Bethenny Frankel might want to work on her comedy routine.

The former star of The Real Housewives of New York City, 43, was reprimanded in court Thursday for something she did to be funny: posting a photo of herself to Instagram wearing 4-year-old daughter Bryn's Hello Kitty pajamas. When Frankel shared the image in July, she added the caption, "This is my daughter's nightgown and PJ shorts. Think we're ready to start sharing clothes yet?" The snapshot immediately caused a stir, with Frankel later explaining via Twitter, "BREAKING NEWS! World Scandal: Former reality star, failed talk show host & cocktail maven jokes by wearing her kids' pjs! #itcantbetrue."

Well, one of the people who thought it was strange happened to be a friend of Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Ellen Gesmer, who presided over a court session involving Frankel and her ex, Jason Hoppy. The two split in December 2012 after marrying in March 2010.

"No more pajamas!" Gesmer said.

After Frankel's lawyer retorted that the photo was "done as a joke," the judge responded that the incident was "ridiculous."

"It's not a joke. Her child is not a joke," Gesmer noted, adding that the questionable photo will live on the Internet for many years to come.

[Related: 'Real Housewives' Star Teresa Giudice Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison]

Coincidentally, Frankel took the opportunity to talk about the awkward pic during a pre-taped interview with the Merideth Vieira Show that airs Friday.

"The truth of the matter is I don't really care what people think if I don't think I've done anything wrong," Frankel told Viera. "It was a dress of my daughter's, and she's like, 'Put this on,' and one of my friends was like, 'Your Instagram game is weak.' So I just took a picture and thought it was cute.

I had no idea that I would get that backlash. "I had no idea, and I really didn't think it was that big of a deal," Frankel said. "I didn't think people were going to start being anorexic because I put my daughter's clothes on. I just thought it was a ridiculous joke."

[Related: Is Bethenny Frankel Returning to 'Real Housewives'?]

Fortunately for the Skinnygirl mogul, custody of Bryn has already been decided. She and Hoppy reached an agreement to co-parent in June.



A trial to split Frankel's finances, which are estimated at $55 million, is expected later this year.



