Jill Zarin fired from ‘Real Housewives’ reunion show after racist Bad Bunny rant

Original Real Housewives of New York City star Jill Zarin will not be returning to TV as planned for E!’s upcoming reunion series, The Golden Life.

The 62-year-old reality star has been fired from the series, which was announced last week and has not yet entered production. Amid mounting controversy following an inflammatory rant Zarin posted against Bad Bunny‘s Super Bowl LX halftime show, The Golden Life production company Blink49 Studios issued a statement announcing Zarin’s removal from the cast on Tuesday.

“In light of recent public comments made by Jill Zarin, Blink49 Studios has decided not to move forward with her involvement in The Golden Life,” read the statement shared with Entertainment Weekly. “We remain committed to delivering the series in line with our company standards and values.”

The former co-owner of New York City fabric and upholstery outlet Zarin Fabrics starred on the first four seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City, from 2008 to 2011. She has returned periodically for appearances on other Bravo series like The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip and Below Deck, but The Golden Life would have marked her first major TV return since her RHONY departure.

Zarin, who attended Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017 and has spoken about the “isolating” experience of holding conservative values in the entertainment industry, frequently shares politically charged photos and videos to her Instagram. She posted one such video to her page Sunday evening, after the broadcast of Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance.

“It was the worst halftime show ever. I just don’t think it was appropriate to have it in Spanish,” Zarin stated in the now-deleted video that has since been captured and reshared.

“I don’t speak Spanish, I would’ve liked to have known the words he was saying. To me, it looked like a political statement because there were literally no white people in the entire thing. I’m not taking a side, one way or the other.”

Zarin hypothesized that the “NUEVAYoL” singer’s performance, which stoked enough advance controversy on the right to launch a conservative counterprogram headlined by Kid Rock, “was an ICE thing. I think that the NFL sold out and it’s very sad.”

Entertainment Weekly did not immediately hear back from representatives for Zarin and Bad Bunny for comment.

Zarin responded to her firing in a Tuesday interview with In Touch, in which she claimed. “They didn’t even give me a chance… I took it down right away. People make mistakes. I’m human.”

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The backlash to Zarin’s comments was swift. The official Zarin Fabrics Instagram account posted an image of its cofounder with a bold red X across her face on Monday with a caption that read, “Zarin Fabrics stands firmly against racism, discrimination, and rhetoric that seeks to exclude or diminish people based on identity, culture, or background.”

The business clarified that Zarin “has not had ownership of or been associated with Zarin Fabrics for several years” before declaring its commitment to “creativity, collaboration, and respect for the diverse communities that shape art, culture, and expression.”

The same day, Zarin’s daughter Ally Shapiro defended Bad Bunny’s performance, saying it made for the “best halftime show in years.” Zarin’s fellow RHONY alum and almost Golden Life costar Sonja Morgan also distanced herself with a post on X proclaiming her “love for my Latin friends and supporters,” and quoting one of her own lines from RHONY: “I have a huge Latin following.”

The Golden Life, billed as a docuseries, is now set to reunite RHONY alums Luann de Lesseps, Ramona Singer, Kelly Bensimon, and Sonja Morgan in Palm Beach, Fla., rather than New York City.

“Bound by decades of shared history, fallouts and friendship, this fan-favorite group of New Yorkers are starting fresh together in the Sunshine State,” a press release announcing the series read. “In this new ‘golden’ era of life, the longtime friends are thriving in and around Palm Beach with fabulous second homes and a bustling social scene.”