'RHONY' Stars Refuse to Film Until They Get the Same Pay as Bethenny Frankel

The Real Housewives of New York has begun the filming of season 8 without the appearance of three cast members who are refusing to film until their contracts are negotiated with the same pay as reality star, Bethenny Frankel.

A Page Six reports states reality stars LuAnn de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan and ­Ramona Singer are still trying to negotiate their contracts before they begin filming for season 8 of the show, which according to the site, has already started filming. Reportedly, the three NY housewives want their pay to reflect the same amount that the "Skinnygirl Cocktail' brand star, Frankel, is receiving, which is reportedly over $1 million.

Page Six says that the Housewives franchise offered Frankel over $1 million to return to the show last season to boost ratings. The three housewives who are still negotiating their contracts are no where close to that amount according to information relayed by a source.

The report stated that "if the women don't come to terms with their contract soon, they could ultimately be replaced by a few of Frankel's friends who would have no issue with joining the show. Frankel is close friends with the Bravo show creator, Andy Cohen, and she's ready to hand him a "long list of friends she can...find to replace them."

The delay in signing the contracts is not unusual according to a source who stated, "the negotiations are always down to the last minute, but now the show's started filming with [Frankel], Dorinda Medley and Carole Radziwill," any further delay from de Lesseps, Morgan and Singer, will only hurt them.

Frankel was, at first, uncertain on whether or not she would return to the show with everything she has going on. E Online reported in August how she was still deciding on whether or not to return for season 8. "I will only do it if I can do it if I can give it my all," she stated. "I have a lot of different things going on and I really want to make sure I could commit in the same way."

Frankel ultimately decided to return and according to Reality Tea, was in the finalizing stages of signing her contract back in September.

The "united front" between the last three to sign contracts are still up in the air but, according to Page Six, a source states that Lesseps is more than likely leaning toward signing her contract and returning for filming.

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RHONY