RHONY’s Jessel Taank Announces Death of Family Member

Real Housewives of New York City” star Jessel Taank shared her grandmother has died at the age of 100.

The Real Housewives Of NY Put Their Expensive Taste To The Test

In a July 25 Instagram Story, Taank wrote that her “grandmother passed away before we landed in London.” Taank was born and raised in the United Kingdom.

“She lived 100 incredible years and was a force of nature.. [sic] a true testament to living life to its fullest.. [sic] with grace, dignity, & the purest of light,” continued Taank in the Instagram Story.

Jessel Taank Opened up About Being ‘a Daughter of an Immigrant’ in a September 2023 Interview

instagram/jesseltaank

During a September 2023 interview with TooFab, Taank mentioned that her parents, Kishor Taank and Nicky Taank, who are of Indian descent, immigrated from East Africa to the United Kingdom. She noted that her RHONY season 14 co-stars criticized comments she made about her family’s background.

“I really am very proud of my background, and I will always, as a daughter of an immigrant, share how or where my parents came from. Which is what I did, but it obviously didn’t resonate,” said Taank. “I will always start by that, because it informs my identity. It informs the color of my skin. We don’t have a straight lineage. We’re Indian but my parents are East African. And then I’m British, so it’s quite a dynamic.”

She explained that her parents left East Africa because of a “political uprise.”

“They were very happy in East Africa,” said Taank during her TooFab interview. “When all this turmoil started to happen, they were sort of forced to uproot their lives and come to England. And so I think that changed the course and trajectory of everything for them. They weren’t able to get an education, they had to sort of dive into their workforce. They had to support their families.”

She clarified that she did not intend to compare her family’s situation to how her co-stars Brynn Whitfield and Sai De Silva were raised. As fans are aware, Whitfield and De Silva were open about having difficult upbringings in RHONY season 14.

“[My parents] were very hard-working, middle class people. And I think that maybe when I was telling the story, that didn’t really resonate. Because Brynn and Sai, obviously, had a very different upbringing,” said Taank while speaking to TooFab.

“We were talking, we were laughing. We were talking about how my mum actually told me I should marry my husband. It was a cute story. So they purposely chose to cut to the point to where I was being a little diva. And that was my introduction to the world,” said Taank.

She stated that she was upset with how she was initially received by fans.

“I started reading the comments. I spiraled,” said Taank on the podcast episode.

The mother of two also stated that she felt “this pressure” to be seen in a positive light as she is the first person of Indian descent to star in a “Real Housewives’ franchise.

“I was getting comments like, ‘Well this is the girl they chose to represent us?’ And I was like, ‘Oh my god,” said Taank during the “It’s Me, Tinx” podcast episode.

The upcoming 15th season of RHONY does not yet have a release date.

Related Posts

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14 Reunion Watch Party Recap: Off the Rails

The Real Housewives of New Jersey series has arrived at its final destination, the Rails Steakhouse in Towaco, NJ. During the Season 14 Finale, this heavily divided cast gathered…

Austen Kroll Shares a New Look at His Bachelor Pad and Life as a “Plant Daddy”

The Southern Charm cast member also teased a possible addition to his Charleston home. Austen Kroll is a proud daddy… well, a “proud plant daddy,” that is. While watching the 2024…

Ashley Iaconetti Understands Bachelorette Jenn’s Ex Feeling ‘Desperation’ for Letting Her Go (Exclusive)

Ashley Iaconetti may be busy after welcoming her second baby with her husband, Jared Haibon, but she’s all caught up on The Bachelorette. The latest episode of the ABC reality dating show,…

Mackenzie Edwards undergoes cosmetic work to feel her ‘best confident self’ — See the Teen Mom alum’s results

Mackenzie shared video of herself undergoing a cosmetic makeover. Pic credit: @mackedwards95/Instagram New life, new look. Teen Mom alum Mackenzie Edwards is sporting a new and improved look amid…

Stаssі Sсһroeder Is Bасk іn tһe Reаlіty TV World

Stаssі Sсһroeder Is Bасk іn tһe Reаlіty TV World

After many years of viewers wanting Stassi Schroeder back on the reality TV screens, she has officially signed on with Hulu to have her docu-comedy series. She…

Brіаnа Culberson Refleсts on Neаr-Fаtаl “Medісаl Hell” Tһаt Almost Left Her Deаd, Admіts Sһe Wаs “Terrіbly Unһeаltһy” аs RHOC Alum Tаlks Heаlіng іn аn Emotіonаl Post

Brіаnа Culberson Refleсts on Neаr-Fаtаl “Medісаl Hell” Tһаt Almost Left Her Deаd, Admіts Sһe Wаs “Terrіbly Unһeаltһy” аs RHOC Alum Tаlks Heаlіng іn аn Emotіonаl Post

Briana Culberson was forced to defend herself on Instagram after feeling that someone had been less than supportive of the many life changes she’s made in an…