Luann de Lessepshas given her first interview since shechecked out of rehabearlier this month.
Sitting down withToday‘sMegyn Kellyon Tuesday, theReal Housewives of New York Citystar opened up about her recent relapse, which prompted her tocheck herself into an alcohol treatment facilityin July forthe second timein the past year.
“I wanted to change my life,” she explained to Kelly. “I wanted to move upstate New York and I found a beautiful home. I have this beautiful house in the Hamptons, as a lot of people know, and I wanted to sell that to get this property up there and the children weren’t happy about that because it’s their home and I understand that.”
“But I just wanted to move,” she continued. “I needed more privacy and a lot of people know where I am and I just needed a fresh start. But the kids were not happy with it and the ex-husband came to visit and he decided to block me and sue me. And I’m so nice, I let him stay at my house because we have a great relationship. And we still do. I mean, I understand why he did it because I was really going big up there, upstate, with a really big property. Since then, I’ve decided to take something smaller and keep my home for the children because I love them.”
Luann de Lesseps/Instagram
De Lesseps, 53, said she found out about the lawsuit in the press.
That night, de Lesseps admitted she “fell off the wagon.”
On July 16, PEOPLE exclusively broke the news that de Lesseps had checked into rehab. She left the facility a little under three weeks later, on Aug. 2, in time for herCountess and Friendscabaret dates.
“I have this whole new life,” she continued. “I go to AA meetings and I follow up with my treatment and I take it very seriously. I love meetings and I have a whole new family and a way of supporting myself.”
Reflecting on the experience, the Bravo star acknowledged that she can no longer drink socially.
“I can’t be like most normal people and have a glass or two of wine,” she said. “I’ll drink the whole bottle. … It just doesn’t work for me. I’m not wired that way.”
De Lesseps is particularly grateful for her successful cabaret show, which she said is “saving my life right now.”
“I get to do what I love to do,” she said.
RELATED VIDEO:Luann de LessepsSays Her Arrest Cost Her Friends and Boyfriends
De Lesseps firstchecked into rehabin December 2017 after she was arrested on Christmas Eve in Palm Beach and charged with disorderly intoxication, battery on an officer, resisting arrest with violence and threatening a public servant. (She recentlystruck a plea deal in the caseand will avoid jail time.)
She laterapologizedfor the incident, admitting that being back in Palm Beach for the first time since shetied the knot with Tom D’Agostino Jr.there beforedivorcing him seventh months laterhad “brought up long-buried emotions.”
The season finale of theReal Housewives of New York Cityairs Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
source: people.com
