Bethenny Frankel is yet to speak on the tragic death of Dennis Shields.
As previously detailed, the 51-year old died last Friday morning in his Trump Tower apartment, allegedly of an accidental Oxycodone overdose.
Shields had often been featured and discussed on The Real Housewives of New York City due to his long-term, on-again/off-again relationship with Frankel, arguably the most successful and best-known star in this entire Bravo franchise.
In fact, Frankel had only just talked about her romance with Shields on the last new installment that aired, telling Dorinda Medley that she was planning to take a 90-day break from the relationship.
But that episode was filmed many months ago.
According to Radar Online, Frankel and Shields were actually in a fairly positive place not long before the latter passed away.
So positive, in fact, that Shields was planning to propose to Frankel during the final dinner date they would ever have.
“He bought a ring and took her to dinner to feel her out and it became obvious to him that she’d never marry him and it left Dennis heart broken,” an insider tells Radar, elaborating about what transpired as follows:
“Bethenny could sense that he was going to ask her to marry him and it pushed her away. So he never took it out to propose but that was his purpose.”
Wow.
That really puts things in perspective, huh?
Frankel and Shields actually met over 30 years ago.
They remained in touch and starting dating in 2016, not long after Shields split from his wife and three years after Bethenny broke up with husband Jason Hoppy.
It’s not shocking, to anyone familiar with this up-and-down relationship, that Shields could see a serious future with Frankel, while she maintain major doubts over the years.
This doesn’t mean she didn’t feel very strongly about Shields, of course.
“He was hoping the time was finally right, but just as he got his hopes up he was shot down again, and that would be the last time sadly,” Radar writes of the aforementioned meal.
As we said, Bethenny has not yet commented on his passing.
However, Dennis was still legally married to his estranged wife, Jill, saying:
“We are all heartbroken. Dennis was, and will always be, the love of my life. His spirit lives on in our children. Please respect our family’s privacy at this time.”
She also Tweeted:
“Even though we did not live together, you still remained my nest friend and my husband. Not many people were able to grasp our situation but it worked for us.”
Finally, Carole Radziwill, Frankel’s former friend and occasional foil, expressed her shock and sadness on social media via the following message:
I just heard the sad news about Dennis. He was a good man. My condolences to all his family and friends. So tragic.
We send our condolences to Frankel and to anyone who knew Dennis Shields well.
May he rest in peace.