Bethenny Frankel is a lot of things. She’s the queen of the "Skinnygirl" empire, a former Real Housewife of New York, a disaster relief powerhouse, and lately, the self-appointed union leader for reality TV stars. But if you're trying to figure out is Bethenny Frankel liberal, the answer isn't a simple yes or no. Honestly, it’s a bit of a moving target.
She doesn't fit into the neat little boxes the media likes to build. Most celebrities in Hollywood or New York lean hard left, waving flags for every progressive cause that trends on Twitter. Bethenny? She’s different. She’s pragmatic. She’s loud. She’s often contradictory.
The Reality TV Union and Labor Rights
If you look at her recent moves, you might think she’s gone full progressive. In 2023, during the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, Bethenny basically declared war on Bravo and the entire reality TV industry. She called for a "Reality Reckoning."
She argued that reality stars are being exploited, chewed up, and spat out without residuals or protections. She pushed for a union. In any other context, advocating for labor unions and worker rights is a cornerstone of liberal ideology. She wants a minimum wage for appearances—specifically $5,000 per episode—and the right to quit without getting sued into oblivion.
It's a very pro-worker stance. But for Bethenny, it feels less like a Marxist manifesto and more like a "don't screw with my money" business strategy. She sees the unfairness through the lens of a mogul who understands contracts, not necessarily through a partisan political lens.
Social Issues and the 2016 Fallout
Where things get murky is when you look at her social commentary. Back in 2016, she got into some hot water on Twitter after Donald Trump won. While half of New York was in mourning, Bethenny called the anti-Trump protests "moronic."
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She tweeted that people should have protested before the election and that burning flags was "not a joke." That didn't sit well with her more liberal fan base. However, in the same breath, she acknowledged that people—especially those in the LGBTQ+ community or those worried about Roe v. Wade—had a right to be "scared and sad."
That’s classic Bethenny. She’ll validate your feelings while simultaneously telling you that your actions are "stupid." It's that "tough love" brand that makes her so polarizing.
- Abortion Rights: She has expressed support for reproductive freedom.
- Climate & Environment: Her BStrong work focuses on the aftermath of climate disasters rather than just the policy of prevention.
- LGBTQ+ Rights: She has consistently positioned herself as an ally, though she’s rarely at the front of the political march.
Philanthropy as Policy: The BStrong Factor
If you want to understand if Bethenny Frankel is liberal, you have to look at BStrong. This isn't just a "celebrity charity" where she writes a check and takes a photo. She has raised over $100 million for Ukraine. She was on the ground in Puerto Rico, Texas, and Maui.
Her approach to philanthropy is actually quite libertarian or "small government" in flavor. She constantly talks about how "politics is BS" and how government bureaucracy gets in the way of actual help. She’s a "get it done" person who views the government as inefficient.
"Often when we're having to deal with governments and bureaucracy, we can't get anything done in the relief world," she told Fox News in 2021.
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She isn't waiting for a tax-funded social program to fix a problem. She’s using her business connections to charter planes and hand out cash cards. This "direct-to-consumer" philanthropy skips the red tape that liberals often defend and conservatives often attack.
Business, Capitalism, and "Skinnygirl"
At her core, Bethenny is a capitalist. She is the embodiment of the American Dream—starting from the bottom and selling a brand for $100 million. She has often given "unfiltered" advice to women that some have called insensitive.
For instance, she once suggested that female entrepreneurs might need a "white male partner" to get funding in certain industries. It wasn't a comment on what should be; it was a comment on the "ugly reality" of business. To a liberal audience, that sounds like admitting defeat to systemic racism and sexism. To Bethenny, it’s just "playing the game" to win.
So, Is She Actually Liberal?
Basically, she’s a socially liberal, fiscally conservative New Yorker. She probably votes for Democrats on social issues but hates the taxes and the slow-moving nature of liberal policy. She’s a "rogue," as she calls herself.
She has zero interest in running for office, despite people constantly suggesting she should be the Mayor of NYC. Why? Because she "lives in pajamas 95% of the time" and can't stand "kissing ass."
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She’s a pragmatist. She’s a billionaire-adjacent mogul who wants the freedom to say whatever she wants, even if it gets her "cancelled." In 2026, where everything is a culture war, Bethenny is her own side.
What You Can Take Away From This
If you’re trying to pin down a celebrity’s politics, look at their actions over their tweets. Bethenny might say things that sound conservative or "rogue," but her work in labor rights and disaster relief often aligns with the outcomes liberals want, even if her methods are pure business.
To understand her better, follow her "Reality Reckoning" updates on social media. It's the most "political" she’s ever been, and it shows exactly where she stands on worker exploitation—which is currently her biggest target.
Keep an eye on the BStrong transparency reports too. They’re a masterclass in how to run a private-sector alternative to FEMA. Whether that’s "liberal" or just "efficient" is up to you.
Next Steps:
If you want to see her political style in action, you should check out her "Just B" podcast episodes where she interviews business leaders. You’ll notice she focuses far more on efficiency and personal accountability than on partisan talking points. You can also monitor the progress of the reality TV unionization efforts, as that will be the defining "labor" legacy of her career.