Former Countess and Real Housewife of New York City, Luann de Lesseps is once again making headlines. It’s not been a great couple of months for Luann. In December, she was arrested for allegedly assaulting a Palm Beach police officer and ended up spending three weeks in an alcohol treatment facility. Later, Luann once again courted controversy when she dressed as Diana Ross, complete with blackface, for a Halloween party. Luann apologized after the footage was aired in April. More recently, she was a hot, drunken mess at a San Francisco Pride Parade.
Cut to Monday, when People reported that the 53-year-old has returned to rehab for the second time. Her RHONY crony Bethenny Frankel made a statement on her behalf, announcing:
“This weekend, Luann was surrounded by her girlfriends and decided — with their support — that in light of recent circumstances, it is the healthiest choice for her not to attend Tuesday’s reunion taping so that she can continue in her healing process.”
“Luann is now surrounded by a core group of people who truly have her best interests at heart and who are working to make sure she gets the help she needs.”
“Bravo has been very supportive of Luann during this time. It’s a brave and honest decision by her, and everyone is rallying around her and wants the best for her.”
The network that made her famous (and thanks a lot for that, by the way) released a statementsas well, showing their support for Luann’s decision to skip the reunion, adding, “She is part of the Bravo family and we continue to stand by her as she copes with this challenging situation.”
Despite insisting that she “didn’t know if she was an alcoholic” a few months ago, Luann made the decision to head back into treatment. Reports just surfaced that she’s facing legal action by her first husband, Count Alexandre de Lesseps, and their two adult children, Noel and Victoria, which may have influenced that decision. The documents filed with the lawsuit allege that Luann failed to set up a trust for the kids using the interest from the sale of the couple’s mansion in Bridgehampton, New York. Luann was awarded the home when the couple divorced in 2009. According to the lawsuit, she used the money from the sale of the home to purchase a home for herself. It’s a messy situation for sure.
Interestingly, the lawsuit was filed mere weeks after Luann and Alexandre celebrated the fourth of July together. She posted what appears to be a happy photo with him to Instagram with the caption, “Greatest reunion ever! Wonderful to spend the weekend with the kids and The Count. Also counting my blessings! Celebrating 6 months of sobriety! Happy 4th of July, everyone!” Whoops.
As for the December incident, Luann accepted a plea deal in May. Her attorney, Doug Duncan, will represent her in court on July 25, where she will plead guilty (in absentia) to a lesser misdemeanor charge and the adjudication will be withheld. As much as I am not a fan, I do hope she’s able to get the help she needs. Alcoholism is a terrible disease, and no one should have to suffer with it.
Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com
I’ve only watched one season of the show, it was maybe the first season in NY, with Kelly Bensimone and Alex someone? And it occurs to me that maintaining sobriety with that lifestyle must be extra challenging. Hoping she gets healthy and that her family can also heal.
…but there is absolutely NO way she can successfully cop a plea to those white ankle booties with that dress. Or with anything.
If she really did slight her children and not create the trust, I’m disgusted.
I guess I’m confused. Was it in her divorce decree that she had to sell the home and use the proceeds to set up a trust for her kids? If so, then yes – shady.
If not – and she was awarded the home in the divorce, the proceeds are hers to use as she wishes. Did the children not have trust funds prior to the divorce? And beyond – why should they be entitled to the money from their mother’s asset?
ETA – apparently the terms were part of the divorce settlement, but if they weren’t sealed by a judge they’re not binding. Further, promised future action is usually discouraged in divorce settlements because it’s basically impossible to enforce. LuAnn can just claim she was under duress when she signed – which she probably was.
Agreed! Why doesnt her husband set up the trusts for the kids. He’s the one with money. I’m sorry but the divorce settlement is hers. I’m dissapointed that the kids would do this to LuAnne.
My ex’s mother was supposed to give the money from the sale of the family home to her sons, for the purpose of either paying for school or repaying student loans. This was per the divorce agreement.
She sold it and used the money to buy a new house with her 3rd husband. Neither brother got a dime.
RHONY is a guilty pleasure for me. It’s clear that Luann has her issues. In the first few seasons, she tried to present herself as this refined woman who was an expert on class. But, that facade slowly crumbled. I hope she takes care of herself, because I think she’s deeply unhappy.
I once read about this happiness research and it is said that the unhappiest people in the country live on the UES of Manhattan. I always think about that when watching RHONY. It makes total sense. It must be exhausting to try to keep up with others 24/7. Add in her fame & notoriety and it’s a recipe for disaster.
I don’t believe she is an alcoholic – I think she is a self important privileged rich lady, who can’t fave the consequences of her actions (blackface? Marrying a man who is openly cheating on you? Stealing from your own kids?) and uses rehab as a band-aid when she gets caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Personally I think her stunts are insulting to people who are actually ill with alcoholism.
I agree, she runs off to rehab to avoid the fallout or embarrassment of situations she creates! Maybe she really is an alcoholic, we only see small snippets of her life but I got the same vibe you did! I recently binged on the latest season and I couldn’t believe the ladies had a welcome home dinner for Luann and had the nerve to immediately start guzzling wine at dinner. They couldn’t make it one weekend without getting shitfaced, it was actually sickening to watch.
I don’t know how rehab works, but do they take you if you’re not really in need? I know she’s a self-centred, shallow, tone deaf human being, but I think she’s got a problem with alcohol, because if she was just being sloppy, she could do this on her own and she can’t seem to do it.
They take you as long as you pay.
Don’t forget assaulting and threatening to kill a cop! She really needs to get her shit together.
No shock here, she was only in the first time for a couple of weeks. And the way she spoke about it sounded more like she’d gone away to a spa instead of addressing a serious issue.
The Real Housewives franchise thrives on inebriated drama. Without the drunken antics, where’s the show? If she were serious about sobriety she’d leave the series.
And god she really won’t give up that title will she?
I guess it’s time to retire my Countess Luann drinking game. You’d drink with each new statement necklace. Sigh.
I would never sue my mother for money when my father is wealthier, who was born into money and embarrassed my mother by cheating on her. What happened to her kids?They seem awful going after her settlement. Luanne often slept at castmates houses because she didn’t have the funds to buy a decent ny apartment and when she did buy a house outside the city, it was very modest
Yeah it seems like there’s so much more to this but Luanne rarely shares personal truths. I feel compassion for her. Something is very wrong here and it’s been a long slow decline since her marriage was ending. Maybe before that because her son was upset often saying she was rarely home at night while their Dad was away.
She did say a while back that her husband wanted an open marriage, she didn’t, but had to go along with it to stay married. I think he really messed with her self esteem, stability, everything… and now her kids too.
Why would a mother be required to set up a trust for her adult children?
They weren’t adults when she was supposed to do this…in 2009.
@onerous exactly. So basically he left her the house to live in but if sold the kids get everything?! That’s so wrong. Plus I’m SURE those kids already have money coming to the when he passes. That’s a dick move on his part. He’s a jerk. Cheater, holding money and now suing her? Cmon. She is the mother of your children, have some empathy. Kick her when she’s down, that’s not right. The kids too? Not a fam or hater but treat her like a person, a human, your mother, your ex partner.