Tinsley Mortimer began The Real Housewives Of New York as a single gal trying to make a new start from the dust bunnies of Sonja Morgan’s spare room, and she ended it with a new beau and a hefty hotel bill! Now, Tinsley reflects on how far she’s come since cameras started rolling last fall, and how truly appreciative she is of Sonja’s hospitality – even though some of the other woman (and Page Six) say otherwise.
Despite the standard drama of being part of any Housewives enterprise, Tinsley says she enjoyed her time on the show. “Wow! I can’t believe RHONY Season 9 is over. What a rollercoaster! My life was in such a mess when I joined the show, and I think you can see the entire season for me was pretty much a long therapy session. Kindly, I received so much support from so many people that I do feel I can finally put the past behind me, forgive myself for staying in such a destructive relationship, and once again look forward to the future.”
Although she didn’t behave too disastrously this season (looking at you, Ramona Singer!), Tinsley does have some regrets. She writes in her blog that “there are many things I wish I had not done…I was enjoying too many cocktails to calm me down, my language when drinking was abominable (and embarrassed my 94-year-old grandfather), and I was far too loud sometimes…just all over the board. But even with the embarrassment of my erratic actions, overall I feel this time was the most productive of my life and just what I needed. I believe I have pretty much closed the chapter of the arrest and trauma in Palm Beach, and it is no longer a part of me. I’m on my way to truly feeling like myself again.”
Moving out of Sonja’s townhouse in February helped Tinsley get her groove back. It also helped her move forward with new boyfriend, Scott! She explains, “Moving into a place by myself was a good start at getting my confidence and independence back…but Scott and I are planning to move in together in NYC at the beginning of the Fall. I will really miss my petite safe haven at my hotel, but I’m hopeful a new adventure is beginning!”
As for the “Thank You and F**k You” party she threw for Sonja in March, Tinsley maintains it was done with love – not with shade. She was, therefore, not happy to see some of the ladies trying to rile Sonja up about her intent being disingenuous. Tinsley defends, “I sincerely hope that Sonja knows the party I gave her was a thank you from the heart. I will always be appreciative of her generosity and hope that we can be really good friends again. She truly saved me by getting me out of Palm Beach and letting me move into her beautiful townhouse. Watching the show with friends and family, I was distressed to see several of the girls try to make Sonja feel the party was disingenuous, insincere, and somehow all about me.”
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Without naming names, we can assume Tinsley is referring largely to Bethenny Frankel, who gossiped about the party behind Tinsley’s back. Tinsley continues, “I don’t do gangups, and it was upsetting to watch some of the girls try to take the honor away from Sonja who deserved a big party. Thankfully Dorinda [Medley] and Carole [Radziwill] would have no part of it since they knew how appreciative I truly was and shut the conversations down.”
Tinsley also defends the photo she gave Sonja at the party. You know – the one with Sonja’s head cut off? Well, Tinsley has a lot to say about it! “Following the giving of a picture to Sonja, there were several snarky comments about my picture being in the forefront of the photograph. Having lived in Sonja’s house, I know that she loves to put photographs of friends around, so I thought she might enjoy a picture of us together. I bought a heavy sterling silver Ralph Lauren frame and located the only picture I have of us together on my Instagram account from years ago. I thought it was a nice gesture along with the gift card from Bergdorf Goodman’s. Sorry! Again, IT WAS THE ONLY PICTURE I HAD OF US TOGETHER. I did the best I could.”
Tonight, the ladies of RHONY gather for part one of a three-part reunion, in which Bethenny and Ramona go head to head, and Luann de Lesseps is put in the hot seat over her tumultuous marriage to (then husband) Tom D’Agostino. Join us in the comments section to break down the all of the fun and the drama at 9 EST/8 Central!
TELL US: WAS TINSLEY A GOOD ADDITION TO RHONY? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HER BACK? WAS HER PARTY FOR SONJA HEARTFELT OR PHONY?
Photo Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo
