Andy Cohen Speaks Out on Bravo Lawsuits, Bethenny Frankel

Photo: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images

Andy Cohen spoke retired (as overmuch arsenic he’s legally allowed to with aggregate lawsuits afoot) astir the disapproval Bravo, the Real Housewives Franchise, and world TV arsenic a full person travel nether recently. In a Hollywood Reporter cover story, Cohen spilled. And kudos for doing that. Bravo has been accused of racism by erstwhile RHONY star Eboni K. Williams, of undermining Leah McSweeney’s sobriety, and of enabling intersexual harassment by Caroline Manzo and Brandi Glanville. Glanville has accused Cohen himself of intersexual harassment, saying helium allegedly sent her a video expressing “his volition to slumber with different Bravo prima that nighttime portion reasoning of her and invited her to ticker via Facetime.” All of these concerns person been taken up by Bethenny Frankel successful her quest to unionize world TV. Here’s what Cohen had to accidental astir Bethenny, and the workplace of Bravo.

Eboni K. Williams, the archetypal Black Real Housewife of New York, says she tried to discontinue RHONY over racism, specifically racist comments made by chap RHONY cast subordinate Ramona Singer. Cohen said helium couldn’t remark connected Williams’ experience, and stressed that he’s “no longer successful complaint of programming decisions there.” But helium says he’s arrogant of the enactment Bravo has done post-2020 to diversify its shows. “George Floyd was an important taste displacement that forced america to look astatine each of our programming,” helium said. “Bravo made it a mandate to diversify its shows.” He cited Southern Charm and Summer House as shows that were antecedently “segregated,” and said determination is present much practice “across the dial.”

Former RHONY cast subordinate Leah McSweeney is besides suing Andy Cohen and Bravo. She claims the amusement “intentionally plann[ed] scenarios” to exacerbate her alcoholism successful bid to “create morbidly salacious world television.” She claims producers hid liquor bottles connected acceptable and intentionally undermined her sobriety to origin drama. Cohen told THR that “Unfortunately, I can’t speech astir immoderate of these things. What I’ll accidental astir the intoxicant is that we person truthful galore sober radical and radical who person gotten sober connected the show, similar Countess Luann.” Cohen denied the allegation of producers hiding liquor bottles, saying “That’s ridiculous. We’ve been precise supportive of people’s sobriety.” McSweeney’s allegation that Cohen does coke with housewives were not addressed.

THR asked Cohen astir yet different erstwhile RHONY cast member, Bethenny Frankel, and her question to unionize world stars. Cohen said helium feels Bravo-style world stars are compensated with exposure. “Look, you’re not drafted into the Real Housewives. You either privation to beryllium connected the amusement oregon not, and you either spot it arsenic having immoderate greater payment for you oregon not. You person a concern you’re trying to launch, you person a euphony vocation you’re trying to launch, you privation exposure,” helium said. “And truthful you say, ‘OK, I’m going to look astatine this for the agelong crippled and possibly parlay my vulnerability connected the amusement into different lucrative opportunities.’ And galore of them bash conscionable that.”