Andy Cohen, speaking on his SiriusXM program Andy Cohen Live, addressed the abrupt removal of Jill Zarin from E!’s Real Housewives of New York City reboot after Zarin made racist remarks about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance. Cohen declined to offer E!’s side—saying anyone seeking more information should contact E!—but then relayed his own reactions and recollections about Zarin’s recent return to the franchise. He noted the swift timing: the firing came roughly one week after the network announced her involvement in the reboot. Cohen also highlighted a striking social-media response when Zarin Fabrics posted an image of Zarin with a red X over her face, a development he said felt especially humiliating.
Key Takeaways
- Jill Zarin was removed from E!’s RHONY reboot after making racist comments about Bad Bunny’s halftime show; the network took action following public scrutiny.
- Andy Cohen discussed the situation on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live and directed further comment requests to E!, while offering his personal observations on air.
- Cohen said the firing occurred about one week after the reboot participation was announced, underscoring how quickly the situation escalated.
- Zarin Fabrics, a company associated with Zarin’s late husband Bobby, posted a photo of Jill with a red X over her face, an image Cohen described as striking and shameful.
- Cohen referenced a past departure tied to season four of RHONY when contextualizing Zarin’s history with the franchise, repeating a detail he said she discussed on- and off-camera.
- The episode raises questions about network vetting, cast reputational risk, and how family or affiliated brands respond to controversy.
- Cohen relayed an anecdote in which Zarin had recently criticized reunion set rugs and suggested Zarin Fabrics as a solution, an exchange he used to illustrate the collapse of goodwill.
Background
The Real Housewives franchise has long blended personal drama with commercial stakes, where on-air behavior can quickly affect casting and brand partnerships. E! launched a reboot of Real Housewives of New York City to tap renewed interest in the series, naming several familiar and new cast members as part of that effort. Jill Zarin, an original RHONY cast member, was announced as part of the reboot lineup only to be removed shortly after amid backlash over her comments regarding Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance.
Zarin Fabrics, a home-goods business started by Zarin’s late husband Bobby Zarin, maintains a public social-media presence tied to the family name. Social channels have become immediate venues for additional reputational fallout when cast members face controversy, and corporate or family-linked accounts sometimes act quickly to distance themselves. Andy Cohen, a longtime Bravo executive closely associated with the Housewives franchise, has often served as a public intermediary—commenting on casting, controversies, and network decisions.
Main Event
The sequence unfolded publicly: E. announced the RHONY reboot casting that included Zarin, and within approximately a week the network removed her after her remarks about Bad Bunny circulated and prompted condemnation. Cohen addressed the matter on his SiriusXM show, explicitly telling listeners that for an official statement they should contact E!, while nonetheless sharing his own take. He framed the development against Zarin’s longer association with the franchise, referencing a prior exit tied to season four in his retelling.
On air, Cohen described his reaction to a Zarin Fabrics Instagram image that superimposed a large red X over Jill Zarin’s face. He said he found that image persistently memorable and emblematic of how reputations can unravel. Cohen also recounted a recent, smaller anecdote: he said Zarin had contacted him about a reunion set that had unsatisfactory rugs and suggested that he should source rugs from Zarin Fabrics. He used the contrast between that ordinary interaction and the later social-media image to underscore the suddenness of the fallout.
Cohen’s comments mixed reportage and personal observation rather than adding new factual claims about E!’s internal deliberations. He repeatedly directed listeners to E! for further explanation of the network’s decision, underlining that his remarks were secondhand and based on what he had been told or observed. The firing and accompanying social responses played out across social platforms and entertainment-news outlets in real time, limiting the window for formal statements from all parties involved.
Analysis & Implications
The Zarin episode illustrates how fast reputational consequences can move in the era of social media and high-profile live events. Networks face increased pressure to act quickly when talent comments generate public backlash, balancing contractual obligations with brand protection. For E!, removing a member of a reboot within roughly a week of an announcement reflects a low tolerance for public controversies that risk alienating viewers or advertisers.
For talent and affiliated brands, the incident highlights the porous boundary between personal remarks and corporate identity. Zarin Fabrics’ decision to post an image distancing the company from Jill Zarin—if confirmed to be deliberate—shows how family or legacy brands can take protective measures that amplify the public consequences. That dynamic can accelerate reputational harm beyond the individual and into business relationships.
At the franchise level, producers must weigh the benefits of familiar faces against the potential for renewed controversies tied to past behavior or newly surfaced remarks. The Housewives franchise has a track record of casting figures whose personal conflicts drive audience interest, but networks and sponsors now increasingly intervene when rhetoric crosses certain lines, especially on matters of race and public performance.
Comparison & Data
| Event | Timing / Note |
|---|---|
| Reboot casting announced | Zarin listed among returnees; public announcement by E! |
| Removal from reboot | Reported roughly one week after casting announcement |
| Zarin Fabrics Instagram image | Posted after removal; showed a red X over Jill Zarin’s face, per Cohen |
| Cohen’s on-air remarks | Delivered on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live; he redirected further questions to E! |
The table lays out the publicly reported sequence: casting, public backlash, and rapid corrective action. While the cadence—from announcement to removal in about a week—is notable, public reporting has not established every internal step E! took before announcing the change. That gap leaves some operational details out of the public record.
Reactions & Quotes
Andy Cohen spoke about the incident on his SiriusXM program, offering both direction and commentary.
“If you want a further comment, call E!”
Andy Cohen / Andy Cohen Live (SiriusXM)
This remark signaled Cohen’s reluctance to speak for the network while he continued to describe what he witnessed and heard. He emphasized both the professional distance and his own surprise at how events played out.
“I will never get over the sight of the Zarin Fabrics Instagram account posting a picture of Jill with an X over her face.”
Andy Cohen / Andy Cohen Live (SiriusXM)
Cohen used that image as an emblem of the rapid reputational damage. The post—tied to a company associated with Zarin’s late husband—became a focal point in his telling of the sequence.
“I heard from her a few weeks ago about a reunion set that she said had terrible rugs and she was like, ‘You should get some rugs at Zarin Fabric.'”
Andy Cohen / Andy Cohen Live (SiriusXM)
Cohen shared the anecdote to illustrate how ordinary, even cordial, interactions can precede public crises. Outside of Cohen’s statements, no comprehensive official E! account or extended public comment from Zarin was present in coverage at the time of reporting.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the Zarin Fabrics Instagram post was authored by family members, corporate staff, or a third party has not been publicly verified.
- The precise internal timeline and deliberations at E! that led to Zarin’s removal have not been released by the network.
- Any direct, contemporaneous communication between Zarin and E! about the remarks and subsequent removal has not been made public.
Bottom Line
The episode underscores the speed at which reality-TV controversies can escalate and the limited appetite networks now show for allowing prolonged public debate over racially charged remarks by cast members. Andy Cohen’s on-air reflections framed the removal as both an expected network response and a moment of personal and public embarrassment for those involved, amplified by a striking social-media image from a family-linked account.
For producers, talent, and affiliated brands, the incident is a reminder that individual comments can trigger corporate consequences across media and commerce. Audiences and advertisers will continue to influence how networks manage personnel decisions; the most likely near-term outcome is more cautious vetting and faster, public-facing corrective steps when controversies arise.
Sources
- Vulture — news reporting on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM remarks and the Jill Zarin removal (entertainment journalism)