicked a lot at recess or something? Bad grade school memories coming back? Alex and Simon’s kids were annoying , but so are most young kids that have probably had a long and boring day. They are after all filming a show so I am sure the scenes we see take a lot of set up .
@ Bryan, lol, I loved your comment.
I say, she’s underage so keep it private.
I think Simon and Alex are disgusting for making this situation about themselves. They are all narcissists. Ramona is supposed to be an accomplished businesswoman and now all of a sudden she is not very high tech? Please.
This situation is very serious and Victoria’s future in college could be at stake here. It is not comparable to the terrible twos and little boys creating a ruckus. We’ve all run into those types of kids and believe me it is not hard to stay quiet but it doesn’t affect their whole lives. LuAnn should quit focusing on appearances and start being a mother to her daughter. Victoria is obviously looking for attention and doesn’t have any idea how long this situation could follow her especially with her mother’s notoriety on this show. If it were me, I’d leave the show and focus on my kids.
I meant to say it is not easy to stay quiet about misbehaved kids…
Why are people using this as a reason to bash LuAnn? I know she’s Victoria’s mother, but I really doubt she approves of what her daughter has done. Who would encourage this kind of behavior or condone it? I feel bad for LuAnn and I’m sure she is embarrassed and angry at her daughter over this. And yes, she signed up to do a reality show, but I do feel she’s within her rights to not have some things discussed on air. One’s child potentially having a drug problem constitutes one of those things. It’s not surprising that Alex and Simon would take this opportunity to insert themselves and their own gripes against LuAnn into this situation–they are major opportunists and have been since Day One of the show. And as for Ramona, I have no doubt that she “accidentally” re-tweeted that disgusting video on purpose. Ramona should be ashamed of herself, but I doubt she is. Maybe a questionable video of her daughter will surface one day, she would certaintly deserve that to happen to her for this. Low blow, Ramona!
I don’t know why people are getting on Alex’s ass. She spoke the truth. The Countless one and Whiney Ass Jill did talk smack about her children. Any parent would be angered by that. Kids are off limits no matter what. Maybe, now it’s a good time for people to remember that.
@13 WWW – I thought everyone got some sort of paycheck or stipend because I remember when it was brought up in the Kate & John Gosselin divorce regarding their children’s paying and what was going into their trust funds. However, I think it just varies on how the contract is written. Once they turn 18 they do get paid though, so Bryson, Ashley , etc. they are all getting some form of payment for their participation on the shows.
@19 I agree – does not matter what age –
When someone hears that people are talking about their little ones – they will be pissed – especially when it’s not said to their face
Maybe the housewives will all learn from this – or maybe not
I have been a fan of NY Houswives since day 1. Everyone has mad comments about Alex and Simons out of control kids. First season finale …dinner table ramona and bethenney talked about Francois and the other lil brats name. They didn’t lie those kids were stabbing a hamburger with a toy and running around screaming like banchies. Jill and Luann talked about how they were climbing up someones legs in public. I am old school kids should not be acting like plum fools anytime public or private. Plus it was during filiming what Victoria did was not during filming so to me leave it alone. But her mama needs to take a swipe across those lips of hers for saying derragatory words and smoking weed. I have heard well she is a teenager as a mother of two teenagers boy and girl they have the fear of me in theim. They know right from wrong act up you gets the beat down plain and simple I AM NOT MY KIDS FRIEND I AM THEIR PARENT!
@20 SRJ – that’s what I figured, thanks
I hope the kiddies do get something in their trust funds – especially the Gosselin kids -
@13 – Good question.
I think it depends on the age of the kids. For example, Teresa gets paid a bit extra for her 4 kids. While the Manzo kids would probably get a paycheck from Bravo instead of the money going to Caroline.
Not 100% sure how exactly the payment works but I do know for a fact the housewives with kids get paid extra. It would only make sense the kids over 18 would get their money directly from Bravo.
It is a *reality* show, so if these ladies allow their children to be filmed, then it is not exactly realistic to expect people not to comment on their behavior, including members of the cast. All of the housewives that I can remember have allowed this, except Sonya.
It would be nice if we lived in perfect world and people would not comment on the actions of a minor that has been brought into a reality series by their parent, but that isn’t going to happen.
As far as I am concerned, none of them have anything to complain about as long as allow their children to be filmed. If they think it is unfair of others to comment and it is hurtful to their child, then take them off the show because they cannot control not only what their cast mates say, but what the public says.
@2 – You are exactly right!!
@24 RT – thanks – I figured they all must get something
That makes me cringe that Teresa gets extra cash for her girls – I think Bravo should do a trust fund for the little ones – a fund that the parents cannot touch (look but, no touch)
Interesting…
is this a reality show or not? If you are putting your life out there, you shouldn’t be editing your life with a candy covered shell. HOW MUCH and HOW TRUTHFULLY you address it is another thing. I give Bethenny, Tamra, NeNe, Kim, Phaedra, Alex, and even Camille credit for being brave enough for putting it all out there, good, bad and ugly. They are REAL.
Her daughter didn’t sign up to do the show, but someone put her on there. She could have not been shown at all from Day One but Luanne made her kids very much a part of the show and her story line.
I agree with Alex & Simon – their kids took the brunt of every nasty, look down upon, critical comment directed towards their kids. I’m totally on their side with that one, but then doesn’t surprise me that with that cast, what’s goes for some (namely Jill and Luanne) does not go the same way for others (Alex & Simon). I always see a huge double standard from Luanne and Jill.
@29 MG – I like your comment – and with that Luann and Jill were laughing about the book Alex & Simon were writing – I remember Alex had to clarify (in the reunion) that it was a book on the challenges of raising kids – not parenting them (or something to that effect)
@10PrincessP
I have been watching these crazy tricks for the last few years and the difference between LuAnn’s kid and the Simon and Horse Faces’s kids are whats said about those boys are kids is true, they ran amok
but in their defense, they are little boys, as an uncle to a 6 year old…its how they roll
@15Amy
Thanks!! =)
what is it being filmed for? are they shooting the fifth season of RHONY already??
Yep!
What they are really trying to say is whatch the show.
It was all caught on camera.
That is right. Luanne and Jill talked about Alex’s kids all the time.
They were pre-schoolers.
Beth too, now that I think about it. Maybe that is why she doesn’t want to return.
She don’t want the ladies talking about her kid and husband.
These ladies love it when it is other people’s kids, but not their own.
Normal parents, though.
I don’t think it’s fair for Alex to compare Victoria DeLesseps to her son. Yohan and Alex have no discipline so of course they are going to behave like lion cubs. I cannot wait to see the crap the VanKempen kids get into as teenagers as a result of no home training. Alex should wait a good ten years before opening her piehole
If LuAnn wants to keep this private, then get off the damn ‘reality’ show.
@35 They wont have time to discipline those boys, they will be too busy shopping.
I might be missing something here, but how in the world can Luann keep this PRIVATE when the daughter not only filmed herself rolling up a joint, but posted it on YouTube? I understand the video has been removed, but the damage is already done.
On another note…the HWs of NY hasn’t even started yet. The only way I found out about the YOUTUBE video was through the MEDIA! Not from Simon or Ramona! The media and the Internet is running with this story. They love scandal, and although she is a minor, she did this to herself. I’m sure the “countess” is mortified. We were all teenagers once, we made bad decisions, and this too shall past…when the next scandal hits!
She’s a teenager, she is doing what she’s supposed to do.
@ Wa Wa Wa WHAT! – Thanks, and exactly! Jill and LuAnn came off like they knew it all, having perfect kids themselves….now we see what a great job LuAnn has done with hers.
Alex & Simon never came off like they knew it all with their kids….but Jill & LuAnn certainly did.
Well, Well , Luann, you had a lot ro say about everyone else, where’s all that class now? by the way you are NOT a countess, not in this country anyway.
the Simon & Alex annoy me so bad why are they turning this situation around and making it about them? why are they even making a comment about what LuAnne and Ramona are going through? they are just need to shut up and focus on themselves.
@42 totally agree. Also what LuAnne was saying about their son wasn’t an attack on him but more on their completely relaxed parenting style. Whether or not what she said had validity, she was criticizing them.
relaxed parenting style – daughter away at boarding school, going out many nights, leaving your kids with the maid (remember season 1 when LuAnnes son was complaining about her going out) absent father (even prior to the divorce), not home when your daughter sneaks out of the house and breaks her wrists.
If this hasn’t gone public, I think LuAnne would have acted like it never happened- I just hear her saying “Darling, that’s not true. VICTORIA would never do such a thing or say such a thing”
Luanne…we have watched you for over a year now..and want I have seen is a pattern of self righteous behavior from you and the other ladies.. KARMA………
” money can,t buy you class” what chapter is that from your book??!