Source: Bethenny Frankel’s Engagement Fake, Could Be Sued?
Bethenny Frankel’s professional life couldn’t be better with reports she has just landed her own spin-off reality show "The Skinny & the City" to apparently debut this fall (Bravo declined to comment), and personally things are looking pretty positive too with news she is engaged to "real estate bigwig" Jason Hoppy.
But could all the talk of dresses and diamonds actually be a PR stunt?
"The engagement is fake," said our inside snitch, adding that in "reality" Hoppy is a medical sales rep/personal trainer, not a "property guru."
In the United States, real estate licenses are issued by the state where a person does business. While Hoppy's address is in New York, Pop Tarts has learned that he is not licensed as a sales person or broker in NY.
A rep for Frankel did not respond for comment.
But Frankel's fiance's true profession may be the least of Frankel's worries. If her rumored new reality show does hit the airwaves, Frankel and her people could find themselves in a not-so-skinny legal situation.
Registered dietitian and author of "The F-Factor Diet" author Tanya Zuckerbrot also runs popular weight loss website www.skinnyandthecity.com, and is less-than-impressed with the name swipe.
"While I am obviously surprised by this news, I have always felt imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. That being said, we are taking the protection of our brand and trademark extremely seriously," Zuckerbrot told Tarts.
And according to insiders, HBO is very sensitive to any titles bearing even a passing resemblance to their own cult classic series "Sex & the City," something Sydney-based dating/relationships columnist Samantha Brett learned the hard way a couple of years ago. Pop Tarts has learned exclusively that Brett was forced to change the name of her "Sam and the City" column to "Ask Sam" www.smh.com.au/asksam and pull books with the same title off the shelves after her publication reached a settlement with HBO before the matter went to court.
A rep for HBO told Tarts that they will look into whether they will pursue legal action for copyright over the murmured "Skinny & the City" Bravo show, but as yet don’t have enough information.
Exclusive: Jane Fonda Inks Deal For New Workout DVDs
Between 1982 and 1995 Jane Fonda was Queen of the workout world with her fitness videos igniting the trend for sweat bands, lycra and leg warmers.
Pop Tarts have exclusively learned that last week Fonda signed on to a deal to re-release modernized versions of her famed aerobics DVDs with shooting set to commence in the coming weeks!
Pop Tarts Seen & Herd
Charlize Theron, Ashton Kutcher, Will Ferrell and Angela Bassett watching Chelsea FC face-off with Inter-Milan at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on Tuesday night.
Priscilla Presley dining with friends at the new BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood on Tuesday, marking her first public appearance since former son-in-law Michael Jackson died.
Tommy Mottola having business dinners at Monkey Bar in NYC on Tuesday and Wednesday nights to discuss his new partnership with Today Planet Cazmo, to host virtual concerts for teens and tweens.
90210’s Ryan Eggold arriving late with rumored new girlfriend Hayley Bennett to catch Chekhov plays featuring Svetlana Metkina at the Lee Strassberg Theatre in West Hollywood on Tuesday. Eggold seemed preoccupied throughout the performance as he kept shifting in his seat and playing with his hair, but Hayley would lovingly stroke his back to draw his attention back to the play.
Jesse McCartney ordering dinner for his girlfriend Jasmine at Whist in the Viceroy Santa Monica on Tuesday night with his girlfriend Jasmine after a hectic 35 show road trip in just six weeks.
Eva Longoria Parker meeting with Bobby Baldwin, CityCenter’s President and CEO; and Frank Visconti, President of Crystals at CityCenter in Vegas on Tuesday to discuss the highly anticipated December opening of her famed Hollywood restaurant and club, BESO Las Vegas.
Twilight New Moon star Taylor Lautner fueling up with a steak burrito for his late-night werewolf runs at Chipotle in Valencia on Wednesday with girlfriend Sara Hicks.
Rumer Willis smoking and talking about her upcoming role in CW's "90210" outside the Ken Paves hair salon in West Hollywood on Wednesday afternoon after having just dyed her hair bright blood red.
Selena Gomez celebrating her 17th Birthday on Wednesday by having CRUMBS Bake Shop cupcakes in Beverly Hills deliver tasty treats to her door.
Emmanuelle Chriqui, Malin Ackerman, "Real Housewives of New York" star Kelly Bensimon and Shannen Doherty celebrating the first-ever SVEDKA Vodka sessions an emerging artist concert series presented by Giant Step, at Private Park at NY's Hudson Hotel on Wednesday night.
Taryn Manning and brother Kellin celebrating the release of their new single from BOOMKAT at the Bacardi/MySpace Records bash in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday.
Jason Statham drinking with friends on the patio of the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills late on Wednesday night.
Steven Tyler noshing on chicken spring rolls while having dinner with some friends at Little Buddha inside the Palms Casino Resort on Wednesday night. He was spotted again partying with his girlfriend and daughter Mia at MGM's Studio 54 on Saturday night.
Jared Leto with all eyes on Dita Von Teese at the premiere of her "Be Cointreauversial" show at The Avalon in LA on Wednesday.
Shauna Sands donning stripper heels and drinking a Starbucks coffee on the street as she waited for her new toyboy outside The Crescent Hotel in Beverly Hills on Thursday morning.
David Beckham taking his sons on an outing at The Grove & The Farmers Market on Thursday afternoon.
Eliza Dushku, Anna Faris, Amber Valetta, Andy Samberg, Audrina Patridge, Olivia Wilde and Peter Facinelli of "Twilight" all escaping the heat and hanging out in the lobby of San Diego's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Thursday.
Adrian Grenier exercising his brain playing BUZZ! Quiz TV on PlayStation 3 at the launch of the Entourage Bungalow at W South Beach on Thursday.
Real Housewives of Orange County's, Gretchen Rossi teaching a workout class on the beach at the Silver Spoon Malibu Beach House on Thursday.
Reggie Bush & Entourage's new lady, Alexis Dziena partying with pals at Hollywood's Guys & Dolls on Thursday.
Gene Simmons flirting with staff at SyFy’s Café Diem at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on Thursday while Rumer Willis chilled at bar 207.
Mel Gibson, his son Tommy and two friends getting a private tour of BODIES… The Exhibition inside Luxor Hotel & Casino Thursday. Gibson asked several questions of his guide and also quizzed his son during the tour. It wasn’t all serious for the group, Gibson cracked several jokes along the way, even getting into a batter‘s stance using the tibia from the touch booth as a bat.
"Twilight" stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner sneaking out of the side door of Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on Thursday on opening day of San Diego’s star-studded Comic-Con festival.
Tim Burton sitting rooftop at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego with friends on Thursday night, happily posing for pics with excited fans.
Mena Suvari sipping Ketel One and feasting on the petit filet mignon at N9NE Steakhouse in Vegas with a party of ten on Thursday night. Across the dining room rock icon Slash celebrated his 44th birthday before continuing the bash upstairs at ghostbar.
Kellan Lutz attempting to keep a low profile while hanging out at the WIRED Cafe in San Diego on Friday, donning a brown/shaggy wig, a beanie, gloves and boots despite the 90 degree weather.
Rachel McAdams, star of "Sherlock Homes," signing autographs outside of Hard Rock Hotel San Diego Friday afternoon while in San Diego for Comic-Con.
Robert Downey Jr. grabbing lunch with friends at San Diego's Nobu on Friday.
Josh Lucas (sans rumored girlfriend Rachel McAdams) dining with friends at Montauk Yacht Club Gulf Coast Kitchen in the Hamptons on Saturday and scoring some serious female attention afterwards at Barracuda Bar's yachtside patio.
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