Luann de Lesseps from the reality show Real Housewives of New York shared that her co-star Kelly Bensimon regularly emails Andy Cohen with her ideas. This practice doesn’t surprise de Lesseps as Bensimon frequently engages in it.
De Lesseps mentioned during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly on March 11 in New York City that Bensimon’s habit of contacting Cohen via email is quite common. She noted, “She does that all the time.” De Lesseps added, “Kelly Bensimon is always emailing Andy. Did you know that?”
Bensimon has a habit of recommending individuals she thinks would be suitable for the show to Cohen. Cohen, the executive at Bravo, talked about receiving these emails during an episode of Andy Cohen Live on SiriusXM on February 24. Cohen mentioned, “Well, she did send me a list.”
When asked who was on the list, Cohen said, “Well, I mean, a couple of them were …” before trailing off. After cohost John Hill asked if Bensimon was on her list, Cohen answered, “Oh, yeah. She’s on the list. It was, I think, being kind of anchored by her.”
Cohen admitted, “Funnily enough, she does email me more than you might expect. I can’t find this email, babe, but she pitched [me a list].”
De Lesseps also told Us that she had hoped a major star — actress Tilda Swinton — would join her friend Dorinda Medley on The Traitors. “I loved D on Traitors. We spoke while she was there,” she said. “You know why [I called her]? Because I was with Tilda Swinton on a train going to Scotland.”
Medley, 60, chimed in, telling Us, “She wanted me to come visit. I’m like, ‘It’s not that sort of situation.’”
Unfortunately, things didn’t work out in de Lesseps’ favor. “Well, you didn’t even answer because your phone was confiscated,” de Lesseps answered. “So Tilda Swinton goes, ‘How’s Dorinda, darling? I heard she’s doing Traitors.’ We tried to call you from the train.”
De Lesseps and Swinton struck up a friendship after one of her Marry, F, Kill cabaret shows in Europe. Swinton, who was in attendance, invited de Lesseps to spend the night at her home.
“She came to my show at the Coco Club. It’s a pretty swanky club in London,” de Lesseps previously told Us in October 2024. “She came to me and she said, ‘Oh, my darling, you spread so much joy, I love to watch you perform, but you must be exhausted after six shows in a row. And you know, I would love for you to come and have a visit. I’d like to take care of you and cook for you and welcome you to my humble abode.’”
