More than a year after her headline-making arrest, Luann de Lesseps is finally out of trouble with the law.
On Wednesday, August 28, the Real Housewives of New York City star opened up in an interview with TMZ about finishing probation, her decision to stay sober (for now) and fellow OG Bethenny Frankel‘s unexpected exit from the show.
“I like to say I take it one day at a time because that’s, you know, where I’m at,” the Countess told TMZ. “I mean, we never know where we’re gonna be. And I have enjoyed, actually, being sober; I’ve gotten to a different place in my life and, for the moment, I’m not drinking!”
While Ramona Singer would challenge the veracity of that last claim (as she so tactfully did during the Season 11 reunion), Lu officially completed her probation this week, meaning she’ll no longer be held accountable by anyone other than the Singer Stinger and her fellow RHONY ‘Wives about the status of her sobriety.
After claiming she “paid very dearly for something that…could’ve happened to anyone,” Luann reflected on the spiral that led to her December 2017 arrest in Palm Beach, Florida, which was documented during RHONY‘s landmark tenth season — while simultaneously plugging her never-ending cabaret tour.
“You know, I was using alcohol — which I think a lot of people do — to self-medicate,” she explained. “I’d been through a rough divorce, a very rough time and it kind of all hit me. But I’ve learned a lot, and I’m moving forward in a really positive way. I feel really good; I’m on a national Live Nation cabaret tour, so that’s now my focus.”
Luann also spoke out for the first time regarding Queen B abruptly quitting the show last week just as production kicked off for Season 12.
“It’s always sad to lose a cast member,” she said. “Bethenny and I have had many good times as well as not-so-good times. We’ve had our ups and downs, I’m the kind of person that chooses to remember the ups and not the downs. It’s just the way I roll. I wish her all the best. She’s left the show before and she came back, so we’ll see what happens.”
TELL US – DO YOU THINK LUANN WILL STAY SOBER? DO YOU THINK SHE’S HAPPY BETHENNY LEFT THE SHOW?
[Photo Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo]