Did Kelly Bensimon beat up for boyfriend to get another "Real Housewives" contract?

Those "Real Housewives" can be caddy bunch, but how far are they willing to go to remain in the spotlight?

Rumor has it that Kelly Bensimon, the newest member of the "Real Housewives of New York City" beat up her boyfriend and got arrested to stir up some drama hoping to secure another season on "The Real Housewives." Bensimon turned herself into police two days after she beat up her sexy younger beau, Nicholas Stefanov.

It was all the buzz at co-star Bethenny Frankel’s release party for her new diet book, “Naturally Thin.”

“Some people on the show suspect that Kelly orchestrated the entire situation to better her chances of being asked back next season,” an insider told The New York Daily News.

“Kelly is ruthless. Some who know her think she planned the attack with Nicholas. He’s speaking of her too positively for this to be domestic abuse. Shouldn’t he be angrier? It’s also convenient that Kelly timed the leak of her arrest to the day a new episode of the show aired.”

Bensimon hasn't exactly blended very smoothly with the rest of the "Real Housewives."

“No one likes her,” a source tells us flatly. “She hasn’t endeared herself to the ladies on the show — or anyone else.”

The folks at Bravo say a new season of "Real Housewives of New York City" hasn't even been discussed and no contracts have been issued.

Editor's note: See more pictures of Kelly Bensimon (click any photo):