Bethenny Frankel's Mom Refutes 'Toxic' Childhood Claims

By PopEater Staff Posted Jul 15th 2010 03:39PM

Bethenny Frankel, who appeared on the cover of last week's PEOPLE with her newborn daughter, Bryn, dropped a bombshell inside the magazine's pages, claiming, "I never had a true childhood."

However, Frankel's mother, Bernadette Birk, has fired back against her daughter's assertions, telling Star, "I love my daughter, but what she's saying is killing me."

Although Birk, a professor of interior design, admits she has only spoken to her daughter twice in the past decade, she maintains that Frankel was "the most important person in my world."

Inside her PEOPLE issue, the 'Bethenny Getting Married?' star alleged her mother abused alcohol, suffered from an eating disorder and got in violent fights with her former husband.

Tags: bethenny frankel, Bethenny Getting Married, people, real housewives of new york city

Comments

(89)

Friday 16 July

By Ruth Ann

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Actors/Actresses keep your personal problems to yourself! You are not saving the world by exposing your family history be it good or bad.

By calskeys

The real problem is not which one of these 'ladies' is there biggest jerk but why should we care. Even worse is the fact that someone could sell to a TV network a show about Britney, Bethany or whoever is getting married and having anyone other than the two directly involved in the wedding even being more than slightly interested. This isn't news can we move on.

By angel

Bethenny is a drama queen... she uses the most outrageous wording to try and get sympathy. If ever any housewife needed therapy to get over their awful, toxic ; ) childhood it is she.

cant stand bethenny and her bs. I hope she gets hers w/ the new hubby : )

By carole lang

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Call your daughter,life is short!! The Mom has to take the first step!!

By Lon

Honestly, I am surprised it took this long for Bethenny's "mother" to attack. More drama, gotta love it.

By Russell

Her father went to the grave with his back turned to her.Her mother says she is lieing.Think maybe she was an ahole to her parent as a kid and as a young adult.When family turns their back on you,you are part of the problem when you refuse to make ammends.There are enough problems and struggles in life without being seperated from family by anger and pride.

By almasearch

I have to say... I hated her when she was in Housewives (of NY)because though she had some good one-liners, she just seemed MEAN. But I'm finding her hysterically funny (and human!) in Bethenny Getting Married. Her hubby has done her alot of good! Also, for someone NOT to invite a parent to their own wedding, IMO, means that parent was an a-hole. The mother only speaking to her daughter twice in a decade says it all...

Having said that... Life is short. Maybe, hopefully, one day the two will reconcile. Time has a way of healing wounds and imparting wisdom.

By rosride

Bethanny, you are grown up now. what did or did not happen when you were a child, get over it. stop crying over spilled cup of bs and pour another cup. this time secure it make it better. Your lost if you keep your child from its grandparents. Release the rope that is raggy, torn and weak. Build a strong generation starting with your child. I have some crackers because you seem to have barrells of wine and butta

By kay

bethany is the best shame on her mom for not going to her wedding not a good mom

By Pat

When people are young they make mistakes and do things they regret later in life. Children are totally effected by these mistakes. As an adult that has just had a child maybe she will realize how much her Mother loves her, even though she has not been a part of her life. It leaves a hole in your heart when you have an absentee parent. It would be nice if they would forgive each other and start fresh. They are all missing an opportunity to be a part of each others lives. Down the road, they may not have that option.

By Terry

There are two sides to every story! Bethenny's opinion of what her childhood was like is her opinion - how she interpreted events in her life. Speaking from experience, how she interpreted events is a personal experience, and now that she is an adult, they are both to blame for not having a relationship. My mom died with both of us having conflicting opinions of the events in our life, and we are both to blame for not sorting it all out. I hope Bethenny can realize that we all evolve, change and mature. Instead of airing her opinion publically (which she obviously wants others to hear) like her fight with Jill (who was a mother figure to her), Bethenny should deal with these issues personally and privately if she is truly desiring to resolve them!

By orrmobl

Studies have shown that you parent the way you were parented...I hope Jason can stay home with the baby...

By Carla

Not necessarily true. Sometimes you have absentee or neglectful parents (maybe one, maybe two) and it makes you a BETTER parent for it, because you don't want to repeat their mistakes.

By mmlowe

"twice in ten years"+"Most important" = DAH

I have alot of well intentioned family and friends
who are LOVING their kids into disfunction.

By liz

If you have not spoke to your daughter in decades that cleary shows that she is not the most important person to you. You are your most important person. Your selfish and your daughter is having the life she alwasy wanted...and the mom is no apart of it. Congrats to you Bethanny ...

By Joanna

She loves her daughter, but has only talked to her twice in 10 years whats wrong with that picture? Clearly she wasn't invited to the wedding, or to see her grandchild, kind of tells me Bethanny spoke the truth about dear old Mom!

By tessa

Admitting to speaking to your only daughter twice in ten years and then claiming she's everything to you? Are you for real? What kind of a mother does that?? Now what Bethenny is saying to you is "killing you" - how about the poor excuse for a mother you were for years? Bethenny - embrace Jason's mom and dad as your own - they seem like great people!! You are so much better off without your own "mother" (and I use that term loosely)!!!

By Lori walker

Funny No one gives Sarah Palin's family the same consideration about really knowing whats' going on She was smeared and ruined before she had a chance to start Great wife Great mom I love her daughter Piper She's going places I think I love her marriage to Todd

By # 1 Nana fm MD

I think Bethenny's Mother's actions speak louder than her words!
I am not buying what Mom says....As a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother I cannot imagine only speaking to my children, grandchildren 2 times in 10 years. For arguments sake...if Bethenny is the most important person in her life...WHY the heck has Momma not contacted Bethenny & tried to make amends!!! Don't get it. I believe Bethenny. Nana

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