If you’re a fan of the US television network Bravo, it’s virtually impossible that you’ve never watched an episode or caught a glimpse of the wildly successful franchise The Real Housewives. The first series in the franchise, The Real Housewives of Orange County, was so well received that it launched the first of many spinoffs: The Real Housewives of New York City. Commonly abbreviated to RHONY, the series brought several now-prominent women to the spotlight. The one we’re most interested in now, though, is Luann de Lesseps, who was just spotted smoking weed in her home city.
Who is Luann de Lesseps?
Only the biggest break-out RHONY star (besides, of course, Bethenny Frankel). Luann de Lesseps (née Nadeau) was born in 1965 and grew up in Connecticut. A former nurse and model represented by Wilhemina, de Lesseps married for the first time at age 28 to Alexandre de Lesseps, a French aristocrat. When she married de Lesseps, she assumed the title of Countess (although she lost the title when she remarried in 2016)
In addition to starring in The Real Housewives of New York City, de Lesseps wrote a book titled Class with the Countess: How to Live with Elegance and Flair (published in 2009). She also released not one but three hit singles: “Money Can’t Buy You Class”, “Chic, C’est la Vie” and “Girl Code.” She even had a guest appearance on an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.
Oh, and she also apparently smokes cannabis.
The Countess Gets Down With Kush
Last night, Luann de Lesseps was spotted outside the Public Hotel in New York City’s Lower East Side, toking away on a joint. She was reportedly attending a Tribeca Film Festival party at the attached nightclub, Public Arts, with her niece, Nicole Nadeau. A fellow attendee of the MCM Worldwide-hosted party told local reporters that she “took [their] friend’s blunt”.
According to one of de Lesseps representatives, the (former) Countess smokes cannabis “occasionally” to alleviate anxiety and residual pain stemming from a car accident she and her children survived in 1999. The accident led to PTSD, which in turn led to de Lesseps to self-medicate with alcohol.
This past Christmas Eve, de Lesseps was arrested in Palm Beach, Florida for drunk and disorderly conduct and assaulting a police officer. Subsequently, she entered a rehabilitation program and quit drinking.
Thankfully, de Lessep’s life was not ruined by this incident. And of course, she was not fired from RHONY–in fact, Season 10 premiered this month. And her tagline this year rings very true:
“The most interesting people make the best headlines.”
