Welcome to the recap for Real Housewives of New York Season 15, Episode 5; which was a total throwback. The women dusted off their mini skirts and platform shoes and headed to Jessel’s Clueless-inspired 41st birthday party. The women created iconic looks from the popular 90s film and caused more drama than a group of high school girls ever could. Here is everything you missed on RHONY Season 15, Episode 5, “Without a Clue.”
What happened in Real Housewives of New York Season 15, Episode 5?
Tonight’s episode was all about Jessel’s birthday. The cast showed up in their best 90s looks to celebrate the London Princess’s 41st trip around the sun. Brynn’s feud with Ubah and Sai did not get resolved tonight. In fact, it may have gotten worse because Brynn used some pretty harsh words to describe Sai in Episode 5. Erin, however, did work through her issue with Jenna and the two are back to being buds.
The Real Housewives of New York ladies are back from the Hamptons
Real Housewives of New York Season 15, Episode 5 began with Sai deciding what to do with her late mother’s ashes. She wants to bring the ashes to her upstate home and bury them in nature. Her Aunt Sophia will be joining her family upstate to put her mother to rest.
On a lighter note, Jessel is preparing for her Clueless birthday party. She tells Pavit it’s her favorite movie of all time. He says he’s never seen it. According to Jessel, he’s more of a Star Wars guy. Translation: he couldn’t care less about a movie where a teenage girl meddles in people’s romantic lives while wearing designer outfits.
Jessel plans to do multiple outfit changes throughout the party to honor fashion icon, Cher Horowitz. Pavit is confused by this and suggests sticking to one look. Ugh, he doesn’t get it! I am in full support of Jessel being an OTT diva on her birthday. That’s literally why birthdays exist!
We then check in with Brynn, who is getting her eyelashes done while face-timing her ex-fiancé, Gideon. I was shocked to see Gideon is still in the picture. No word on whether they are back together but he did call her “the most beautiful lady in the world” on the phone, sooo…
While Brynn was pampering herself, Jenna F*cking Lyons was getting down to business. The Fashion Maven recently accepted a new role as the Editor (at large) at Coveteur, an online fashion magazine. We see her run a pitch meeting with a group of young women who look at her like she’s God. Good for her!
Ubah talks to Racquel about her fight with Brynn
Newbie Racquel stops by Ubah’s place to check out some of her recent paintings. Ubah started painting in 2021 as a passion project. Her paintings are gorgeous. They even get the stamp of approval from Racquel, who knows a thing or two about art. She’s particularly passionate about one painting that captures how she feels about living in America. She talks about how lucky she feels to live in a free country and how hard she fought to be here. It was a beautiful moment and a nice reminder.
She also spoke about how difficult it was to make it as a black model in New York City. Racquel can relate. She, like Ubah, was often the only black model in the room.
Once the ladies are done with the art talk, they move onto a less sophisticated topic – gossiping about Brynn. Ubah tells Racquel that off-camera Brynn warned her that she would be edited as an “angry black woman” if she didn’t change her behavior. Racquel is confused by Brynn’s behavior.
In a confessional, she says, “I don’t know what Brynn is thinking. You’re the one who triggered her into behaving in a way where she could be painted as an angry black woman. It all feels very manipulative to me.”
Ubah says she felt “set up” by Brynn in that moment. I agree with Ubah. Maybe Brynn’s intentions were pure but it does feel as though she’s using that to silence Ubah from sharing how she feels. If she’s upset, let her be upset. She shouldn’t have to curb her emotions to make strangers feel more comfortable.
Brynn calls Sai a ‘miserable’ person
Jessel, Erin, and Brynn go on a shopping spree to prepare for the Clueless bash. Erin asks Brynn how she feels about seeing Ubah and Sai. Brynn says that Ubah is “crazy” and mimics her behavior in the Hamptons. I feel like if Brynn was so concerned about Ubah’s edit on the show she wouldn’t continuously paint her as a a crazy person to their friends. I’m just saying…
She also says she needs a written apology from Sai for her behavior at The Fleur Room. I’m so confused. I thought they made up in the Hamptons. I recall a Peace Treaty in the form of a hug. Am I going insane? Also, Sai did send her a written apology through text, which Brynn flat-out ignored. I love Brynn. I’m trying to give her the benefit of the doubt but her behavior this season is beyond confusing. It looks like Sai’s efforts to repair the relationship weren’t successful. Brynn is still upset. She calls her “a miserable troll that lives under the Brooklyn Bridge.” Ouch.
Brynn isn’t the only one harboring a grudge. Erin reveals she feels abandoned by Jenna. She says Jenna has not reached out to her while she is going through a difficult time. She also thinks she’s “fake” for hanging out with Sai after half of New York told her Sai hates her. I don’t know. It feels like Erin is grasping at straws for a feud.
The RHONY ladies celebrate Jessel’s birthday
Jessel’s Clueless party has begun! Jessel and Erin show up to the party dressed as Cher. Although, Erin’s is a direct reference, whereas Jessel’s is more an interpretation. Jenna shows up as Cher’s dad, Mel. She really leans into her new role as a powerhouse attorney and starts handing out papers alerting her castmates that they are being “sued” for crimes related to the show. It’s a cute idea and the women love it.
Brynn arrives dressed as Cher’s best friend, Dionne. She nails it. Her outfit looks like an exact replica of Dionne’s outfit in the first scene of the movie. Bravo. Sai also used Dionne as inspiration. She recreated one of Dionne’s lesser-known looks but it still looked adorable. Ubah didn’t come as a character but her outfit was still 90s, so I’ll give her a pass. Rebecca didn’t play along.
Brynn dips out of the party because she has a spray tan appointment at 9:40 in the evening. Who gets a spray tan that late? It was kind of rude, and Jessel was definitely annoyed.
Erin is still upset at Jenna but she refuses to address the situation. Jenna literally has no idea that Erin is upset. She eventually catches wind of her friend’s resentment through Abe, who informs her that his wife is not too happy with her. Jenna confronts Erin and the two talk it out. Erin says she felt hurt by Jenna’s lack of communication and Jenna promises to do better. Honestly, this fight was so random and kinda just seemed like Erin needed a storyline in this episode…
