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'Real Housewives' Amazon-gate: Alex McCord says Jill Zarin fights dirty
The Dish Rag was one of the first to report that "Real Housewives of New York City's" Jill Zarin and her associates had allegedly used fake names on Amazon.com to write positive reviews of her own book, "Secrets of a Jewish Mother," bash those who had written negative reviews and pan books written by her enemies on the show.Now, fellow New York City housewife, Alex McCord is weighing in on the controversy.
"I think that's kind of against the rules," McCord told The Boston Herald. "I think it's unethical. I think you don't review your own book and you also don't comment on other people's reviews."
In fact, her and husband Simon van Kempen's parenting memoir, "Little Kids, Big City," has apparently fallen victim to negative reviews, which fit the same pattern. McCord doesn't seem surprised, though, that her costar might have resorted to such methods.
"I will say that unfortunately," says McCord. "Jill does kind of have a history of this. Whenever she perceives a fight, she fights back pretty dirty and that's unfortunate."
Do you believe that Jill Zarin is behind Amazon-gate?
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Do I believe Jill Zarin is behind Amazongate??
UH YUP.
Seriously, what Alex said to Jill is RIDICULOUS... all of these women are basing their decisions on ASSUMPTIONS and it is a PITY that Bethanney and Jill can't make up... are we 12 years old???
The issue wasn't necessarily with Jill reviewing her own book, it was how far she took it, trashing negative reviews and so on. I mean, you don't want to be caught reviewing your book, right? That defeats the purpose, and yet she couldn't show restraint. She's shameless in her pursuit to "win," and instead of walking away, she keeps going, making it worse.
Jill Zarin writes the book about how one should behave and Jill Zarin herself is not able to follow her own advice. Shame.
Amazongate is about far more than writing one's own reviews. She called those who didn't like the book Antisemitists and said their pet should be taken from them. This from the Susan Saunders account which, unfortunately for Jill, was proven to have been created by Jill in 1991. It was from this account she also gave the Real Housewives DVD five stars and said that Jill Zarin was the best one on the show. She then created 15 fake 5 star reviews for her book which were deleted when it was uncovered to be Jill. THAT is Amazongate. While authors may sneak in a 5 star review, this was way more than that.
I love Alex! She is one of the shining stars in this series. She says what she belives and is a real person. The other women, LuAnn, Jill, Ramona & Kelly are too phony to describe! Bethany tried to be friends with witchy Jill...forget it!!! Jill's not worthy of true friends!
I was ready to go either way on Jill v. Bethenny... but threatening negative book reviewers pets? Boo Jill.
All you have to do is watch how Jill turns that ridiculous wide toothy smile on and off throughout the show and you know that she is a complete phony. What about her crying jags, Oh Please !!!!
This is standard operating procedure for writers and publishers. I am a public relations professional and I can tell you that writing positive reviews (and asking for endorsements) is always done. Attacks against your negative reviews is another tactic that is used. It is called damage control. If Alex McCord denies doing this, it is my opinion that she is lying. Frankly, her book needs all the good PR it can get!!! Note to Alex -- call family and friends--have them help you out with reviews! If you want straight forward reviews try the New York Times or other established media that typically reviews books. I have worked with several writers and I can verify that "member comments" are rarely unbiased.