She’s looking forward to the future after a challenging few years.
And Luann De Lesseps is relieved to finally be off of a one-year probation sentence stemming from her drunken arrest at a hotel in Palm Beach, Florida on Christmas Eve in 2017.
The 54-year-old reality star exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that she ‘had gone too far’ with her drinking and is ready to move on from the lowest point in her life.
Looking to the future: Luann De Lesseps is relieved to finally be off of a one-year probation sentence stemming from her drunken arrest at a hotel in Palm Beach, Florida on Christmas Eve in 2017
She admitted that she’s ready to celebrate her freedom after ‘being reminded everyday of something that happened almost two years’ was almost unbearable.
‘The constant reminder is hard to get through,’ she said. ‘Getting through the pain and through the trauma … because it was very traumatic; It’s a relief.’
Luann was arrested for allegedly assaulting a cop nearly a year after her whirlwind marriage and divorce to now ex-husband Tom D’Agostino.
The Real Housewives of New York star struck a deal with the court in July 2018 and pleaded guilty to the charges of battery, trespassing and disorderly intoxication.
Tough: Luann was arrested for allegedly assaulting a cop nearly a year after her whirlwind marriage and divorce to now ex-husband Tom D’Agostino.
Grateful: Luann thanked her fans for their support through the trying time and asked her followers to ‘wish me luck’ on her journey
‘I learned that I was drinking to really self medicate and that I had gone too far and that, look, I didn’t react in a good way,’ she said. ‘I own it and I learned from it, and it was a life lesson.’
In exchange for her her plea, she was ordered to pay fines, perform 50 hours of community service and received one year of probation.
She failed an alcohol test in April and admitted to her probation officer that she had indulged in two mimosas before a cabaret show in Chicago — violations of the initial court order.
Luann was required to undergo weekly counseling sessions over the phone as well as in-person psychiatric meetings after failing to comply with court orders earlier this year, according to documents obtained by The Blast.
‘I learned that I was drinking to really self medicate and that I had gone too far and that, look, I didn’t react in a good way,’ she said. ‘I own it and I learned from it, and it was a life lesson’
She was facing up to two years in jail for the battery and trespassing charges in addition to another 60 days behind bars for the disorderly intoxication charge.
Another requirement of the new terms was for Luann to have a Soberlink breathalyzer monitor in her vehicle, but she’s focused on maintaining her sobriety.
‘I’ve been sober for 120 days and it’s been a while since I had a drink,’ she said. ‘So that’s the plan. We never know in life, so I take it one day at a time — just like anyone else does.’
She’s going to ‘continue with meetings and support’ from friends and family, and doesn’t have any immediate plans for her love life.
‘I just got through the most difficult time of my life and I feel like I can start dating again,’ she said. ‘I’m ready for the next chapter of my life. I like to learn from the past, but I don’t like to dwell from the past.’
Moving on: Filming recently resumed for season 12 of her hit Bravo show, and while she had a few spats with former co-star Bethenny Frankel, she harbors no ill-will about their ups and downs
Filming recently resumed for season 12 of her hit Bravo show, and while she had a few spats with former co-star Bethenny Frankel, she harbors no ill-will about their ups and downs.
‘I feel like we have a long history,’ the Money Can’t Buy You Class singer said. ‘We’ve been friends for a long time and I choose to remember the good times.’
She’s ready to focus on her newfound love of being on the stage with her cabaret show, a tour that’s garnered thousands of fans across the United States.
‘I want to leave this behind me so that I can continue with my cabaret show,’ she said. I’m booked through the holidays … through 2020. I’m also writing a book about my side of the story about what happened that night.’
Luann has been a staple on the Housewives since its first season aired on Bravo in March 2008, and the eleventh season of the hit program finished on July 25, 2019.
That’s showbiz, baby: She’s ready to focus on her newfound love of being on the stage with her cabaret show, a tour that’s garnered thousands of fans across the United States
