Kelly Bensimon Spills Truth About Infamous ‘Scary Island’ RHONY Trip

Kelly Bensimon is looking back on one of reality television’s most memorable moments, sharing her candid thoughts about Season 3’s infamous “Scary Island” trip that became a defining moment in “Real Housewives” history.

Fifteen years after the legendary St. John vacation that entertained Bravo viewers worldwide, the former “Real Housewives of New York City” star opened up about her experience during what many consider the greatest and wildest Housewives trip of all time. Despite the drama that unfolded, Bensimon maintains a balanced perspective on the experience that changed reality television forever.

Missing Out on the Fun

Speaking exclusively with Us Weekly at iHeartRadio and Vrbo’s Pickleball Tournament in Lake Tahoe, California, Bensimon expressed disappointment about how the trip unfolded for her personally. “I didn’t get to do anything fun,” the 57-year-old shared. “I didn’t get to get drunk. I didn’t get to roll around in the leaves or the bushes. I didn’t get to meet the pirate. I didn’t get to have any fun.”

The former model’s frustration with the experience was evident as she described feeling excluded from the vacation’s more enjoyable moments. “All I got to do was, like, eat jelly beans and get yelled at. Like, that is not fair,” she continued.

The 2010 St. John getaway became legendary for its dramatic confrontations, particularly the heated exchanges between Bensimon and her castmates, including Ramona Singer, Alex McCord, and Sonja Morgan. The trip reached its climax when Bethenny Frankel famously shouted at Bensimon to “Go to sleep!” during a particularly intense moment that has since become iconic in Housewives lore.

The pressure of the situation became so overwhelming that Bensimon considered leaving the show entirely. “I called my agent right when we were on the boat,” she recalled. “I said to him, ‘This is where we’re done here. This is not going my way. There are things that are happening that are organized and I am going to be this villain for no reason.'”

Professional Gratitude Despite the Drama

Despite the challenging experience, Bensimon tried to maintain her professionalism by keeping positive relationships with her castmates and crew. The Douglas Elliman real estate agent revealed that she sent thank-you cards to everyone involved after returning to New York.

“I always send a thank you note,” she explained to Us Weekly. “It’s important because it’s our job. We’re working, and I just want to say thank you. I appreciate what we do together, and the fans may see it a different way, but for me, I work really hard and I take it really seriously, and I make a concerted effort to be present.”

Bensimon’s positive attitude toward her “Housewives” experience remains strong despite the controversial moments. “I really loved my time on Housewives,” she shared.

When asked to sum up the legendary vacation in just a few words, Bensimon chose a memorable alliterative description: “Ferocious, feisty and fantastic. I was running in this gorgeous dress with jelly beans.”