Bethenny Frankel Cuts Business Ties With 'The Apprentice' Producer Mark Burnett After HBO Reality Show Bombed
June 9 2021, Published 2:09 p.m. ET
Bethenny Frankel has decided to end her business relationship with her longtime friend Mark Burnett after her HBO Max reality show bombed.
On Tuesday, the former Real Housewives of New York star announced her decision to cut ties with the producer of The Apprentice and MGM mid-way into their multi-year deal.
Frankel said, "I left a very big, high, seven-figure contract recently with my partners at MGM and Mark Burnett because I had a good relationship with them, but I didn't want to be locked up.”
She added, "I didn't want to have no freedom in my podcast. I didn't want to not be able to do something, to date other people, business-wise. And I was taking a shot. I don't know that I'll make that money back, but I didn't want to be shackled. So that's not about money - I've left money to make things happen in the future."
The decision to end their deal comes after her show The Big Shot with Bethenny failed to impress critics or bring in viewers. The show was supposed to be Frankel’s next big project after leaving Bravo.
Back in 2019, Frankel decided to leave Real Housewives of New York for the second time. She had returned for a two-season stint but decided she was done.
The businesswoman released a statement announcing her move. She explained, “I have decided to leave the Housewives franchise to explore my next chapter.”
At the time, Frankel had already signed onto her deal with Burnett and praised the producer.
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Her statement included the line, “It’s time to move on and focus on my daughter, my philanthropy, and my production partnership with Mark Burnett, producing and starring in shows which represent a shift in the conversation for women. With the changes in modern culture, I want to highlight the strength, confidence, and unstoppable power that women have.”
She ended, “The best is yet to come.”
Frankel and Burnett were reportedly also working on a "soft-scripted" comedy program. It appears that has been axed while the deal.
