Bethenny Frankel Ends St. Barths Trip Early Due to Infection, Friend's Death

Bethenny Frankel, the former star of "The Real Housewives of New York City," cut short her New Year's vacation in St. Barths after developing a bacterial infection on her face and receiving news of a close friend's death. The 55-year-old reality television personality left the French Caribbean island three days early on January 1, returning to her home in Florida with her 15-year-old daughter, Bryn Hoppy.

Frankel shared details of the ordeal in social media posts over the weekend, including an Instagram carousel on January 4 that featured photos from the trip alongside a close-up image of the red, bumpy rash that spread across her cheek and near her eye. She did not specify the cause of the infection but noted it forced her to seek treatment upon returning home. According to reports, she received a topical medication, and the rash has since cleared.

The trip, intended as a festive getaway with Bryn, whom she shares with ex-husband Jason Hoppy, took an emotional turn when Frankel learned of the suicide of her longtime friend and makeup artist, Jasen Kaplan. The 46-year-old Kaplan, a former contestant on the reality show "Finding Prince Charming," died in a New York City hospital...