Luann de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan. Getty Images (2)
Enough time has passed for Luann de Lesseps to start poking fun at her 2017 arrest.
The former Real Housewives of New York City star appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Sunday, November 10. De Lesseps, 59, was quick to make a joke about the previous incident when asked a fan question about longtime friend and former costar Sonja Morgan.
“I spoke to Sonja last week, and I’m so happy,” the former reality star said. “She finally got rid of that townhouse — right Andy — after all this time. So, I think it’s a fresh start for her.”
Morgan, 60, relocated to Palm Beach, Florida following the July $4.45 million sale of the New York City townhouse she purchased in 1998 with ex-husband John Morgan.
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“Palm Beach is not my first choice or option,” De Lesseps continued, which elicited laughs from the crowd. “I have a little issue with Palm Beach. But I’m happy for her, she’s turning a page, finally selling that townhouse.”
De Lesseps was arrested on Christmas Eve in 2017 for disorderly intoxication in Palm Beach. The following year, she pleaded guilty to charges of battery, trespass and intoxication. At the time, she was sentenced to one year of probation, ordered to complete 50 hours of community service and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. De Lesseps was also subject to random drug and alcohol testing.
The RHONY alum has been honest about her struggles with sobriety over the years. She checked into rehab in July 2018, which caused her to miss the RHONY season 10 reunion. During the show’s 13th season in 2021, de Lesseps stated that she was sober.
The following year, however, de Lesseps had a reported incident in NYC. It was reported in March 2022 that she was under the influence at a piano bar but got kicked out after allegedly requesting her own song, “Money Can’t Buy You Class” and taking over the microphone.
The Real Housewives of New York City premiered in 2008, but not every Housewife has gone the distance. The season 1 cast of RHONY included Luann de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, Bethenny Frankel, Jill Zarin and Alex McCord. While Kelly Killoren Bensimon joined the cast during season 2, Sonja Morgan became a full-time cast member during […]
De Lesseps issued an apology via social media at the time, discussing her sobriety.
“While I’ve made great strides over the years, there’s been times I’ve fallen. It’s one day at a time!” she wrote, in part. “I’m in recovery and taking steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again. I’m grateful to my family and my friends for their constant support.”
The following month de Lesseps spoke to Us Weekly exclusively about the past incident.
“I think every experience is a learning experience and one you have to grow from. I definitely had a slip and I apologized because I wouldn’t give back the microphone,” she said in April 2022. “It’s a journey for me, it’s day-by-day and my ultimate goal is to not drink and so that’s really where my head at.”
