Mary Bonnet stands by her claim that Selling Sunset producers tried to facilitate a reaction from her amid issues with Chelsea Lazkani.
During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Mary, 45, recalled who she knew she was at odds with heading into season 9.
“Chelsea because I know she was upset about my comment that her skirt was too short at a work event. Those are just facts but she’s the only one where I’ve really ever had any issues with,” Mary noted. “I have no problem with her but she didn’t like the fact that I said that.”
The hit Netflix series returned on Wednesday, October 29, with Mary and Chelsea, 32, not on speaking terms. Later in the season, Mary’s house was burglarized and Chelsea sent her flowers and a note, which was presented on screen.
All of the Biggest ‘Selling Sunset’ Feuds Throughout the Years
Mary, however, had questions about the timing of the flower delivery. While breaking the fourth wall, Mary questioned if producers gave Chelsea her address (and a heads-up about the robbery) so she would react while they were filming.
“I don’t really know exactly what happened on that one. I disagree with what was said based on facts but I think there was some working together on their side for that to happen,” Mary told Us. “That wasn’t a normal way to go about things — and there’s no way she could have known [what happened]. So there was some work going on between the two of them.”
Later in the season, Mary and Chelsea had an argument at a group dinner where Brett Oppenheim stepped in. Chelsea wasn’t thrilled when Brett asked producers to stop filming, telling him on the show, “You didn’t care about the cameras when we were getting your content.”
Mary hinted that there was more from the situation that didn’t make the cut.
“There’s a lot that was not on camera. They cut it out. It was not amazing but I felt like I handled myself very well. I was very nervous and I didn’t want to have that conversation,” she recalled. “I felt like I remained calm, handled myself well and stood up for myself. But there were a lot of things that happened that didn’t make the edit.”
She continued: “It would have given a lot of insight as to why I’ve been upset but it’s OK. I’d rather just be able to move past this and hopefully have everybody get along. But when the reunion comes out, that’s a whole different story.”
Mary clarified some of the moments that were featured in season 9, adding, “At Bre [Tiesi]’s party, I wasn’t just emotional. There were some things from after the dinner that happened that I didn’t want to put myself in a situation where I’m in danger.”
Mary noted that the moment where she broke down in tears over Chelsea attending the same event as her had more backstory.
“I’m not upset because I see her name or that she was going to be there. There were some issues where I just don’t want any part of this,” she continued. “I’m a grown woman and I’m a professional. I don’t have this in my life and I’m not going to. I got upset and cried because of that. It was an actual issue. There were definitely things that were said afterwards that I don’t agree with and I won’t be around.”
In addition to conflict with her fellow real estate agents, Mary was shaken up after intruders entered her home earlier this year and walked away with most of her valuables.
“Between the stuff with Chelsea and then with the robbery and the [Los Angeles] fires, I was like, ‘Do I really want this anymore?’” she recalled. “Where the season ends, it shows that I don’t really know.”
What the ‘Selling Sunset’ Cast Has Said About Returning — Or Quitting
Mary found it hard to come to terms with her space being violated.
“I put so much of my life out there. I’m really one of the only girls that puts their relationship out there on the show where they film in my house and I’m very open about all my private issues. So my house was my only safe haven,” she explained to Us. “Even with the camera crews, they’re not allowed in my office. They’re not allowed in my closet or my bedroom. Those things are just sacred spaces. For the robbery to happen, it was just an invasion.”
The reality star clarified that it “wasn’t about the materialistic stuff,” adding, “Besides a couple of family heirlooms that I can never get back, it was just an invasion of the security of my space. That was very, very difficult, which is why I got so upset about the flowers [from Chelsea]. I was on edge because of the robbery and then the flowers came, and I was like, ‘Chelsea didn’t even know when I was filming. She doesn’t know my address.’ So I got a little mad — or a lot mad — but I feel like I gave my all to this show. I really understand that this is what we signed up for so I really let them in on a lot of things and I work with them. But this one, I was a bit on edge. ”
She concluded: “I’ve taken a lot of steps to just really be true to myself and be honest with myself and work on things in my life that I needed. I felt like I needed guidance on what is right for me and how do I navigate this better? Because you can’t control all circumstances and I like to be in control. I’ve done a couple things to try to make sure I can just understand and handle things better and not get so upset.”
Selling Sunset is currently streaming on Netflix.
