As former Bravo stars make allegations of ‘sexism’, ‘racism’ and drug abuse on set The Real Housewives shows, Andy Cohen breaks his silence to share his perspective and reflect on his position amid the controversy.
The executive producer of Bravo’s Real Housewives Franchise and host of Watch what happens live with Andy Cohen addresses a number of pressing issues in an interview with, including simmering controversies and lawsuits surrounding the iconic reality series The Hollywood Reporter,.
In October, Eboni K. Williamsthe first black star appears The Real Housewives of New York Cityspoke specifically about encountering pervasive racism on the show by her co-star Ramona Singer.
In response to these concerns, Cohen states, “I can’t speak to their specific experiences and am no longer responsible for programming decisions there, but I am proud of all the work Bravo has put into producing their shows.” “George Floyd” was an important cultural shift that forced us to rethink our entire program.
Cohen highlights Bravo’s proactive approach to diversification, citing specific examples such as: summer house And Southern charm. He notes that Bravo has recognized the need for more inclusive representation across programming and has taken targeted steps to address this issue.
“They thought, ‘Why are a lot of shows so separated?’ They decided there needed to be more representation on the dial, and they did,” Cohen points out.
On February 27th, formerly Real Housewives of New York City star Leah McSweeney filed a complaint against Cohen, Bravo and NBCUniversal, alleging that Cohen fostered a toxic workplace that encouraged alcohol consumption. She also claims that despite her “alcohol abuse disorder” and “mental health disorders,” she did not have a safe work environment.
According to the complaint, McSweeney said she had relapsed from her nine-year sobriety but was sober when she began filming season 12 RHONY. She accuses producers of “deliberately planning scenarios designed to exacerbate disability” in order to “create morbid, salacious reality television.”
A rep for Cohen previously told ET, “The allegations against Andy are completely false.”
In the letter obtained by ET, Cohen’s attorney stated that “virtually every” claim made by McSweeney is “categorically false,” and specifically requested that her allegation that Cohen was using cocaine be “immediately” retracted and retracted.
Although Cohen was prevented from going into further detail by legal counsel, he responded insightfully to the allegations THR“Unfortunately I can’t talk about some of these things. What I want to say about the alcohol is that we have so many sober people and people who have gotten sober on the show…We’ve been very supportive of people’s sobriety.”
Regarding calls for reality stars to unionize inspired by RHONY Cohen, a Bethenny Frankel alum, offers his perspective as an independent producer and highlights the fleeting nature of reality TV stardom.
“You don’t go to school to become a reality star. Reality stars usually have other jobs. They are bar owners, they are designers. They’re doctors,” Cohen says.
He emphasizes the diverse backgrounds of reality stars and the potential to leverage exposure beyond the show into lucrative opportunities.
“I think the way Bravo pays people is a takeover – they buy them out for a show that can be distributed in a certain way, and the longer you stay on it, the higher the salary gets… And many “They do exactly that,” notes Cohen.
When asked about the personal hurt caused by criticism, particularly from his former friend Frankel, Cohen reflects on his pride in the relationships he has built over his two decades at the network. While acknowledging the occasional discomfort, Cohen reiterates his commitment to standing tall and maintaining perspective, backed by the passionate support of Real Housewives Fans worldwide.
“I know what the truth is and I know how I conducted myself, and I stand proud of that every day,” Cohen says, recalling the electric atmosphere of BravoCon. “There are legions of fans who are passionate about this brand. It is a tonic that helps them overcome the pain and obstacles in their lives.”
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