Real Housewives of New York City star Luann de Lesseps has a message for her haters: Be cool. Don't be all uncool. It's one of her most famous lines from the reality show, and it certainly applied when the reality star responded to commenters dragging her latest Instagram post. On April 21, de Lesseps posted photos of herself wearing a bikini at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles. In one photo, the 57-year-old is wearing a blazer over her pink and white bikini, and in the other, she's sans blazer and leaning against a stove. The reality star captioned the post "What's cooking?" along with a smiley face in sunglasses emoji and tagged the hotel.
Not every reply de Lesseps received on the post was positive. Some commenters accused her of being "too old" to be wearing a bikini or that it was "not classy" to be sharing photos of herself in it online. The TV star was quick to call out the age and body shamers. Read on to find out more.
READ THIS NEXT: Baywatch Star Slams Critics Who Say She's "Too Old" for Bikini Pics.
Followers accused her of seeking attention.
De Lesseps received a lot of compliments on her original post, but she also received a lot of hate. Some people took offense to de Lesseps wearing a bikini, with several commenting negatively on her age.
"Really, where is class," one follower wrote. Another posted, "You are a lovely woman, but a lady would not do this." Someone else sad, "Why is she always half naked in her photos? Luann, its not classy."
"You look wonderful but why? This makes you look like you need attention for wrong reasons," another commenter wrote. They then referenced one of de Lesseps songs, adding, "Money can’t buy you class."
Someone posted, "barbie body with grandma face. i cannot," while another person said, "So old 😂😂😂."
De Lesseps hit back in a video.
On April 25, de Lesseps posted a video of herself alongside the original post and a comment that reads, "Way too old boo!!!!!!!!"
"I'm proud of the fact that I can still rock a bikini at this age," she says in the clip. "Women should be able to wear whatever they want at any age as long as they feel good. So be cool, don't be, like, all uncool."
In the caption, she wrote, "Haters gonna hate boo! 🙄🤸🏽♂️."
For more celebrity news delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
She received an outpouring of support.
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for NYFW: The ShowsOn her video post, de Lesseps received many supportive comments from fans and also from other Real Housewives stars.
Real Housewives of Miami's Marysol Patton wrote, "Totally Lu you look better thank a-lot of 20 year olds." Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Sutton Stracke wrote, "Too old for what? I’m confused?" Phaedra Parks from The Real Housewives of Atlanta wrote, "She’s mad mad because you’re extra fine fine 🔥🔥."
De Lesseps' former RHONY co-star Kristen Taekman posted, "You are absolutely stunning !!! 😍." Fashion designer and star of the upcoming RHONY reboot Jenna Lyons wrote, "you look stunning- she is just jealous- not a good look."
Kara Alloway from The Real Housewives of Toronto posted, "Same. And love this stand on ageism. It's only directed at women - have you ever heard someone say 'HE's too old for a bare chest'? NOPE."
She plans to keep putting herself "out there."
Debby Wong / ShutterstockThis is far from the first time de Lesseps has posted photos of herself in a bikini—she just happened to respond to haters this time around. Recently, she's posted photos of herself on the beach in Mexico and on a boat. In a video montage of herself in a pool and at the beach, she added the caption, "Now I just need a hot date! 🤭"
In 2019, de Lesseps spoke to Parade about becoming more free with her image after she showed a more conservative version of herself on early seasons of RHONY.
“Years ago I had a husband to protect, children to protect, they were still not grown. Now they’re adults," she said. "So, yeah, I think you can see that I'm more open with myself because I can be, because I am by myself now, I put myself out there and I have been more transparent. I look a lot more vulnerable and I think people can relate to that."
