If you close your eyes and think back to 2008, you can probably still hear the echo of a specific, slightly frantic energy emanating from a Brooklyn townhouse. It was the era of low-rise jeans, BlackBerrys, and the absolute fever dream that was the first season of Bravo’s breakout hit. At the center of the storm was Simon van Kempen from the Real Housewives of New York, a man who arguably redefined what it meant to be a "Househusband." He wasn't just a background player. He was a main character in a red leather jacket.
Honestly, Simon was a disruptor before that word became a tech cliché. While the other husbands were playing golf or hiding in their offices to avoid the cameras, Simon was right there in the mix, helping Alex McCord pick out Roberto Cavalli gowns and getting a front-row seat to the drama. People didn't know what to make of him. Was he a social climber? A devoted husband? A reality TV pioneer? Looking back through a 2026 lens, the answer is probably "all of the above."
The Red Leather Jacket Era: Why Simon van Kempen Stayed Rent-Free in Our Heads
Early RHONY was basically a sociological study of the Upper East Side vs. Brooklyn. Simon and Alex were the outsiders trying to break into a very closed circle. They were the ones talking about "social currency" and the "St. Barts set." It felt cringey to some, but it was incredibly honest TV. Simon didn't hide his ambition. He wore it on his sleeve, sometimes literally.
Remember the shopping trips? Most husbands on these shows look like they’d rather have a root canal than go dress shopping. Not Simon. He was deeply invested in the aesthetics. He was Alex's biggest cheerleader, his hype man, and occasionally her spokesperson. This dynamic drove the other women—especially Jill Zarin and Bethenny Frankel—absolutely wild. They felt he was overstepping. They wanted him to go away and "be a man" in the traditional, boring sense. But Simon wasn't interested in that. He understood the assignment. He knew that to make it on a show like this, you had to be present.
It wasn't just about the clothes, though. It was the sheer intensity. Simon was a guy who would show up to an all-girls' night out and stay for the whole thing. He’d argue about the seating chart. He’d get into it with the wives. It was chaotic, sure, but it was also weirdly sweet how much he and Alex were a united front. They were a team. A slightly eccentric, Brooklyn-dwelling, high-fashion-obsessed team.
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Life After the Apple: The Australian Pivot
When the "Great RHONY Purge" happened after Season 4, and Alex and Simon were let go alongside Jill and Kelly Bensimon, fans wondered if they’d just disappear. They didn't. Not immediately, anyway. They did the reality TV rounds for a bit—Couples Therapy was a notable stop—but then they did something most reality stars never do. They actually left.
They didn't just move to another borough. They moved to the other side of the planet.
Moving back to Simon's native Australia wasn't just a vacation; it was a total identity reset. Simon transitioned from the New York hotel industry and reality TV stardom into something entirely different. He went to law school. Let that sink in for a second. The man who once wore a Speedo on national television spent years hitting the books in Queensland. He eventually earned his degree and started practicing law. It's a pivot that honestly deserves more respect than it gets. It takes a massive amount of discipline to go from being a "character" to being a professional in a field as rigid as law.
The Reality vs. The Persona
There’s this misconception that Simon was just some puppet master or a guy desperate for fame. If you look at his life post-show, that narrative falls apart. He’s been married to Alex for over 20 years. In the world of Real Housewives, that’s basically a millennium. They raised two sons, Francois and Johan, away from the prying eyes of the New York paparazzi.
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Simon has always been a bit of a lightning rod for criticism because he was "too much" for the 2008 palate. We weren't used to men being that involved in "feminine" spaces like fashion or social maneuvering. Today, we’d probably just call him a supportive partner who likes clothes. Back then, it was scandalous. He broke the fourth wall of masculinity on Bravo.
What Simon Taught Us About Reality TV
- Don't be afraid to be the villain. Simon didn't mind if people laughed at him as long as they were talking about him.
- Commit to the bit. Whether it was a specific outfit or a weird social stance, he never half-assed it.
- The "Househusband" is a job. He proved that the spouses are just as important to the chemistry of the show as the leads.
- There is a second act. You can leave the circus and build a real, quiet, successful life.
Where is Simon van Kempen Now?
As of 2026, Simon is firmly entrenched in his life in Australia. He’s a solicitor. He’s a dad. He’s still very much a husband to Alex. Every now and then, he’ll pop up on social media or in a "where are they now" segment, and he always looks remarkably at peace. He’s traded the cramped New York social scene for the sprawling beauty of Byron Bay and the surrounding areas.
He also hasn't lost that spark. He still engages with fans and isn't shy about his time on the show. He seems to view it with a mix of nostalgia and "can you believe we did that?" energy. He doesn't seem bitter about the way it ended, which is rare for someone who was effectively fired from a hit show. He took the platform, used it while it lasted, and then built a ladder to a different life.
The legacy of Simon van Kempen from the Real Housewives of New York is one of authenticity, even if that authenticity felt performative to some. He was exactly who he was, take it or leave it. In a world of filtered Instagram posts and carefully managed PR images, there’s something refreshing about looking back at a guy who just wanted to wear his funky boots and talk about the Met Gala.
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Actionable Steps for the RHONY Superfan
If you're feeling nostalgic for the Simon and Alex era, there are a few ways to dive back in without just rewatching the same three episodes of Season 1.
- Follow the "Van Kempen-McCord" trail on social media. Both Alex and Simon are surprisingly accessible and often share updates about their life in Australia, including Francois and Johan's academic and musical achievements.
- Watch the "Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy" (if you haven't). While Simon isn't in it, the shadow of that era looms large, and you can see how the DNA of the show changed after they left.
- Look up Simon's legal commentary. He has occasionally weighed in on legal matters on social platforms, and seeing "Solicitor Simon" is a trip for anyone who remembers "Socialite Simon."
- Audit your own "Social Currency." In honor of the man himself, take a look at your social circle. Are you hanging out with people who inspire you, or are you just trying to get into the right "room"? Simon would tell you to go for the room, but make sure you’re wearing the best outfit in it.
The story of the Van Kempens is ultimately a success story. They survived the "Housewives Curse," kept their family intact, and moved on to bigger (and much quieter) things. They proved that you can be the most talked-about person in New York one day and a respected professional in a coastal Australian town the next. It’s all about how you handle the transition. Simon handled it with a law degree and, presumably, a much more sensible wardrobe.
Expert Insight: If you're looking for the exact moment the "Househusband" role changed forever, go back to the Season 1 reunion. Watch how Simon sits there, ready to defend Alex against the entire couch. That was the blueprint. Before Simon, husbands were just "the guys who paid the bills." After Simon, they became essential ingredients in the reality TV recipe. We wouldn't have the Joe Giudices or the Gregg Leakes of the world—at least not in the same way—without the trail Simon blazed in his red leather jacket.
Next Steps for Readers:
Check out Alex McCord’s YouTube channel if you want a deeper dive into their move to Australia. She’s documented a lot of their transition there, and it provides a great "behind the scenes" look at how they navigated the jump from Brooklyn to the bush. Also, if you're ever in Queensland, keep an eye out—you might just see a very familiar face heading into a courtroom, hopefully still sporting a bit of that New York flair.