A Decade Later, the Drama Continues! A Timeline of Rachel Zoe and Brad Goreski’s Feud

Credit: Spg/Shutterstock

A Decade Later, the Drama Continues! A Timeline of Rachel Zoe and Brad Goreski’s Feud

2011 called … and said “you’re welcome” for reminding Us of the juicy drama between Rachel Zoe and Brad Goreski (as if we’d ever forget). In July 2021, fans were intrigued to find that the feud between the stylists — which started over a decade ago — is still going on. But for those who weren’t around at the height of the drama (or who may want to refresh their memory), we’re happy to start at the beginning. Once upon a time, stylist Zoe found herself with an expanded fan base after the September 2008 release of her Bravo reality show, The Rachel Zoe Project. The series, which ran for five seasons, followed the fashion expert as she dressed some of the brightest stars all the while balancing her personal life. Another fan-favorite character on the show? Goreski, Zoe’s beloved assistant who showed some major styling chops of his own. While viewers loved watching the close coworkers’ dynamic, their work relationship came to an end in September 2010 when Goreski announced he was leaving Zoe's company to begin his own styling career. While the duo alleged that everything was fine between them in separate statements, rumors began to swirl that they’d been in a tiff since a profile on the Canada native was published in The New York Times earlier that month. In the piece, Goreski was dubbed The Rachel Zoe Project’s “breakout personality.” The story later mentioned that she’d tried to give him a makeover during an episode “with limited success.” [jwplayer kt8kgOwq-l3ahXupL] While the Canada’s Drag Race judge was given a show of his own, It’s a Brad Brad World, in March 2011, Zoe began slamming her former coworker in her own series. According to the designer, the former assistant told her and her husband, Rodger Berman, that he wanted to have a life outside of fashion. “[Within a week of leaving, he] started [to] pursue our clients, started going to all these events, and doing all the things he said he had no interest in,” she said during a September 2011 episode. “It’s not the first time I’ve been used. I would say it’s going to be the last time, though.” The duo’s drama continued for years — through fashion show snubs, new projects and many talk show appearances. In July 2021, it was reignited when Andy Cohen asked Zoe about Goreski during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. After fellow guest Mindy Kaling asked for some juice on the situation, Cohen gave a short explanation. “Well, The Rachel Zoe Project, you need to binge it,” he told the Never Have I Ever creator. “It’s someone who used to work for her and then they kind of had a falling out.” Scroll down to see the full timeline of the drama: [podcast_block]

Credit: Spg/Shutterstock

A Decade Later, the Drama Continues! A Timeline of Rachel Zoe and Brad Goreski’s Feud

2011 called … and said “you’re welcome” for reminding Us of the juicy drama between Rachel Zoe and Brad Goreski (as if we’d ever forget). In July 2021, fans were intrigued to find that the feud between the stylists — which started over a decade ago — is still going on. But for those who weren’t around at the height of the drama (or who may want to refresh their memory), we’re happy to start at the beginning. Once upon a time, stylist Zoe found herself with an expanded fan base after the September 2008 release of her Bravo reality show, The Rachel Zoe Project. The series, which ran for five seasons, followed the fashion expert as she dressed some of the brightest stars all the while balancing her personal life. Another fan-favorite character on the show? Goreski, Zoe’s beloved assistant who showed some major styling chops of his own. While viewers loved watching the close coworkers’ dynamic, their work relationship came to an end in September 2010 when Goreski announced he was leaving Zoe's company to begin his own styling career. While the duo alleged that everything was fine between them in separate statements, rumors began to swirl that they’d been in a tiff since a profile on the Canada native was published in The New York Times earlier that month. In the piece, Goreski was dubbed The Rachel Zoe Project’s “breakout personality.” The story later mentioned that she’d tried to give him a makeover during an episode “with limited success.” [jwplayer kt8kgOwq-l3ahXupL] While the Canada’s Drag Race judge was given a show of his own, It’s a Brad Brad World, in March 2011, Zoe began slamming her former coworker in her own series. According to the designer, the former assistant told her and her husband, Rodger Berman, that he wanted to have a life outside of fashion. “[Within a week of leaving, he] started [to] pursue our clients, started going to all these events, and doing all the things he said he had no interest in,” she said during a September 2011 episode. “It’s not the first time I’ve been used. I would say it’s going to be the last time, though.” The duo’s drama continued for years — through fashion show snubs, new projects and many talk show appearances. In July 2021, it was reignited when Andy Cohen asked Zoe about Goreski during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. After fellow guest Mindy Kaling asked for some juice on the situation, Cohen gave a short explanation. “Well, The Rachel Zoe Project, you need to binge it,” he told the Never Have I Ever creator. “It’s someone who used to work for her and then they kind of had a falling out.” Scroll down to see the full timeline of the drama: [podcast_block]

Credit: Gregory Pace/BEI/Shutterstock

2000s

Goreski began working as Zoe’s assistant. Their close friendship was documented on The Rachel Zoe Project, which premiered in September 2008. 

Credit: Spg/Shutterstock

September 2010

The trouble began when Goreski left Rachel Zoe Inc. to start his own career. While the duo announced their amicable split — set to take place at the start of October 2010 — with raving statements about each other, rumors swirled that the real reason for the professional breakup was a New York Times profile about Goreski. At the time, word on the street was that Zoe was upset about her assistant had been given the spotlight.

Credit: Dan Steinberg/AP/Shutterstock

March 2011

It was announced that Goreski had been given his own Bravo show, It's a Brad Brad World. “Dream come true!!” the stylist tweeted at the time.

Credit: Amanda Schwab/Starpix/Shutterstock

September 2011

Zoe said she felt “used” by Goreski during an episode of her show. “[Within a week of leaving, he] started [to] pursue our clients, started going to all these events, and doing all the things he said he had no interest in,” she added.

In a separate episode, she'd alleged that Goreski tried to steal her clients.

Credit: Amanda Schwab/Starpix/Shutterstock

December 2011

Goreski responded to Zoe’s onscreen comments during an interview with The Daily Beast.

“I think it’s unfortunate that she decided to take the angle that she did because it’s not the truth,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that all of the time that I spent with her, and the many lengthy conversations that we had discussing my departure from working with her, that she would choose to character assassinate me on television.”

During his interview, the former Fashion Police host said that he gave Zoe ample notice before leaving the company. He also noted that he trained his replacement and stayed a bit longer than he’d hoped to complete a job.

“I just think it’s unfortunate that she feels so competitive with me in a way,” he added. “Because I left to create a name for myself — not to ride on any of her coattails. She’s so incredibly successful, that a stylist starting out — I don’t know what kind of threat that is to her. Maybe she thinks I’m incredibly talented. Who knows.”

As for client stealing, Goreski denied the allegations.

“That’s not the truth,” he shared. “And she knows that’s not the truth. I didn’t even say goodbye to a lot of her clients because I didn’t want anything to be misconstrued as me soliciting anybody.” However, the paper did note that Goreski had styled Zoe’s client Demi Moore.

Following her former employee’s comments, a representative for Zoe sent a statement to The Daily Beast.

“Rachel and Rodger are amused by his convenient interpretation of events and have no additional comments,” their message read.

Credit: Gregory Pace/BEI/Shutterstock

January 2012

In a conversation with Us Weekly, Goreski opened up about how difficult it was to jumpstart his career when he was known for helping another.

“One of the biggest struggles in starting out on my own was developing a celebrity client base,” he shared. “People knew me as the assistant. People didn’t really know what my own style was or what my mark was going to be on the red carpet.”

That same month, his show premiered. Luckily for fans invested in the drama, he addressed the fallout with Zoe during an episode.

“We don’t speak to each other,” he said. “I would love to be able to speak with her. I think I have conducted myself with honesty, with dignity and with grace. And I will continue to do so no matter what is said about me.”

Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Rachel Zoe/Shutterstock

February 2012

Us exclusively reported that Zoe snubbed Goreski during a Marchesa fashion show. Before the show began, the reality star stopped to give a quick hug to someone in the front row. However, she refused to acknowledge Goreski, who was sitting right next to the friend.

"He kept staring at her thinking that she would say something to him, but she turned her back on him as she was speaking to the woman and then walked off," a source told Us at the time. "Brad seemed really miffed by the whole thing.”

Credit: Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

March 2012

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Zoe said that she would never watch Goreski’s reality show.

"I won't ever see it … I don't think it even matters enough to me, to be honest,” she said.

That same month, the former Vogue staffer released a memoir, Born to Be Brad. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly to promote the book, he talked about why he took the high road when discussing his former boss in its pages.

“I really wanted to celebrate that time that I worked with her because it was so amazing. It was such an incredible period in my life,” he said. “I loved being around her and when it was time for me to leave, it was done. For me at least, there’s no drama. There’s nothing left there, and I still feel the same way even after almost a year and a half of being out on my own.”

Credit: MediaPunch/Shutterstock

2013-2015

During various appearances on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, the former friends discussed their relationship (separately, of course). In March 2013, Goreski noted that “[his] door is always open” when it came to reconnecting with his old boss.

“My phone is available to her if she ever wants to speak again. I'm here," he said. "But at the moment, that's not her choice. I was happy to be her assistant, and I'm now happy to be on my own.”

One year later, Zoe said that — while she didn’t regularly talk to Goreski — she would give “greetings” when she saw him around. “Like, 'Hey, have a nice day,’” she added.

After another year passed, Brad shared a similar story.

"I still adore Rachel," he said in January 2015. "I'm so pleased for her and her clothing line and her kids and her family, and I wish her all the best and continued success."

Credit: Sara Jaye Weiss/Shutterstock

July 2021

More than a decade after their falling out, Zoe discussed the drama during another appearance on WWHL.

In the episode, Cohen asked Zoe the “No.1 question” people what to know about her. “It’s the same as the No. 1 question every time Brad comes on the show,” the Real Housewives franchise host said. “How is your relationship?” 

While she was questioned, Zoe shook her head repeatedly, causing Cohen to ask her if it was “uncomfortable” to run into her old friend at fashion events.

"I don’t see him,” she responded. Later, she added that, “People should be professional. They should.”