Andy Cohen has denied the claims in opposition to him in Actual Housewives of New York Metropolis alum Leah McSweeney’s lawsuit.
“The claims in opposition to Andy are fully false,” a rep for Cohen, 55, instructed The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday, February 28.
In response to courtroom paperwork obtained by THR, McSweeney named Bravo, NBC/Common, manufacturing home Shed Media U, and producers John Paparazzo, Lisa Shannon and Darren Ward in her Tuesday, February 27, submitting. Within the go well with, the truth star claims the community deliberately performed into her wrestle with alcoholism. The lawsuit additionally targets Cohen, accusing him of enjoying favorites with those that social gathering with him.
“[Cohen] engaged in cocaine use with ‘Housewives’ and different Bravolebrities that he employs” and “rewards Housewives with whom he makes use of cocaine with extra favorable therapy and edits,” the docs state, per the outlet.
Within the go well with, McSweeney says Bravo had a “rotted office tradition that uniquely relied on pressuring its workers to devour alcohol.” She claims she instructed producers earlier than her first season that she’d been sober for 30 days and was working to keep up her sobriety, however was pressured to drink all three seasons she appeared on the present and alleges producers “retaliated in opposition to her when she needed to remain sober, and deliberately failed to offer cheap lodging that might support her efforts to remain sober and capable of carry out.”
Whereas filming overseas in Thailand, McSweeney claims that her rights have been violated when she was not allowed to hunt take care of her dependancy points and was denied correct transportation to Alcoholics Nameless conferences whereas filming after being instructed attending would “not be an issue.” She additionally claims that she was mentally manipulated to attract higher rankings.
McSweeney joined the RHONY solid in 2019 for 2 seasons, adopted by Peacock’s third season of The Actual Housewives: Final Women Journey, which was filmed in 2022 and aired one yr later.
On Tuesday, the Bravolebrity took to social media to open up concerning the lawsuit, calling it a “story” she by no means thought she can be telling.
“In reality, I used to be petrified to talk on it and was warned to not,” she wrote through Instagram hours after the go well with was filed. “Your favourite Bravo reveals are run by individuals who create a harmful work atmosphere, encourage substance abuse to artificially create drama and cynically prey on the vulnerabilities of their workers.”
She continued, “There shall be far more that comes out as soon as the individuals concerned are questioned beneath oath. In the present day I’m taking again my actuality. The reckless and diabolical method by which the individuals on the prime drool over the mishaps and misfortunes of the ladies together with myself are disturbing. It’s a office tradition the place toxicity, alcoholism and ache aren’t solely anticipated however inspired and facilitated. That’s one thing I most positively didn’t join nor would I ever endorse.”
McSweeney famous there may be “nothing extra vital” than her sobriety, including that with out she dangers “shedding all the things.”
“I’ve been very clear about my dependancy and restoration,” she continued. “Nonetheless there are private issues within the lawsuit that I by no means needed to reveal for worry of being judged and shamed, however I’m at some extent now in my life the place I really feel sturdy sufficient to resist no matter might come my method.”
McSweeney’s lawsuit comes one week after Actual Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Brandi Glanville made sexual harassment claims in opposition to Cohen. Glanville’s authorized workforce despatched a letter to NBCUniversal, Shed Media and Shed’s father or mother firm Warner Bros. Discovery, claiming that Cohen instructed Glanville that he needed to “sleep with one other Bravo star” whereas “considering” of her.
In response to the word, Cohen allegedly invited Glanville to look at him have interaction in intercourse through FaceTime. The letter additionally claimed that Glanville felt “trapped” and “disgusted” by Cohen’s “abuse of energy,” as he was her “boss” on the time. (Glanville appeared in seasons 3 by means of 5 of RHOBH as a foremost solid member and as a visitor star on seasons 6, 9 and 10. She returned for seasons 2 and 5 of UGT in 2022 and 2024.)
Cohen subsequently responded to Glanville’s claims, claiming that he and Under Deck star Kate Chastain have been “joking” after they despatched the video in query.
“It was completely meant in jest, and Brandi’s response clearly communicated she was in on the joke,” he wrote through X on February 22. “That stated, it was completely inappropriate and I apologize.”
