Carole Radziwill defends herself after being accused of using a ghostwriter

Real Housewives of New York star Carole Radziwill stepped up to defend herself following her co-star Aviva Drescher's claim that she used a ghostwriter for her bestselling novel, What Remains.

Radziwill, who's been a journalist for 28 years, told E! News that Drescher's declarations were completely false.

"Let's just say what Aviva calls ‘silly show drama' or whatever -- however she characterizes it -- the entire legal community calls slander," Radwiwill said. "So no, I wasn't happy to see that on television."

During Tuesday's episode of RHONY Drescher and Radziwill got into a heated argument about writing their memoirs. It all began with Drescher asking Radziwill for writing advice as she completes her first book, Leggy Blonde. But things took a turn for the unexpected when Drescher switched gears and hinted that the journalist might have used a ghostwriter to pen her bestselling novel.

The argument gave birth to the hashtag #BookGate in social media, with Radziwill herself using it to share her thoughts on the events of the day.

"Aviva is on a reality show, she got a book deal and she hired a ghostwriter. It's not that complicated. I do not use a ghostwriter. I never have. I think it's clear in the show that she has little understanding of publishing and very clear that she has little respect for single, working women", Radziwill said. "She doesn't know the difference between a writer, an editor and a ghostwriter...She has very little understanding and rightly so, it's not her profession. I don't know why she went on the show claiming to suddenly be a writer. Still, to this day, I don't understand that. I don't know what her problem was with me."

RHONY airs Tuesday at 9/8c on Bravo.

[Bravo] [E! News]