After an explosive Season 11 reunion, “Real Housewives of New York City” star Bethenny Frankel announced her exit from the Bravo reality series ahead of Season 12.

Bethenny has been on the hit reality show since it’s premiere in 2008. Although she has appeared in eight out of the eleven seasons, she has remained a cast favorite among fans.

On Wednesday, Bethenny confirmed her “RHONY” exit to Us Weekly in a statement. “I have decided to leave the Housewives franchise to explore my next chapter,” the 48-year-old said.

“It’s time to move on and focus on my daughter, my philanthropy and my production partnership with Mark Burnett, producing and starring in shows which represent a shift in the conversation for women,” she added.

Along with spending quality time with her daughter, Bethenny revealed she plans to focus on helping women. “With the changes in modern culture, I want to highlight the strength, confidence and unstoppable power that women have,” the Skinnygirl founder continued.

A source told the public that Bethenny chose to exit “The Real Housewives of New York City” after realizing she didn’t need the additional income from the Bravo series.

“She wants to focus on being a mom to Bryn. She’s also got other business things going on and doesn’t need the RHONY paycheck,” the insider explained.

Over on her Instagram account, Bethenny praised fans who supported her over the years and encouraged them to go after their dreams.

Bethenny’s exit comes after she replied to “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Nene Leakes, who agreed with a tweeted that credited the entrepreneur for the success of the “RHONY.”

“BE VERY CLEAR RT @lizarhen: if it wasn’t 4 these housewives in the show, their city would've been like real housewives of d.c Orange County -@vgunvalson Atlanta- @NeNeLeakes New York- @Bethenny Beverly Hills- @LisaVanderpump New Jersey- @Teresa_Giudice,” the Nene’s message read.

“Oooh I walked into something,” Bethenny replied.

This isn’t the first time Bethenny has left the show. The star exited “RHONY” ahead of Season 4 for personal reasons but returned to the series for Season 7.

Although some fans may be devastated by her exit, there’s a chance she could reconsider returning to the small screen after a few years away from the drama.

Bethenny Frankel
Reports suggest Bethenny Frankel is feuding with a former member of “The Real Housewives of New York City” cast. The reality star is pictured attending the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at Pier 94 on Nov. 08, 2018 in New York City. Roy Rochlin/2018 Getty Images
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