New York City has been rocked by a wave of attacks where women have been punched in the face while on the street. Over the past week, numerous victims have taken to social media to share their experiences.

Among those who have come forward is entrepreneur and reality TV personality Bethenny Frankel, who revealed that she, too, was a victim of such an assault.

Frankel, known for her role on the Real Housewives of New York City, initially shared her story in a comment on a TikTok video posted by another survivor. She wrote, “This is insane bc this happened to me a few months ago but I was embarrassed to say. I was on the [NYC’s Upper West Side]. Insane. I was taking video of a bakery.”

In a subsequent TikTok video uploaded on March 28, Frankel expanded on the incident, and stated, “So many of you have wanted to punch me in the face at one point or another, and someone else did do it for you.”

She continued, “I saw a woman talking about the fact that she had been punched in the face on the street, and I commented, ‘Oh my God, the same thing happened to me.’ I actually recorded my reaction to it that day, but felt embarrassed or weird to post it.”

In her detailed account, Frankel recounted the events that led up to the assault.

She was in New York City searching for an apartment and decided to stop at a deli bakery establishment. As she exited the store, she was unexpectedly struck in the face. Frankel clarified that it wasn’t a forceful closed-fist punch but a blow that left her completely stunned.

As she didn’t want to escalate the situation, she refrained from provoking her attacker and instead gestured to her driver, who also served as her security, to inform him of the assault. When her driver confronted the assailant, Frankel requested they swiftly leave the scene.

Frankel admitted that when she initially commented on the TikTok post, she was unaware that multiple individuals had reported similar attacks.

Contrary to speculation, Frankel clarified that she did not delete her comment, and her team confirmed its continued presence on the platform. Frankel extended her apologies to other women who have fallen victim to these assaults.

Law enforcement has made several arrests in connection with separate incidents involving street assaults.

In 2019, Frankle left the Real Housewives of New York City, the show that brought her to prominence.

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Article by Baila Eve Zisman

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