The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Jennifer Fessler shut down the speculation about her alleged relationship status with Summer House’s West Wilson.
“In all seriousness, and while I can’t help but be a little flattered, it is not nice nor is it OK to post something categorically untrue and defamatory on social media,” Fessler, 57, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, May 9. “Regardless of whatever rumors or apparent ‘evidence’ led you to that conclusion, that is the definition of libel.”
She continued, “If it were true, I would have no recourse. Because it’s a lie, this can get more complicated. Having said that, I hope we can rectify this. It’s enough now.”
Fessler was asked about Wilson’s Summer House scandal at Vulture’s The Masterminds of Reality TV event on Thursday, May 7. (Wilson, 31, announced in March that he started dating costar Amanda Batula despite previously romancing her BFF Ciara Miller.)
“[West] is the cutest, sweetest golden retriever puppy dog. He does not mean any harm,” Fessler told Page Six on the red carpet. “He didn’t mean it. He’s just trying to have a good time. He doesn’t wanna hurt anyone. Give him a break.”
After a fan shared Fessler’s comments via Threads on Friday, May 8, Miller, 30, replied, “lol because they slept together too.”
Jennifer, who has been married to husband Jeff Fessler since 1999, and Wilson have both denied the accusations.
Wilson caused a stir amongst the Bravoverse when he confirmed his romance with Batula, 34, just months after she separated from husband Kyle Cooke.
“It was never our intention to purposely hide anything,” Wilson and Batula said in a joint March 31 statement. “Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.”
They continued at the time, “We’ve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected,” they continued. “Our connection grew out of a genuine, longstanding friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.”
Miller claimed that she was blindsided by Wilson and Batula’s romance and social media statement.
“At the end of the day, a guy’s a guy. Whether or not West and I are working on a relationship, you just can’t put anything past a man,” Miller told Glamour last month. “I just never would think that it would come from someone like Amanda, who has been what has felt like in my circle and in my corner for so long. I think that’s the craziest part.”
