Carole Radziwill faces Epstein files question in RHONY trailer
Bravo’s Season 16 preview brings Carole Radziwill back to RHONY and puts her past friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell on camera.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Carole Radziwill’s return to The Real Housewives of New York City comes with a pointed on-camera confrontation: her name being raised in connection with the Epstein files.
Bravo’s first trailer for Season 16 shows Radziwill, who last appeared on the series in Season 10, back in the mix as a “friend” of the cast, according to Variety. The preview also puts renewed attention on her former friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of trafficking minors for Jeffrey Epstein and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
In one street scene from the trailer, an unidentified person spots Radziwill speaking with cast member Erin Lichy and shouts, “She’s the one from the Epstein files!”
The moment continues with cast member Sai de Silva asking Radziwill, “You never went to this island?” Radziwill replies, “No. You think I’m part of an international sex-trafficking ring?”
The trailer does not show Radziwill being accused by authorities of wrongdoing. Variety reported that the preview frames the subject around her former association with Maxwell and the public attention on her name appearing in the files.
Radziwill addressed Maxwell in a March interview with The New York Times. Asked about the connection, she said, “Imagine knowing someone and even being friendly with them and then they turn out to be, like, a monster.” She also told the Times she was friends with Maxwell for “five or six years” and “never knew Jeffrey Epstein.”
Radziwill’s comeback is only one piece of Bravo’s Season 16 rollout. The new season brings back Jessel Taank, Erin Lichy and Sai de Silva, while Daisy Toye, Erika Hammond and Hailey Glassman join the cast as newcomers.
Bravo’s official description says the women move from New York City to the beaches of a private island as relationships strengthen, new connections form and other friendships take difficult turns. The network says the season will feature past issues resurfacing, fresh tensions and shifting loyalties within the group.
RHONY is produced by Shed Media. Lisa Shannon and Lori Gordon serve as executive producers, with Andy Cohen also executive producing. Tia Ayers, Kate Murphy and Alfonso Rosales are co-executive producers.
Season 16 of The Real Housewives of New York City premieres Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 8 p.m. on Bravo. Episodes will stream the next day on Peacock.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.