'Real Housewives of New York City' star Bethenny Frankel's on-off boyfriend found dead in Trump Tower
The on-again-off-again boyfriend of 'Real Housewives of New York City' star Bethenny Frankel was found dead on Friday in Trump Tower in Manhattan.
According to Fox News, polices sources confirmed that a man was found dead in the midtown New York City tower, but they declined to reveal his identity or the cause of death. The medical examiner told the outlet that the man is Dennis Shields, 51, who has had a romance with the 'SkinnyGirl mogul since 2016.
The Medical Examiner's office is currently investigating Shields' cause of death. According to the New York Post, Shields, who was living at Trump Tower at the time of his death, asked his assistant to administer Narcan at 9 a.m. The Post reports he died of a suspected overdose and was proclaimed dead on arrival.
Frankel and Shields appeared together on Bravo's 'Real Housewives.' He was filmed with the popular cast member during the show's most recent season. Frankel most recently told Steve Harvey in May that she had a complicated relationship with Shields.
"I've been with someone on and off for years," she said. "It's like a partnership where if we’re not being teammates and it’s not working and one man is down, then the other man is down. We’re trying to really kind of be good partners and be good teammates and I think relationships oddly are — and this sounds cold — but a little bit like business. If both people aren’t happy about it but slightly uncomfortable and giving up something or giving in [to] something, it doesn’t work. So both partners have to say, 'All right, I’m in it for this.'"
“And I think we might be at that point, believe it or not,” Frankel added. “I haven’t said that to anyone yet.”
Frankel and Shields met in 1988 when he dated and eventually married one of the reality star's high school friends. Frankel and Shields reconnected in 2016 after the banker separated from his wife.
The 47-year-old star told People in May that she doesn't like to "get into" her love life in the press but she's not "hiding."
Frankel's "Real Housewives" co-star Sonja Morgan called the news of Shields' death" heartbreaking."
"Dennis is her rock," Morgan told Radar. "Dennis was important to her, and her daughter. Another tragedy in her life. I’m so sad for her...This saddens me to no end because it seems to be never-ending for her."
Late banker Dennis Shields’ wife has spoken out about his tragic death. In a statement to People, Jill Shields called Dennis the love her life.
“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 said.