Drama on the 'Real Housewives of New York' set with stars holding out for more money

LuAnn de Lesseps, Carole Radziwill, Aviva Drescher, Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan and Heather Thomson from "The Real Housewives of New York." (Bravo)

There’s already drama behind the scenes of “The Real Housewives of New York,” which has begun filming its eighth season without three of the series’ stars who are holding out for more money.

Sources tell the New York Post that the holdouts — LuAnn de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan and Ramona Singer — are still negotiating new contracts since they want to get closer to the more than $1 million paycheck higher-paid co-star Bethenny Frankel is making.

But a source said the last-minute holding out “could work against them.” And if they don’t sign, Frankel has “a long list of friends” from which to suggest replacements on the show to Bravo.

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Skinnygirl cocktail mogul Frankel scored a reported $1 million payday to return to the Bravo franchise last season, which gave the show a much needed boost. But “the other women aren’t even close” in salary, a source close to the show told the newspaper.

As a result, “LuAnn, Sonja and Ramona have banded together [in holding out for more],” another source said. “They have not come to terms. The negotiations are always down to the last minute, but now the show’s started filming” with Bethenny,Dorinda Medley and Carole Radziwill. “The others are not filming because they have not signed their contracts.”

Another source added that it’s looking likely Lesseps will return to the show.

Bravo did not respond for comment.

Click here to read more in the New York Post.