New 'RHONY' Star Rebecca Minkoff's Long History With Scientology, Explained

We're just two episodes into the newest iteration of The Real Housewives of New York and fashion icon Rebecca Minkoff's connection to the Church of Scientology is already raising eyebrows.

From the moment Minkoff was cast on RHONY Season 15, fans wondered how much she would divulge about Hollywood's buzziest religion and how her co-stars would tackle the touchy topic. Producers wasted no time giving fans answers as the women jumped on their Minkoff's religion in the second episode of the season.

Here's everything we know about Rebecca Minkoff and her relationship with the Church of Scientology.

Does Rebecca Minkoff have ties to the Church of Scientology?

Yes, Minkoff has ties to Scientology, becoming the first Real Housewife in franchise history to identify as a Scientologist. Minkoff was raised in both the Jewish faith and Scientology, Page Six reported.

Related: Wait...Is 'RHONY' Star Jenna Lyons Secretly Married?

How involved Is Rebecca Minkoff's family with the Church of Scientology?

According to Daily Mail, the Minkoffs are "one of the most powerful families in the Church of Scientology." Citing a 2019 church publication, The Underground Bunker website said Minkoff's family, led by her parents David and Sue Minkoff, had donated at least $5 million to the church.

Is Rebecca Minkoff friends with Danny Masterson?

Rebecca Minkoff was at one point friends with fellow Scientologist and now-disgraced actor Danny Masterson. In her defense, many high-profile stars were friends with the That '70s Show star before he was convicted of two counts of rape in May 2023. He is currently serving a 30-year sentence at California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo.

Has Rebecca Minkoff addressed her ties to Scientology before?

Yes, Minkoff has discussed Scientology many times. In 2021, she told The New York Times, "there’s a lot of confusion" around her religion. "Immediately you hear that I pray to L. Ron Hubbard,” she said, addressing her identifying as both Jewish and a Scientologist. “I study it, I take classes and that’s the extent of it, and it’s helped me stay centered. I don’t have all the answers. When I needed someone, it was a place for me to go get some answers.”

Speaking to the attention brought to her faith after joining RHONY, she told Page Six that Scientology has helped her "weather a lot of stress. That’s what I use it for. It’s a method I apply to help me with stress.”

Related: Christian Siriano Names the Only Real Housewife Who Actually Pays for Her Own Clothes

What do the 'RHONY' women have to say about Rebecca Minkoff's relationship to Scientology?

On Episode 2, the women began to address the elephant in the room, when Brynn Whitfield asked Minkoff directly what she wanted the women to say in the press if they are asked about Minkoff's religion.

Minkoff said they should simply say "no comment," advice that received a mixed response. "If you’re like, ‘I don’t know what to say, here’s what someone asked me,’ come to me,” Minkoff added.

Whitfield pressed the hardest, explaining that she and Jessel Taank are publicists and that a "no comment" response "doesn't work." Minkoff then added, “I just tell people, ‘If you’re curious, read a book.’ That’s it.”

While Whitfield likened Minkoff's answer to "ChatGPT"-generated response in a confessional, Jenna Lyons had a more balanced take on Minkoff's approach. “Every single religion or organized religion has an extreme version of it, and if you only look at that, that’s not really a fair assessment," Lyons said.

Ubah Hassan said she has no opinions on the matter, Erin Lichy almost spilled some tea on John Travolta, before she backtracked and said she can't reveal what she knows. Still, the most skeptical within the group is by far Whitfield, who said at the end of the episode, "I feel like I’m talking to a door-to-door salesman or someone who’s trying to sell me snake oil.”

Will Rebecca Minkoff's relationship with the Church of Scientology be shown on The Real Housewives of New York?

Yes. The subject came up on Minkoff's second episode on the franchise, and it's very likely to come back up later this season.

Related: 'The Real Housewives of New York City' Announces Season 15 Cast