Zarin on 'Housewives' Firing: 'It Felt Like My Funeral'

WENN

Former "Real Housewives of New York City" cast member Jill Zarin has confronted the show's executive producer Andy Cohen about his decision to fire her, confessing it felt like her funeral. Appearing on Cohen's "Watch What Happens Live" on Monday, the reality star took aim at the host, a Bravo exec, and blatantly asked, "Why was I fired?"

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He answered, "We discussed it many times that we were looking to shake the show up. The viewers were the ones that dictated they wanted something to change. The last reunion, I think you would agree, was incredibly toxic for everyone involved. When it was over, I think the viewers, producers, and Bravo said, 'What can we do to change it -- because if we bring it back as it is, we know that the relationships were probably not going to change (sic)." Zarin accepted his reasoning but revealed her dismissal from the docu-series was extremely disappointing. She confessed, "It felt like a death. It felt like my funeral. I was heartbroken."

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And now that the first season without Zarin has come to a close, time has helped her gain closure from the whole experience. She continued, "I think that the hardest thing was that when you fired me, you didn't let me say goodbye. I wanted to come on the show, and I wanted to talk to everyone (the fans). So I'm glad I'm here. And you know what, a year later, I'm better, I'm stronger." After the episode aired, Cohen took to Twitter to address the situation with Zarin, and wrote, "I can't think of another instance of a fired employee confronting the network abt (about) her dismissal. On camera."

"The Real Housewives of New York City" airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo.