Rebecca Minkoff made her Real Housewives of New York City debut during season 15 — and there’s a reason why she didn’t openly discuss Scientology on screen.
“It was never brought up in a manner that was respectful,” Rebecca, 44, exclusively told Us Weekly of the topic on Tuesday, February 4, while promoting the release of the paperback version of her book Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage and Success with HarperCollins Leadership.
Rebecca claimed that when it came to her religion, she didn’t feel like any of her castmates were interested in earnestly learning about it. Instead, she said it constantly felt like a ploy for the story line. (Rebecca told The New York Times in a 2021 interview that she is “totally open” about her faith, adding that she also identifies as Jewish.)
“It was always done with, as Brynn [Whitfield] says, ‘I like to play horrible games. I like to stir the pot,’” she alleged of how her belief in Scientology was perceived during filming.
She wondered, “Would anyone feel comfortable?” before going on to answer her own question with a “no.”
Rebecca referred to a specific incident when Brynn, 39, brought up the topic during a helicopter ride to the Hamptons with Jessel Taank.
“I think that the other time she brought it up in the helicopter, she had already been drinking all day, and it was not done from a point of care,” Rebecca recalled. “And we had barely met. So do I dive in and ask you your religious beliefs having never met you? Get to know me.”
During the October 2024 episode, Brynn asked Rebecca what she should say if the press asked anyone in the cast about her connection to Scientology. “Uh, no comment,” Rebecca replied.
What Rebecca Minkoff Has Said About Being a Scientologist Before ‘RHONY’
“I know you say ‘no comment.’ That kinda doesn’t work,” Brynn claimed, while Jessel, 45, pointed out that Scientology is “celebrity heavy” so it naturally receives a lot of attention.
Rebecca noted, “We’re a world-recognized religion. There’s nothing secret.” (Scientology has come under fire over the years for its alleged cult-like following. The church has also been accused of covering up the alleged crimes of its members, including convicted rapist Danny Masterson.)
“I feel like I’m talking to a door-to-door salesman trying to sell me snake oil,” Brynn quipped after the conversation with Rebecca on the helicopter, which didn’t sit well with Rebecca during the season 15 RHONY reunion.
Rebecca claimed Brynn’s salesman comment was “offensive” in a preview of part two of the reunion, which airs on Tuesday. Rebecca also clapped back at a fan who said she should “stop normalizing cults” by talking about Scientology on the show.
“That is a bigoted term. It’s hate speech to keep calling a religion a cult,” Rebecca told host Andy Cohen. “I’m tired of the attacks.”
While speaking with Us on Tuesday, Rebecca noted that Brynn’s helicopter interrogation rubbed her the wrong way partly because she’d already made mean comments about her career as a designer.
Brynn trolled Rebecca on the show for having her designs allegedly for sale at “Nordstrom Rack,” hinting that she wasn’t high-end enough to be in other retailers.
Rebecca Minkoff Says Danny Masterson Was ‘Supportive’ of Her When They Met
“By that time, I already knew about the Nordstrom comment, so I’m already a little bit like, ‘Hey, I don’t know that I trust you,’” Rebecca told Us, reflecting on her tension with Brynn.
She explained that she took issue with some of the other girls claiming she was “standoffish” about her religious beliefs.
“I am not standoffish if it’s a genuine interest. [But] I’m not here to bring it up and be like, ‘You got any questions for me?’” Rebecca told Us. “But if you have a genuine interest and you want to bring it up, great. But if you’re going to make me feel like you’re just doing this to stir the pot or be mean-spirited, I’m not going to engage with anyone on any topic in that manner.”
Rebecca also addressed rumors that she only went on RHONY to promote her brand, telling Us that her clap back wasn’t shown on the reunion.
“I was like, ‘[Aren’t] all y’all are doing this for the brand? Are you doing it for the good of humanity?’ And Andy’s like, ‘Yeah, I agree with Rebecca,’” she claimed, noting, “It’s wild to me that you’d get criticized for even saying it’s good for business. What other reason is there? Please give me one.”
The designer admitted that ultimately the show was “incredible for the brand,” but added that it was also a “learning” experience that she doesn’t regret.
“I went in with rose colored glasses. It’s a tough show. It can be very tough personally. You’re dealing with relationships,” she shared. “I never regret anything. I’m done with regrets. I learned so much and it was incredible for business. I made some good friends out of it.”
After coming off her freshman season of RHONY, Rebecca has turned her focus on her other projects, including the re-release of Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage and Success, which features a bonus chapter.
Breaking Down Rebecca Minkoff’s Fashion Impact Before Joining ‘RHONY’
“I’ve had some perspective since it was published in 2021. I’ve sold my company, I became a mother of four and I was thinking about a conversation that women don’t often have,” Rebecca told Us of her decision to add another chapter to the paperback version of her book. “We are the first to pull out our phones and show our kids or talk about our sex life, but we never talk to each other about money and what we’re making and what we’re investing in.”
The businesswoman went on to add that she believes that because women don’t have those discussions with each other “we’re so much more behind.”
“So I wanted to add that in, as I wish I knew this in my twenties and my thirties and not discovering it now and knowing where to turn to,” she added. “I joke with my financial advisor, I shouldn’t be getting my advice from Instagram, but it’s giving me more than you are. So get fluent in it, get comfortable, ask questions.”
Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage and Success is available for purchase on Amazon and HarperCollins Leadership in both paperback and hardcover.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
