Bethenny Frankel Responds To Erica Jane Saying “Her Man Died” About Her Late Boyfriend Dennis Shields

Bethenny was scheduled to appear the following night, Thursday, but because her clip was pre-recorded, it didn’t address comments made by Erika during her appearance. But that didn’t stop Bethenny from responding.

Bethenny said on Twitter on Thursday afternoon that “Dennis’ children are insulted and disgusted by” Erica’s insensitive statement. Then she told her audience, “I appreciate your loyalty, your heart, and your kindness.”

During the show, Andy Cohen asked Erica about Bethenny’s previous comments regarding the embezzlement scandal of Erica’s estranged husband, Tom Girardi. Erica has long denied any involvement or awareness of the financial wrongdoing Tom is accused of.

Bethenny said Denise told her that Tom owed him “half a million dollars” and that he owed other people as well, claiming that Tom used that money to fund Erica’s lifestyle.

Tom has been accused of embezzling settlement money from his law firm, including money owed to widows and orphans. While Erica has not been charged with a crime, she has been named in a pair of civil lawsuits related to Tom’s alleged scheme.

Erica has maintained her innocence amid allegations that she “aided and abetted” the alleged embezzlement. It has also been alleged that these alleged illegal activities helped fund the lavish lifestyle she enjoyed as a cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Erica also denied the allegations.

“In the work that Tom was doing that was contingency fees, it is not unusual to borrow,” Erica told Andy. “And while that may be true, loans have already been paid off.”

She went on to add, “I don’t know where Bethenny came from, and you know, her man and mine died in a house, so whatever. But at the same time, it’s kind of the way business goes.”

Dennis died in August 2018 of an apparent overdose, although this has not been conclusively determined. For religious reasons, an autopsy was not performed on the 51-year-old, father of four, so no official cause of death has been established.

Tom has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and currently lives in a large living facility. Earlier in the interview, Erica said that she sometimes talks to him for a while, but his mental state continues to deteriorate. She says he knows nothing about his current legal issues.

“He still thinks he’s practicing law,” she said of the 82-year-old retired lawyer.