‘RHOBH’ Star Amanda Frances Says She Feels “Misunderstood”: ‘They Made Assumptions’

Season 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was supposed to be newcomer Amanda Frances’s moment to shine. Instead, the female empowerment coach and bestselling author finds herself at the center of conflict, battling misconceptions, and feeling deeply misunderstood by her castmates.

In candid interviews following the airing of the season’s most dramatic episodes, Frances, 41, is opening up about the reality of joining one of reality TV’s most iconic franchises and the loneliness that came with it.

Frances pulled no punches when discussing her co-stars in a recent interview with OK! Magazine. “I think it’s pretty clear that there were a few women who didn’t take the time to get to know me at all,” she shared. “They made assumptions, didn’t ask questions, and treated me as though I was somehow less than them.”

For Frances, the lack of curiosity from certain cast members stung more than any on-screen conflict. “That says more about them than me,” she added. “I’m not someone who feels the need to chase understanding where there’s no interest in it”.

The tension has played out publicly throughout the season, most notably with Dorit Kemsley, who brought up Frances’ past involvement in a cult, a topic Frances says was never a secret but felt weaponized on camera.

Amid the isolation, one castmate stood out. Frances revealed that Kyle Richards was “the first person who genuinely took the time to get to know me”.

“She asked questions, she was warm, and she made me feel welcome early on,” Frances explained. “I appreciated that a lot, especially in an environment where not everyone is the same on and off camera, where things change quickly, and people can flip in a moment”.

As the season progressed, Frances also found connections with Kathy Hilton, Jennifer Tilly, and eventually Sutton Stracke. “In the end, Sutton became a friend to me,” she teased. “You’ll see”.

One of the season’s biggest storylines has been Dorit Kemsley’s revelation that Frances was once in a cult. The bombshell dropped during a lunch between Kemsley, Richards, and Bozoma Saint John, with Kemsley reading from a 2015 blog post Frances had written about leaving the group.

Frances, however, sees the moment differently. “It was never a secret,” she told Us Weekly. “Everyone in my audience, in my community, women in my courses, have known this story forever. So, when she’s pulling it up like its dirt, it’s very weird to me. Because it’s not dirt”.

In a January episode, Frances finally detailed her experience to Erika Jayne, explaining that she was involved in a controlling Christian youth group that escalated into what she considers a cult. “Before you know it, you’re isolated. You’re controlled. You’re cut off from people. You’re giving money to the church,” she said . After a year and a half, she found the strength to leave on October 31, 2008.

The midseason trailer released in February showed Frances at her breaking point. After being pressed about “the cult” during a tense dinner party, she fired back: “They’re trying to build a scam-artist case. What kind of woman does this to another woman?”.

The comment reflected Frances’ broader frustration with how her past and her business, a financial empowerment coaching brand, have been characterized by some castmates. Bozoma Saint John has been particularly skeptical, referring to Frances’ approach as “frou-frou mess” and questioning the legitimacy of her coaching.

Frances has defended her work, telling Us Weekly: “There’s a lot of online businesses. I create digital courses and online education, and that’s been my world. Self-help has always been around, and personal development has always been around”.

Perhaps the most painful moment of misunderstanding came during a dinner party at Rachel Zoe’s home, a night that coincided with the third anniversary of the death of Frances’ newborn son, Zion.

Unaware of the significance of the date, the cast engaged in conflict with Frances, leading to an emotional confrontation. “Zion died three years ago today and I am holding on by a thread,” Frances revealed at the table, only to have Kathy Hilton ask, “Is that your dog?”.

Frances later told Us Weekly that the experience “could have been bonding” if handled differently. “The woman was very committed and devoted to only talking to me if it could be a loud dinner table spectacle kind of thing,” she said of her ongoing tension with Kemsley.

Despite the on-screen drama, Frances says the reception from Bravo viewers has been largely positive. “As you know, Bravo fans can be very, very passionate, and very loud. But it’s actually mostly been really beautiful,” she told OK!

Her longtime audience has rallied behind her, with new viewers discovering her book Rich As F** and joining her Amanda Frances app. “That part has been really exciting for me,” she said.

As Season 15 continues, Frances remains focused on her truth, and unbothered by the noise. In a February 12 Instagram post, she declared: “What the trolls don’t realize, is when you talk THAT bad about me and I feel nothing other than pride for what I’ve created, I’m officially… unfuckwithable”.

“I’m only going to get bolder,” she added. “I’m only going to shine brighter. I’m only going to make my message more and more known. I’m just getting started. And I’m not going… anywhere”.