The 14th season of The Real Housewives of New York City is in the works with a brand-new cast, and Bravo fans can't wait to meet the new Housewives. The original RHONY Housewives, however, are particularly known for their over-the-top antics, with too many iconic moments to chronicle.
Arguably the series' most shocking and iconic moments stem from the season 3 episode 'Sun, Sand, and Psychosis,' known more commonly as 'Scary Island.' Previous Housewife Kelly Killoren Bensimon went off the deep end, spiraling into a nervous breakdown while spewing the most ridiculous quotes imaginable. It's been 12 years since that iconic St. John's trip and fans are still talking about it.
Updated on November 15th, 2022, by Lynn Gibbs: There are countless legendary Housewives who have said and done some memorable things for the sake of reality TV. In the case of Kelly Bensimon, some of her more unforgettable moments happened in season 3 of RHONY. While in an ongoing argument with Bethenny, Kelly did and said some of the most outlandish things that couldn’t be explained. Both the Housewives and the production crew were nervous for Kelly and had no idea whether it was the booze or the sun that made her act out.
“Does Anyone Want A Jellybean? Or A Lollipop?”
Kelly To The Rest Of The Housewives After Abruptly Leaving The Dinner Table
After constant nonsense, Sonja Morgan made the point that there was something clearly off with Kelly and that she needed to leave the dinner table and get some sleep. There was no more entertaining Kelly's outlandish quotes.
Kelly then agreed and said she was going to do the mature thing and excuse herself from the table, which she did. But as soon as she left, she came running back with a bag of Jellybeans and offered them to the table. After eating a delicious meal prepared by Bethenny, no one knew why Kelly was back from her bedroom, let alone offering candy. The women were on some of the best vacations on The Real Housewives of New York, but St. John's was not one of them.
“They’re Like A Witch Hunt, It’s Like Fricken Hades In Here.”
Kelly Compared How The Women Treated Her To A Witch Hunt
Everyone was trying to reason with Kelly but there came a time when everyone had enough. Ramona Singer, Bethenny, and Alex McCord all left for the kitchen to get a new glass of wine and to freshen up.
Ramona giggled hysterically at the oddness of the evening, to which Kelly compared their night to a "witch hunt." More specifically, a witch hunt in Hades. Sonja was the only one with Kelly at the time, and it's safe to say she didn't feel the same way. While there are plenty of things that Ramona could never live down, this episode is one that will haunt for Kelly forever.
"You Guys Are Like All White Noise, All White Noise. Ramona? It's White Noise."
Kelly To The Entire Group While Singling Ramona
There are a few theories for Kelly's behavior. Most allude to substance use because of the ridiculous quotes mentioned throughout this list. It's unknown if Kelly was under the influence, but that's what the other Housewives assumed. Her behavior became so erratic that The production had to step in.
"This Is Like White Noise... This Is Like All, You Guys Are Like All White Noise, All White Noise. Ramona? It's White Noise. You Guys Are White Noise."
This quote made Kelly sound like she's almost itting to being delusional and not of a sound mind. Did Kelly Bensimon have a mental breakdown, or did she experience psychosis? In a YouTube interview from 2021, Kelly itted that she acted oddly because she “didn’t understand the nature of the show”
"...And It's Creepy! That's Why I Get Creeped Out By You!"
Kelly Called Bethenny Creepy After A Home Cooked Meal
Surprisingly, this quote comes at the beginning of Kelly's downward spiral: the night before the infamous dinner where Bethenny cooks steaks. While Ramona flirted with strangers on another yacht, Sonja, Kelly, and Bethenny had an interesting discussion that turned into one of RHONY's biggest fights.
"Nobody Cares About You Bethenny! You're Vindictive And Malicious And Cunning And Deceitful And It's Creepy! That's Why I Get Creeped Out By You!"
After that attack, Kelly kept insulting Bethenny: "I'm sorry, I'm not a hoe-bag like Bethenny, I don't sleep with everyone who walks around," she screamed. Bethenny and Sonja departed from the craziness and ed the other women, only to be followed by a very angry Kelly who continued to call Bethenny creepy.
"And You Want Me To Sit Here With Her? 'Cause She Calls You A Freaking Hooker?"
Kelly Talked To Sonja About Her Fear Of Bethenny
Once Bethenny, Alex, and Ramona left the table for a sanity break, Sonja tried to reason with Kelly, wondering if she knew how unhinged she was coming off. Out of nowhere, Kelly jabbered, "And you want me to sit here with her? 'Cause she calls you a freaking hooker?"
Kelly continued to string sentences together that made no sense. Bethenny jokingly called Sonja a "hooker" the night prior, which Sonja didn't think twice about, but Kelly clearly took obsessive notes in her booklet of "How To Bring Down Bethenny." This random fight was one of RHONY's best and worst moments.
"I Was Like 'Holy Sugar!'"
Kelly Had A Lot To Say About Alex's Looks
After Alex itted that Kelly got a little unbalanced and was on the attack, Kelly said she "turned into these people." She then went on a tirade about Ramona's True Renewal party, saying Alex showed up to deliver a message in ”crazy black and white eye makeup.” Considering Alex and Ramona are OG Housewives with plenty iconic moments, they didn't deserve this treatment.
"I Was Like 'Holy Sugar!' She Was Like, Channeling, Like-- I Don't Know. Like A Vampire."
Kelly continued saying, ”She was in kabuki! Well, you were, 'cause you wore, like, white face and black eyes." Facetiously, Bethenny mentioned that Alex must've gone in costume, and Kelly compared her to a vampire.
"You're Not A Chef, You're A Cook. It's Creepy."
Kelly Thought Bethenny Was Creepy For Calling Herself A Chef
When the Housewives were on their way to their destination, Kelly called Bethenny "creepy" for telling people she was a chef. Bethenny retorted, "I didn't go to culinary school?" Kelly didn't let down and said, "I don't know what you did, and I don't really care," which only contradicted herself. "I went to culinary school, you moron!" Bethenny slammed in her face, completely shutting down the cook vs. chef argument. Of course, Kelly continued arguing, saying, "Really, with who? Alain Ducasse? Who? Nobody cares!"
Bethenny continued to rip into Kelly, eviscerating her by saying, "You speak and you don't know what you're saying -- you're the most unintelligent human being I've ever had the pleasure to be around."
"Are You Guys Going To Make Out With The Tongue?"
Kelly Made Fun Of Bethenny & Ramona's Friendship
During a moment where Ramona actually showed some vulnerability, she brought up the incident where she insulted Bethenny on the Brooklyn Bridge and decided to apologize. Fans know how many BFF moments Ramona had with Sonja, so it was nice seeing her treat Bethenny similarly.
As the two spoke, Kelly said, "Are you going to sit on her lap?" "Are you guys having a moment? Are you going to make out with the tongue?" she continued saying. Ramona and Bethenny give Kelly a look of confusion, wondering what her motive could have been. Ramona told Kelly she needed a "time out" and walked away with Bethenny.
"...Bethenny Was Gonna Freakin' Kill Me, 'Cause She's Tried To Kill Me So Many Times Before"
Kelly itted To Alex (Without Proof) That Bethenny Tried To Kill Her
This quote is the most disturbing of the bunch. Alex McCord tried to level with Kelly, explaining why she was uncomfortable modeling for her earlier that day at the beach. "You scare me," Alex itted. Kelly made light of it at first, and then threw in: "Alex is having nightmares about me while I'm having nightmares about Bethenny killing me." Bethenny had done a lot of things that fans ed and didn't , but "killing" Kelly was far-fetched.
"I Was Having Nightmares. I Have Been, I Threw Up. But I Was-- I Threw Up The Night Before I Came, Thinking That Bethenny Was Gonna Freakin' Kill Me, 'Cause She's Tried To Kill Me So Many Times Before"
Puzzled beyond belief, Alex asked, "When has Bethenny tried to kill you?" Kelly responded with the quote above, which didn't make sense to anyone since Bethenny would never try to kill someone.
"Your Dad ed Away And You're Like, Here... It's Creepy."
Kelly, Yet Again, Insulted Bethenny's Family
Coming off the heels of her estranged father's ing (all while being pregnant, sober, and cooking the ladies' dinner), Bethenny had every right to celebrate in St. John with her friends, regardless of her relationship with her father or how soon he just died.
"You-- Your Dad ed Away And You're Like, Here... It's Creepy. It's Freaking Creepy."
Several times in one episode, Kelly called Bethenny and her actions "creepy," which was out of line on multiple levels since she was anything but creepy.
"Oh My God! Al Sharpton! Al Sharpton! No, Put Your Hair Up, It's Al Sharpton!"
Kelly Failed To Recognize Bethenny's Reference...
This quote from 'Scary Island' is undoubtedly the most well-known GIF of Kelly Bensimon out there. It's one of the moments why Kelly can be one of the most loved and hated Housewives.
After Bethenny did an impression from A Few Good Men, saying, "You can't handle the truth," Kelly immediately blurted out, "Oh my god, Al Sharpton!" Bethenny and company looked at Kelly in bewilderment, though this was probably one of her more cohesive lines of the night.
"What About When You Attacked Gwyneth, My Friend Gwyneth? Paltrow?"
Kelly Claimed Bethenny Insulted Gwyneth Paltrow
Just when viewers thought this night couldn't get any stranger, things took a left turn once again with unexpected results. When Bethenny and Kelly go at it, Kelly interrupted her with, "What about when you attacked Gwyneth, my friend Gwyneth?" Bethenny confusingly asked, "Who's Gwyneth?" Without skipping a beat, Kelly jabbed, "Paltrow? And what about Rachel?"
"What About When You Attacked Gwyneth, My Friend Gwyneth? Paltrow? And What About Rachel?"
At this point, the women realized things were more serious than they originally anticipated, and they could have a serious problem on their hands. Because of controversial Kelly was, she's a past Housewife who was highly ranked for her dramatic moments but wouldn't' do well a part of the 2023 cast.
