The judge presiding over Bethenny Frankel‘s custody battle is accusing her ex-husband Jason Hoppy of exploiting the death of her late on-again, off-again boyfriend Dennis Shields.
After Hoppy asked Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Michael Katz to order the RHONY star to undergo drug testing following Shields’ suspected overdose, Katz denied the request.
Related: Bethenny Frankel Thanks Fans For Support After Dennis Shields’ Passing
The judge said in court:
“There was a tragedy which I think you’re trying to exploit to embarrass Ms. Frankel.”
In addition to Shields’ death, Hoppy’s lawyer, Robert Wallack, said the Skinnygirl founder “posted a video of herself on Instagram where she was clearly intoxicated and slurring her speech” last week.
Referencing the May 30th episode of her hit Bravo show, Wallack also said Frankel “appeared on TV passed out from mixing alcohol with Ambien,” adding:
“If this is what she’s putting out in public, we don’t know what she’s doing in private.”
However, Frankel’s attorney, Allan Mayefsky, DENIES his client has a substance abuse problem, explaining:
“She’s on television, she’s entertaining. It’s her livelihood to say, ‘I’m out with friends having a good time.”‘
The judge also thought it was sketchy that Hoppy made the drug testing request AFTER Frankel was granted a custody trial.
Though they originally agreed to share custody of 8-year-old daughter Bryn, Frankel made the legal move for full custody after Hoppy was charged with stalking her.
Their trial is set for March.
[Image via WENN.]
