Kelly Killoren Bensimon and Kristen Taekman Clash on RHUGT: "You're Not the Right Tool"
It was a neon-colored night of drama when Kristen Taekman claimed Kelly Killoren Bensimon has a wall up on RHUGT.
It’s trouble in paradise for Kristen Taekman and Kelly Killoren Bensimon on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, and we’re spinning in neon madness.
The former New York Housewives have had a steady flow of drama while in St. Barts, with much of it coming to a head in RHUGT Season 4, Episode 4, now available to watch on Peacock. It’s been Kelly accusing Kristen of being a super fan of the Real Housewives franchise to Kristen accusing Kelly of building an emotional wall, with a lot of head-scratching in between.
Dorinda Medley might have said it best by comparing the back and forth to a “merry-go-round routine,” as she explained to RHUGT producers.
“You start off on the horse, the pink pony, and by the time [Kelly’s] done, you’re on a black dragon," she said.
Here’s everything to know about the women’s recent row:
Why Kristen Taekman and Kelly Killoren Bensimon Are Fighting on RHUGT
Early in Episode 4, Kristen, Dorinda, and Luann de Lesseps were less than thrilled at Kelly taking personal and work calls in the morning. Dorinda seemed to speak for the others when saying, “It’s this thing about ‘I’m more important,’” something Kristen agreed with “100 percent.”
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Kristen pointed out the importance of being present, while Dorinda alleged that Kelly’s multi-tasking was her way of being jealous of Kristen.
“I think that Kelly feels competitive with Kristen,” Dorinda told producers. “She definitely wants to feel like she’s part of the it-crowd, like she wants to pick up where she left off, and she thinks Kristen needs to be hazed a little bit before she could join this sorority here.”
Later in the day, the ladies — including Ramona Singer and Sonja Morgan — enjoyed an excursion on a luxury yacht. It was quite the change from the previous evening in which, according to Luann, Kelly and Kristen were “at each other’s throats.”
In RHUGT Season 4, Episode 3, the women ate at La Petite Plage, and soon, they questioned Kristen over the highly-publicized 2015 leak that named Kristen’s husband, Josh Taekman, as a member on Ashley Madison, a website for married men looking for extramarital endeavors. Kristen, who is still married to Josh, has fiercely defended her other half, claiming he never cheated.
Kelly called Kristen's decision to believe her husband “odd.”
Dorinda then turned the conversation back to Kelly, claiming she wouldn’t like it if people judged her for Scary Island.
Kelly said Kristen was being “holier than thou” for taking pride in standing by her man, while Kelly listed off how hard she has worked as a single mother since leaving The Real Housewives of New York City.
It was already a precarious time for Kristen and Kelly’s friendship, especially since Kelly thought Kristen tried to play “host” at several events, including at a lunch earlier that day. Kelly said it was another way for her to be “guarded” by acting like “a journalist,” and later accused her of “narrating the scenes” on RHUGT.
Kelly also seemed to view Kristen as a “fan” for admitting she watched RHONY since leaving at the end of Season 7.
Although Kelly and Kristen seemed to keep things even-keeled on the yacht, the drama picked back up at Kristen’s neon-themed party (later referred to by Luann and Kristen as “neon madness”). Kelly and Kristen were the first to arrive, and despite some awkward silence, things were smooth as the pair shared Aperol spritzes.
During dinner, Kelly even interrupted Luann’s “throuple” story to toast Kristen for the party.
She also apologized for being on her phone earlier in the day. But then things took an ugly turn when Kelly addressed Dorinda, and what had stated as a mea culpa became Kelly rehashing how Dorinda called her “c-nty” during the Kelly-Kristen row the previous evening.
Kristen extended compassion for Kelly but admitted Kelly needed help with her “delivery.”
“I’m going to say this respectfully,” Kristen told Kelly. “You build this wall to protect yourself.”
Kelly accused Kristen of the same, though Kristen maintained she “bared her soul,” referring to the day-old conversation about the cheating scandal that Kristen and Josh faced.
After dinner, the women gathered at the pool, where the confusing back-and-forth resumed. Kristen asked if anything she said about having a wall “resonated” with Kelly, adding that she was trying “really hard” to come from a good place.
“But you’re not the right tool for the right job, Kristen,” said Kelly.
Kelly suggested Kristen wasn’t offering the same nurturing Dorinda provided since Dorinda and Kelly made up during the neon-themed dinner. Kelly also suggested that, had Kristen been a real friend, she would have known that Kelly was about to be “really married,” claiming everyone else in the group knew.
“Kelly, I tried,” Kristen said in the RHUGT confessional. “I just want to go on record and say I attempted to get to know you, and that’s on you. It’s not on me.”
Will the pair make up before the trip's end? Keep watching The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, now available to stream on Peacock.
