Real estate mogul Ryan Serhant has opened up on the dramatic firing of Jonathan Normolle in the Season 1 finale of Owning Manhattan.
Serhant sacked Normolle in the Netflix reality TV series, but recently denied the latter's claims he had orchestrated the firing himself.
In the final episode, Serhant confronted Normolle at New York's The Edge skyscraper, saying he was firing him for allegedly speaking badly about a colleague on the company's podcast, and also for potentially harming the business' reputation while showing a $10 million property.
Serhant spilled the beans on Page Six's "Virtual Reali-Tea" podcast, admitting it was "so awkward" to go through with the dismissal in such a public space.
"It wasn't my intent. I don't hire people with the intent to fire them," he began.
"I didn't hire any of the agents who are actual real estate agents who are actually at our company to intend to let them go. Like that is super uncomfortable," he continued, saying he was "sensitive" and doesn't "like confrontation."
"I just want everyone to be great and happy and let's just go to work," Serhant added. "The last thing I want to do is have to reprimand people based on behavior."
Serhant, who rose to fame on Bravo's Million Dollar Listing New York, said he felt a lot of responsibility as CEO of his eponymous real estate company and "Jonathan had just taken it three steps too far."
Newsweek contacted Normolle by social media for comment.
He described the need to chat to Normolle at the Edge building because it was the only place he could "track him down," and also addressed claims Normolle planned the firing himself.
I haven't publicly commented, and all I'll say is I don't fault anyone these days for trying to control their own narrative, but I think the facts tell a story and it's almost like the facts were on a global Netflix TV show," Serhant began, saying reality TV stars should not complain about the final edits of their shows making them look bad.
"I'm like, 'okay so don't say anything that'll make you sound like a jerk,' if you're normal, the edit is going to make you look normal."
When then pressed on whether there was any chance for Normolle to be brought back to the show, Serhant recounted an anecdote from his days as an actor on Broadway after he was fired from a role.
"I remember going to the executive producer and he's like, 'Hey listen, if the audience loves you he can always come back from the dead'. And that's what I'll say," Serhant concluded.
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