EXCLUSIVE: Less than a week before NBCUniversal’s big pitch to advertisers in the Big Apple, Andy Cohen, the jewel in the media giant’s reality TV crown, isn’t shining so brightly after all.
Despite Bravo’s insistence that an investigation by an outside party resolved the issue Real Housewives Lawyers for franchise boss Leah McSweeney and Brandi Glanville over “unfounded” allegations of cocaine use, alcohol abuse and sexual harassment say it’s all a hoax.
“This is the perfect time,” McSweeney’s attorney Gary Adelman told Deadline on Thursday after Bravo issued a statement saying the Cohen investigation was “complete” and resolved. “One line so they can repeat it to all the advertisers at the Up Fronts.”
“How do you conduct an investigation without speaking to anyone?” McSweeney’s lead attorney added, explaining that her client was never interviewed by the outside investigative firm. “We believe no one will believe this is a real investigation.”
“I look forward to reviewing the details of the ‘independent’ investigation’s report,” said Glanville’s attorney, Bryan Freedman. “Of course, since no wrongdoing was found, there was no need to hide or otherwise bury the findings.”
“NBC has not spoken to the complaining witnesses,” Freedman also said of his client. “How is this an investigation?” Glanville wrote to NBCU and Warner Bros. Discovery on Feb. 22, claiming she was sexually harassed by a video See what’s happening live! Host Cohen in 2022 tells Glanville that he, an openly gay man, wanted her to watch him have sex with “another Bravo star that night” and more. Later that day, Cohen said the video featuring him and Kate Chastain was intended as a “joke” but was nonetheless “totally inappropriate and I apologize.”
As the spotlight increasingly turned to the dark side of the Real Housewives Series and unscripted television, McSweeney sued Cohen, Bravo, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros Discovery, production company Shed Media and various producers on March 7 Real Housewives of New York City Star accused Cohen of “using cocaine with his employees to further promote a work culture that thrives on drug and alcohol abuse, which results in employees with disabilities being overlooked and attempting to remain drug-free.”
McSweeney took to social media that same day to further lift the veil, declaring, “Your favorite Bravo shows are run by people who create a dangerous work environment, encourage substance abuse to artificially create drama, and cynicalize their employees’ vulnerabilities.” exploit.” “
Cohen’s own lawyers at Gibson Dunn threatened to take action against McSweeney herself unless she “immediately retracts and retracts” the allegations. She didn’t do it and they didn’t take any legal action.
When McSweeney’s attorney, Adelman Cohen, exonerated that investigation in the Bravo statement, he scoffed and added, “We look forward to reviewing all interviews, evidence and final reports from the investigation conducted by NBCU as we review them in the discovery phase of the lawsuit.” receive.” .”
While sources at NBCU say the outside investigators attempted to speak to McSweeney and Glanville through their attorneys, Bravo did not comment on whether they reached out to the two women or their attorneys. The NBCU department also would not release a copy of the report on Cohen’s conduct, citing attorney-client privilege.
If NBCU submits a comment, we will update this post.
With What happens live picked up by the end of 2025 and a shipload more lucrative Real Housewives In today’s renewed shows, Cohen seems as assured as can be in Hollywood. And maybe it goes to May 13thTh NBCU was at the forefront, but even though the company said it would investigate all allegations of its misconduct, it’s far from over.