Reality Stars Who Sued Bravo TV In Recent Years

Behind the glitz and glamor of Bravo TV’s popular reality shows are a couple of lawsuits. The darker side of reality TV has, on numerous occasions, led several stars to take legal action against the network that catapulted them to fame. Over the years, Bravo has faced its fair share of legal battles with its cast members. From contractual disputes to allegations of harassment and wrongful termination, these lawsuits shed light on the controversies inherent in reality TV. The Real Housewives of New York’s Leah McSweeney is the latest in the number of reality TV stars with lawsuits against Bravo, alongside these others. 

In 2022, NeNe Leakes filed lawsuits against NBCUniversal and Bravo TV. She also filed against executive producer Andy Cohen. Leakes cited a hostile and racially discriminatory working environment as her reasons. After her tenure on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, she also claimed that the organization’s corporate hierarchy was deficient in diversity. Therefore, it fostered insensitivity towards individuals of Color. She further stated that the Real Housewives franchise is marked by racial segregation. Finally, she criticized the treatment of diverse cast members on the show. Leakes dismissed the lawsuits later that year, but it remains one of the most popular cases against Bravo.

In January 2023, reports emerged indicating the departure of Brandi Glanville and Caroline Manzo from Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip. Allegedly, Glanville crossed boundaries at a party by repeatedly kissing Manzo without her consent. Fast forward a year later, and Manzo filed lawsuits against Bravo TV, its personnel, and affiliated companies related to the incident. Manzo's lawsuit alleges that the network has a practice of providing the Real Housewives cast with alcohol, inducing severe intoxication. Therefore, sexual harassment among cast members was promoted and promised, all purportedly for the sake of ratings.

In 2021, Mariah Huq filed a lawsuit against Bravo, alleging discrimination. Moreover, she asserted that the network withheld her due royalties. Huq, who is recognized not only as the leading lady on her reality series but also credited as its creator and an executive producer on Bravo's official website, took legal action against Purveyors of Pop, Bravo TV, NBC, and Fremantle. In her lawsuit, she contended that they engaged in "illegal and unethical" practices. These included, but were not limited to, violations of contractual agreements. Other practices include harassment and the unauthorized exploitation of Married to Medicine & Married to Medicine: the Series.

While Brandi Glanville has yet to file a lawsuit against Bravo TV, she did threaten to take legal action against the network and its executive producer, Andy Cohen. Glanville's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, sent a letter to NBC Universal, Shed Media, and Shed's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. It was alleged that Andy Cohen, in an "inebriated" state, had sent her a video message. He reportedly expressed his intention to spend the night with another Bravo star while thinking of her and invited her to witness the encounter via Facetime. The letter further asserted that Glanville felt both "trapped" and "disgusted" by the nature of Cohen's communication. Following the letter being disclosed, Cohen released a statement clarifying that the video was intended as a joke directed at Glanville.

Leah McSweeney, a former Real Housewives of New York City cast member, filed lawsuits against Bravo and Andy Cohen. In a strongly worded legal filing, she alleged that the show achieved its highest-ever audience ratings through an infamous episode titled Scary Island. In this episode, one of the stars appeared to exhibit confusion, irrational behavior, and a detachment from reality. She asserted that they deliberately exploited her struggles with alcohol in a calculated effort to turn her suffering into record-breaking ratings. According to Page Six, the network and its producers not only made alcohol available to her but encouraged her to drink. Last year, she sued the network for discrimination. 

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