Did you watch “Flipping Out” this season?
Tuesday night was the cast reunion episode on Bravo TV. Jeff Lewis and Ryan Brown were at odds through most of the season of the hit reality show. Check out this clip of it to get an idea of how things went when they confronted each other about Jeff’s accusations that Ryan has been stealing business from him (hint: not well).
If you watch the show, then you know how sad it is that these former business partners and best friends are now at odds.
I’m inclined to believe that a lot of the problems stem from misunderstandings, and that Ryan didn’t intentionally do anything to hurt Jeff or his design business. Based on some comments I’ve seen around the blogosphere, however, I may be in the minority!
What’s your take on the situation?
(You can see photos of Ryan’s home–which comes with the $11,000 a month mortgage payment that Jeff refers to, here, and his website for Brown Design here. Bid on the painting of Jeff Lewis that hangs behind his desk at Jeff Lewis Design.)
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such a funny show – not sure if all the histrionics are really that interesting. Bravo’s stars tend to throw a lot of tantrums – LOL – love your blog – featured your Halloween posts today on Bloomacious Digs (http://bloomacious.org)
I kind of feel for both of these guys. I really doubt that Ryan had some master plan to intentionally hurt Jeff’s business. However, when things are not going well I think it is the natural thing to do for some people to point fingers. Jeff probably felt suspicious and then let it get the best of him. I feel bad that they lost their friendship over this. What is that saying… “never mix business with…
Shannon´s last blog ..Posh Porch Giveaway WINNER!
That’s quite a house and quite a mortgage!!
I think “Chardonnay” and “Hooters” are pretty funny!!
Flipping Out hasn’t been on up here in ages, so I have no idea what’s been going on with Jeff & Ryan. And I can’t watch the video you posted because it’s not available from my location. Where does it think I live, Jupiter?? Grrrrr….
Kelly
DesignTies´s last blog ..Happy autumn colours
Oh, I love this show, get happy when I see a new episode listed on Tivo…don’t know what that says about me! Didn’t see this interview…
Janell
Janell Beals´s last blog ..My To Do List
Kelly–
Try to watch it at BravoTV.com (http://www.bravotv.com/flipping-out). Maybe you’ll have more luck there? I know you need Adobe Flash or something, too. -Julia
No, I missed that.
I was reading your previous post…I don’t do a lot of Halloween decorating either.
I just start way early for Christmas, like Nov 1 st !
COZY KITCHEN BY THE SEA´s last blog ..Fairy Wands
Isn’t Jeff cumpulsively suspicious anyways???
linda@LimeintheCoconut´s last blog ..Fall in Florida…well… fall in my camera…
Love this show…not sure which way to lean as far as blame or no blame goes. I have to admit I feel the web site arguement is a little iffy.
Any way…my favoirite person to watch is Zoila!
Pat´s last blog ..LIBRARY BOOKS & LEFTOVERS
I’m not sure how to vote…but I will say this…I just did a search to see if I could find the webiste in question that Ryan created and Jeff felt was deceptive….the base design of the site is there, but it says that the site is currently unavailable. So, if Ryan didn’t have anything to hide….then why is the site down? I just find that suspicious.
It is very sad though. Forgiveness is a choice, and hopefully….they will one day both make that choice.
shannon´s last blog ..Gingham Birthday Brunch
Okay, it recorded, I watched. That’s sad…good friendships are hard to find.
Janell
Janell Beals´s last blog ..My To Do List
I think that Jeff is probably overreacting and if he has no proof he shouldnt be so mean about it. He always thinks people are out to get him and its sad to live like that. I do like the show though, so hope he can work it out, no need to lose a best friend over this misunderstanding
Courtney´s last blog ..Lazy Menu Planning!
I can see why Ryan wants to move to Santa Barbara.
It seemed to me Ryan didn’t totally know what was happening until the show aired.
Do you think there will be a Season 4 ?
I wonder what ALOT of people thought of what Jeff says about them. He really does say some inappropriate things. Although he is a Diva, he is very talented.
Ryan just seems to have a more even keel. He remained much calmer than Jeff. He felt falsely accused yet remained pretty calm considering.
Jeff is his own worst enemy. He demands apologies then he won’t accept them cause they weren’t sincere enough. What does he want people to do, kiss his feet ?
Ryan has Chloe & Dale to consider. Jeff has only himself.
Usually when someone is so angry, you can see it in the veins bulging in their neck, they’re telling the truth. Only they will ever know what happened. Nothing like two “divas” getting pissy though LOL
rue
rue´s last blog ..Getting back to normal
It’s obvious they’re both hurt over the loss of friendship. I do wish Ryan would explain his reasoning behind making sure that, when Jeff’s name is googled, links lead to Ryan’s website. He never addressed the “why’s” behind doing that. A reasonable, plausible explanation would put more weight in his corner (as far as I’m concerned).
Sher Miller´s last blog ..Prayer Requests and Gardening Tales
I don’t know how Ryan can say he wasn’t being deceptive. This summer, I went to http://www.flippingout.com and it went directly to Brown Designs. Anyone who input that address would be looking for Jeff, not Ryan.
Jeff simply had no valid proof. Yes, he poured through the site and search engines, but as we all know the web is set up a certain way, and if we don’t know how things work we are at it’s mercy.
It may have been without Ryan’s knowledge that things were set up this way. It may fall on the person that set up the site in the first place and Ryan was unaware that it was done. Jeff should have asked him if he had knowledge of it before trying to build a case against him.
Ryan could sue him for publicly defacing him. Jeff needs to bit those big lips sometimes.
Glenda´s last blog ..What I’ve Been Up To
Aaah! I missed both parts of their “non-reunion” and it sure looks like they will not be reuniting, doesn’t it. Thanks for the clip! I’ll scrounge up the rest of the show later. I think it was a cheap shot for Ryan to say that reasonable people contact him while people who want “this” (as he points to angry Jeff) will contact Lewis. Just because Ryan’s able to sit there and calmly deny everything while Jeff gets upset and demonstrative doesn’t make Ryan better or right. LOVE the show, LOVE the Lewis, love how much Jeff loves Chloe and Jeni and Zoila. Love how amused he was by Trace this season. Sure he’s nuts, but he works hard, he wants things done right and deep down inside his inappropriate, cold-hearted, OCD exterior, I think he’s probably a pretty decent guy.
Tracy´s last blog ..Unexpected Warmth
Wow, I must really be missing out…I didn’t know a thing about this show…but you’ve got me so intrigued I’m going to have to watch an episode….or two! Big smile!
I’m very intrigued!
Blessings,
Debbie
Debbie´s last blog ..Decoupage Halloween Style-Tutorial!
Always loved Ryan’s house . . . . We think Jeff was right!
CelebrityDigsHQ´s last blog ..Dorothy Dandridge’s Former Home Up For Sale
I LOVE this show, and I think Ryan is a shady character (although I have not seen the reunion show yet, so maybe that will change my mind). Can’t get enough of Jeff, Jenni, Zoila, and all the others.
micah´s last blog ..Fall Foliage
Love this show. I really did feel that Ryan took advantage of Jeff. If he would just admit his wrong doing and apologize I’m sure Jeff would forgive. It’s sad really. They were like a family.
Becky @ Farmgirl Paints´s last blog ..Gaining focus
It all sounds suspicious to me. The phonecalls, website redirecting to Ryan and why has Ryan taken down the website?
It’s really to bad that Ryan didn’t have enough respect for Jeff to be truthful to him. Obviously, Ryan was trying to break away and make as much money as possible on his own. I think Ryan let it slip when he said his family was living on a “single income”.
After that statement he seemed to be very self centered and only concerned about “his” income. His facial expresion even changed. It’s time for him to move on.
I haven’t seen this show, but I loved the striped vases in the background of their interview.
Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..Why I {Heart} Blogging
Don’t watch this or any “reality” shows. Try to steer clear of this type of drama… Being a complete novice to these shows, I wonder how much of this type of stuff is done for ratings and getting people hooked on them. To each his/her own…
well i;m always happy to watch a show about home decor etc, but this one has way too much chit chat for me!
Annie@A View on Design´s last blog ..Walk to Parliament House from home…
We love that show! Jenny is hilarious and needs her own show! Her gecko rap was toooo funny!
On the show Jeff never really told Ryan exactly what his issues were. If he did they didn’t show it. So I don’t know if this is the first time that Ryan is hearing it or not. It’s just sad and I hope they’re able to work things out.
Manuela
I’ve never seen the show and I always wish I could when I come here!! haha
(But I do remember that Jeff made an appearance on Top Design & wasn’t particularly very nice to Eddie… so I can’t weigh in on this one but I do remember being a bit shocked by him/ his behavior.)
xoox,
lauren
ps- just visted Brown Design- AMAZING!!!
Lauren Liess´s last blog ..Pronunciation of Design Terms
In one point in the interview it was stated Jeff didn’t have a website until about a year ago. It seems Ryan wasn’t going to let that opportunity to exploit/use/take advantage of Jeff’s name slip by. If it wasn’t with Jeff’s permission, it’s a smarmy move, even under the guise of helping Jeff. Ryan’s telling comment is when he says when they call me they want me. If Jeff didn’t have a website, and links were set up to funnel people to Ryan’s, any call should have been shared. Ryan’s work may be great, but he wouldn’t have as much of it if he wasn’t on Jeff’s show. I see Ryan as intelligent, cunning and opportunistic, at least how he was portrayed on tv. A few episodes ago where Ryan bragged about taking a client from Jeff because he didn’t return a phone call quick enough wasn’t very nice. If he was a friend he would have at least split it, if not put her on hold and and transfer her back to Jeff.
I agree with BungalowBILL 10.29.09 at 7:07 am
When Ryan took that client right out from under Jeff’s feet, I thought to myself that that is NOT a true friend. I true friend/partner would have said something like, “I’m sorry, Jeff is very busy but I will take your info and give him a call and have him call you back today.” or he could have said just taken her info and called Jeff and said, “Hey this client called our office and she’s a little upset that you haven’t called her back. You might want to give her a call today.” I mean at least give Jeff the opportunity to speak with the client. What a jerk!
I have watched the falling out between Jeff and Ryan with interest. These two are ex-lovers and business partners. One is doing well–with an adorable daughter and in a stable relationship and his business is growing–and the other one has seen his house flipping business dry up and is trying to get into more client work. His personality is not well suited to this. He clearly alienates some clients with his abrasive personality. Instead of confronting Ryan in private, he airs all his suspicions on a TV show. Not a good way to keep friends but probably good for ratings.
I think Jeff Lewis is an emotional train wreck–fun to watch but treats him employees very badly. He seems like the type of guy who is creative and brilliant but will eventually end up alienating everyone because he is paranoid, suspicious, and mean. Anyone who goes around thinking up “punishments” for his employees is basically unhinged in my book.
It’s hard for me to imagine that clients looking for Jeff Lewis would be confused by being directed to a website. The guy has his own reality show now.
I also like Ryan’s portfolio of designs better. If Ryan did anything bad, it was probably an error of omission and Jeff is just too egotistical and self-absorbed to look at the bigger picture.
Having said all that, Santa Barbara is a really boring place to live. I can’t imagine why anyone under 75 would want to move there. Ryan should cut Jeff out of his life but stay in L.A. and I hope Chloe gets a baby brother some day.
Such a great show! I have to be with Jeff on this one… I’m not a Jeff groupie, a lot of his behaviors, humor, etc are strange and rude, but I gotta give it to him that Ryan had something shady going on. After all, Jeff knows the man better than anyone else, he can probably tell better than anybody else if he’s lying or if he’s for real. The client he deliberately scooped from Jeff- even putting it back in his face -, that was low. To me. that’s a big red flag on the level of its business ethics. If he had no problem doing that, I don’t see why he would have a problem doing other stuff behind Jeff’s back.
I think that’s the difference between Jeff and Ryan…both seem to be extremely smart, talented and greedy businessmen (after all you have to be a bit greedy if you want to stay in business) but it seems Ryan’s greed has less boundaries than Jeff’s. And it looks like this will cost him a friendship. Unfortunately for him, it will follow him all his life…
I was completely neutral going into the reunion show but I find Ryan’s vague responses to be completely disingenuous. He, or someone he was directing, knew exactly what they were doing when they set up Flippingout.com to redirect straight to Brown Designs without any kind of indication. And I believe Jeff when he says that Ryan firm was reluctant to provide contact information.
Jeff admitted that he was the reason for the break up between he and Ryan, and that he had regrets, and Jeff is by far the easiest person to get along with. I think Ryan had to have taken so much from Jeff over the years that he may feel justified, whether it was accidential or intentional. That may have been the reason he was able to sit there calmly, while Jeff was actually “flipping out”. I find it amusing –> Ryan quietly giving him the finger! Jeff is so self centered that Ryan saw an opportunity, and it only became an issue when Jeff’s world began to change due to the market. Jeff wasn’t returning phone calls, and was very selective in who he chose to work with so those may have been the ones that originally fell through the crack. With that said, hopefully, Ryan is able to admit it and continue on with his friendship with Jeff, although I really think this is an eye opener and a lesson for Jeff to treat people better, but he had it coming!
JEFF is completely right in his decision to confront Ryan .The website was an diversion from JEFF reputation of good business representation of excellent work and poof Brown Design . NO matter how you look at it , say it , or explain it.It’s just plain Shady and Wrong of Ryan. How I see It he definately set out to do sooo. Maybe he is an over achiever but he shouldn’t have to step alll over JEFF his name AND business to do sooo