Lisa Rinna was so upset that Andy Cohen published private text messages in his 2023 memoir that she “gleefully” watched his book burn in the fireplace.
“Andy gave me a heads-up that I’d be appearing in his new book. When someone gives you a heads-up that you’ll be appearing in their book, you know you’re crazy,” Rinna writes in her new book, You Better Believe I’ll Talk About It, published Tuesday.
The texts Cohen revealed were about her shocking exit from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2023, leaving fans wondering whether she was fired from the series or whether she left of her own accord.
“It was so shady, so Andy, so bravo, so unnecessary. After reading it, I was so angry that I threw his book into the fireplace and watched it burn with glee.”
In his 2023 memoir, The Daddy Diaries: The Years I Grew Up, Cohen recalled receiving a “text just after midnight from Rinna saying she was leaving the show,” but claimed that a week later he received a text from Rinna asking if there was a “move forward” for her to film the next season of RHOBH.
Afterwards, Cohen said Bravo ultimately made the decision to “take a break” and “come back” in the future.
Rinna said she felt “abandoned by everyone I had lived with for eight years” because no one fought for her despite her many pleas.
“No one had my back, not even Andy, especially Andy. They left me in a ditch to be pecked in the eye by a vulture.”
In a further blow to Rinna, her resignation email was shown on screen during the season 13 premiere of RHOBH.
An email dated September 10, 2022, sent to officials at Bravo’s parent company, NBCUniversal, read: “I will not be renewing my contract and have no intention of returning to RHOBH. Thank you so much for the past eight years!!!! Good luck, Lisa.”
The move ultimately quieted rumors of her dismissal, but for Rinna it was an invasion of privacy.
She writes in her new book that the decision to show off the email at the premiere was “very sketchy,” but she knew it was their “game.”
She officially announced her departure from the show on January 5, 2023, telling People magazine, “This is the longest job I’ve had in my 35-year career, and I’m grateful to everyone at Bravo and everyone involved in the series. It’s been a great eight years, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!”
After her announcement, the “Watch What Happens Live” host praised Rinna’s career as a “housewife” as an “iconic run,” making it seem as if there was no bad blood.
Last year, Rinna compared season 14 of RHOBH to the Titanic, and Cohen asked her about it during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy.
“It’s a sinking ship. I don’t know,” she replied, doubling down on that comment. “I meant to say Titanic. I meant it. I’m sorry if I offended you. Let’s move on.”
Mr. Cohen then jokingly called on her to “don’t apologize, apologize.”
Rinna admitted earlier this month that despite feeling betrayed after Cohen’s memoir, the two have a good relationship, and that she did not contact him before writing her book.
“I’m fine with him today,” she said on SiriusXM’s “The Julia Cunningham Show.” “He wrote his own book and did what he did.”
