AceShowbiz - Bethenny Frankel has slammed "irresponsible press" after she was reported to have broken up with her fiance Paul Bernon. The reality TV star shut down the hurting rumors which sparked after she was spotted without her engagement ring.

Making use of her social media account, the entrepreneur set things straight on her relationship status with Paul. "I didn't have to address rumors, but rumors hurt and affect other people, as does irresponsible press," she began in a series of clips posted on her Stories on Tuesday, December 21.

The 51-year-old continued, "I'm engaged to a wonderful man named Paul. We got engaged in February, and months later, I was swimming and had my ring on, and then it came out that we were engaged, 'cause we didn't make an announcement. We didn't feel that we wanted to announce being engaged."

Debunking the split rumors, Bethenny said, "We are engaged. I don't always wear my ring." She explained her missing ring in her previous social media post, "I don't have to always wear my ring. Sometimes I don't feel that it's safe. Sometimes my fingers swell or contract. But I'm doing me." The former "The Real Housewives of New York City" star then held up her diamond ring for all to see.

"It's my opinion that a relationship is about the two people in the relationship, the commitment and the feelings," she added. "Not about announcements, not about pomp and circumstance, not about jewelry. It's symbolism. And if I decide to wear an engagement toe ring, then so be it."

The breakup rumors first swirled after Bethenny shared a photo of herself posing next to her Christmas tree. Wearing a black Christmas sweater, she was seen not wearing her engagement ring.

Bethenny and Paul, whom she met on a dating app, began dating in the fall of 2018 after the death of her ex Dennis Shields. The couple got engaged in March.