Summary
- Amid accusations from Real Housewives stars, Andy Cohen defends himself and the franchise's popularity.
- Bethenny Frankel pushes for reality TV stars' residuals, claiming exploitation in Real Housewives shows.
- Andy Cohen's career faces uncertainty due to legal issues and accusations from Housewives stars.
Andy Cohen is once again addressing claims of toxic workplace behavior and misconduct, but only to defend himself specifically against the numerous Real Housewives stars who’ve made allegations against him.
In an article published by Vulture on Monday, June 3, Cohen, a producer on the hit reality show, shared that the franchise has faced a "sustained attack" over the past year due to various lawsuits and allegations of misconduct.
“There was a lot of noise. And I was definitely sad about it,” Cohen expressed.
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Cohen Says The Franchise Remains Popular
Despite the controversies, the television host emphasized that both he and the franchise continue to enjoy significant popularity. “But I’m telling you — and it sounds like bulls–t — but when I walked into BravoCon, it was like, ‘Dude, get off Twitter. That’s a bunch of clickbait. This is sanity,’” he said.
Last summer, former Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel initiated a campaign, advocating for reality TV stars to receive residual payments similar to those of actors and writers. She’s argued that reality television, particularly the Housewives shows, can be exploitative.
Additionally, Bravo faced a lawsuit from former Real Housewives of New Jersey star Caroline Manzo, who claimed she was sexually harassed and assaulted by former Beverly Hills housewife Brandi Glanville during the filming of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip in Morocco. Both Glanville and Manzo have accused Cohen of sexual harassment.
Moreover, in February, former New York City housewife Leah McSweeney filed a lawsuit against Cohen and Bravo, claiming they encouraged the stars to engage in substance abuse to promote drama.
Similarly, back in 2022, the franchise faced a lawsuit from NeNe Leakes claiming they created a racist and hostile work environment, and failed to intervene when she was being attacked by her co-stars.
Cohen’s Career Remains Uncertain
Andy rose to fame primarily through his work on the Real Housewives franchise. As an executive producer, he played a pivotal role in launching and shaping the various series, starting with The Real Housewives of Orange County in 2006. His influence expanded with the creation of additional franchises, including The Real Housewives of New York City, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Beyond his behind-the-scenes work, Cohen became a household name through his on-screen presence as the host of Watch What Happens Live, Bravo's late-night talk show.
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However, Cohen's career has not been without controversy. He has faced numerous legal issues and accusations, particularly related to the Real Housewives franchise. Though the television personality insists the franchise remains popular, which has probably been aided by all the negativity surrounding recent accusations, it remains to be seen if Cohen’s career survives the backlash, given the severity of some of the claims.
