Jenna Lyons Defends Not Flying Coach for the RHONY Girls Trip
A girls' trip travel decision lands one of the Housewives, Jenna Lyons, in the hot seat — and on the defensive.
Anguilla is already bringing the drama for some of the Housewives.
When Jenna Lyons joined her castmates at Sea Villa in Anguilla for the deluxe girls’ getaway, she instantly shifted into defense mode on The Real Housewives of New York City.
The others were buzzing about the fact that Jenna had jetted down in business class two days earlier than they did in coach. Erin Lichy told them about the style icon’s alternative flight plan after hearing about it firsthand from Jenna, who was recuperating from dental surgery tied to her genetic disorder that affects teeth and skin.
The early arrival enabled her to tan, which evens out her skin discolorations — and snagged her an upgraded flight status.
“I’ll be honest with you, and you’re gonna hate me for this,” Jenna told Erin before the trip. “I didn’t want to fly coach.”
RELATED: Jenna Lyons Gives a New Update on Relationship with Her Girlfriend
Erin shared that tidbit at Sea Villa, and there were waves of disapproval about perceived "diva" behavior. Jessel Taank later said that Jenna walked into a “weird tense sh-tstorm.”
Jenna defends not flying coach
Seated with the group at the villa, Jenna said, “When I found out that we were flying coach, I asked my assistant if she would look for another flight. I wanted to get a little sun because I’m going to be on the beach with all of you guys and what you have what I don’t: perfect skin.”
She added that if she looked like them, she wouldn’t need to fret about being sun-kissed. If that was an effort to appeal to the Housewives’ vanity, it backfired.
“I got a spray tan,” said Sai De Silva.
Brynn Whitfield wasn’t having any of that. “Don’t use that,” she told Jenna. “That’s a cop-out.”
Jenna admitted she felt ambushed.
“I was not expecting to walk into an interrogation about my decision to travel early,” Jenna told producers.
As all the ladies later piled into the car to head to dinner, Erin quipped: “Like sitting in coach.”
Jenna deadpanned, “Oh, then you should be good at it.”
At dinner, the table was set for more of Jenna’s self-defense. And Brynn even acknowledged: “Who doesn’t prefer business over coach?”
Jenna asked the group if they believed that she didn’t travel with them because of her aversion to coach.
“I do,” said Sai. “I think that’s a big part of it.”
Jenna denied that: “It really wasn’t.”
Later Jenna told producers, “I don’t think anything you say while you're hosed up from anesthesia should be held against you. I don't think that's fair…. I did fly business. But I still get a pass for that.”
As they tucked into snapper and lobsters, Jenna eventually told the group that she didn’t think they’d care at all if she traveled solo.
RELATED: Is Tribeca Up and Coming? Fredrik Eklund Weighs In on Jessel Taank's Comments
“I’m sorry,” she said, “I didn’t I didn’t think it would be such a big deal.”
The conversation pivoted to Jenna’s learned reflex to be guarded, a result of her upbringing and history with the press, she explained.
Going it alone “has nothing to do with you guys,” Jenna said, welling up. “If that comes off as not wanting to participate or not wanting to try or not wanting to be a friend I apologize. That’s not my intention at all.”
“That’s the realest thing you’ve said,” Erin stated, and the group agreed.
Call it a first-class resolution to RHONY turbulence.
Find out on The Real Housewives of New York City on Sundays at 9/8c on Bravo and the next day on Peacock.
