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An explosive new lawsuit paints a damning picture of reality TV giant Bravo’s behind-the-scenes culture as a dysfunctional club that “thrives” on hard drugs, encourages alcohol abuse and turns a blind eye to predatory sexual behavior.
Court documents filed Tuesday by one of its former stars, Leah McSweeney, even claim it’s an open secret that the network’s frontman, Andy Cohen, snorts cocaine with a coterie of his favorite “Real Housewives” stars and hands out special professional favors. to his employees-and-personal-friends-of-the-party.
Meanwhile, the papers claim that the network is aware that another senior producer “routinely sends unsolicited photographs of (his) genitals to lower-level production employees…”, but the papers claim that superiors have done nothing to stop him. .
The shocking claims are part of a lawsuit in which McSweeney, 41, claims the network took advantage of his alcohol problem, either by intentionally exacerbating it or by preventing him from seeking help, in a cynical attempt to turn his suffering into ratings.
The fashion designer, who appeared on two seasons of the flagship show, “The Real Housewives of New York City,” and one season of the spinoff “Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip,” claims the network violated her rights under the law. job by not allowing him to receive adequate care for his alcohol addiction, even though executives were aware of the problem.
In fact, she claims producers “pressured” her to drink, even though they knew she was trying to quit.
She is seeking unspecified damages. A rep for Cohen told Page Six: “The allegations against Andy are completely false.”
The news comes days after fellow “Real Housewives” star Brandi Glanville claimed in a legal letter that an “obviously intoxicated” Cohen sexually harassed her by telling her he wanted to “sleep with another Bravo star” while she was “thinking” about Glanville and invited her. her to monitor FaceTime.
(Cohen has claimed the comment was “in jest,” but admitted it was “inappropriate.”)
While arguing that the network thrives on a culture that “thrives on drug and alcohol use,” McSweeney’s lawsuit claims that Cohen, 55, executive producer of “RHONY” and “RHUGT” and host of the late-night show Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” – “does cocaine with the housewives he employs” and that “Cohen’s propensity for cocaine use with his employees is well known throughout the Real Housewives franchise.”
“In fact,” the documents filed in the Southern District of New York state, “Cohen tends to give the housewives with whom he uses cocaine more favorable treatment and (makes them appear more likable in) the editions (of his programs)”.
It does not name the “Housewives” cast members in question.
McSweeney’s high-powered lawyers allege in the documents that “Cohen intentionally uses cocaine with his employees to further promote a workplace culture that thrives on drug and alcohol use, leading to poor employee accommodation.” disabled and trying to stay substance-free.
Meanwhile, the papers claim that a producer employed by Shed Media, which produces “RHONY” and “RHUGT,” as well as several other “Real Housewives” shows, “routinely sends unsolicited photos of (his) genitals to lower levels. .. production employees.”
It also alleges that although Bravo and Shed “know or should know about (the producer’s) sexual harassment, (they) continue to elevate (the producer) to positions of greater power.”
Those claims are part of McSweeney’s lawsuit because his lawyers say in court papers that “by failing to take appropriate corrective action (Bravo and Shed) tacitly send the message (to the producer) and all other employees that they may engage in illegal practices.” illegal labor. with impunity.”
Can’t get enough of ‘Real Housewives’?
McSweeney, who appeared on “RHONY” from 2020 to 2021 and then “RHUGT” in 2023, is suing Cohen, Bravo, Shed Media, a production company that produces both shows, and Warner Media, which owns Shed.
In 2017, Cohen’s former friend and CNN New Year’s Eve co-host Kathy Griffin claimed that Cohen offered her cocaine before she appeared on “What’s What Happens Live” on two separate occasions. Cohen said at the time: “I am completely stunned by this story. It is 100% false and totally made up.”
Bravo, Warner Bros. Discovery and Shed did not immediately respond to us.
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