Bethenny Frankel is “burning bridges” at Bravo as she continues to champion the rights of reality stars.
The Real Housewives Of New York vet, 52, said Bravo and network executive Andy Cohen “probably despise me” as she raises the alarm about the alleged mistreatment of stars appearing on unscripted television.
Bethenny has called for a reality star union, and numerous letters have been sent to Bravo and NBC Universal accusing the networks of allegedly mistreating reality stars. She would lead the charge against the companies.
“I can tell you with great certainty that everyone at Bravo probably despises me, including Andy Cohen, because it’s very personal and because they have to protect the realm,” Bethenny told the television channel. Literal! With Rob Lowe podcast.
“I came out on top, made all this money and have been the shining example of success on reality TV, along with all those other victims whose lives have been destroyed,” she said.
‘It’s very personal’: Bethenny Frankel ‘burns bridges’ at Bravo as she continues to champion reality stars’ rights
“And instead of just counting my money and not pissing anyone off, I chose to, you know, shake the whole thing up and burn bridges and set the kingdom of Khaleesi on fire,” she continued, a reference to Game Of Thrones.
With Hollywood in the middle of a historic double strike, Bethenny now believes that reality stars will be used for “cheap labor.”
“During this strike, they will be the ones everyone goes to for cheap labor.”
She also described how SAG-AFTRA, one of the labor unions currently on strike in Hollywood, offered their help.
“SAG AFTRA has contacted me. And now that we’re talking about a union and what it would look like, they also want to know in the short term what they can do to help,” she said.
“And I said that there should be a certain language, some kind of contract language in these contracts, which everyone really knows should be in it. As if they can’t just exploit people with these unrealistic non-disclosure agreements.
“So it’s something very complicated that I ran into myself, while also burning bridges and it seemed like I was biting the hand that fed me, but I fed myself. There are a lot of people who didn’t get any food.’
Frankel, one of the biggest names in the Real Housewives franchise, also stressed that her power came from not being a “disgruntled” former employee.
Taking a stand: Bethenny has called for a reality star union and numerous letters have been sent to Bravo and NBC Universal accusing the networks of allegedly assaulting reality stars
“As a person who’s been on more reality television than anyone who could speak on this subject, that’s the most frightening thing about me: I’m not dissatisfied.”
“I wasn’t fired. I was asked back several times. I made millions of dollars. I left twice. So I can speak about it.’
Last month, reality show stars from NBC and Bravo accused the networks of “covering up sexual assault, condoning revenge porn, exploiting minors and denying mental health care” in a letter bomb obtained by DailyMail.com
Stars complained of “grotesque and depraved abuse,” with the letter claiming that both current and former stars were “mentally, physically and financially victimized.”
It was also alleged that they were “threatened with ruin if they decided to speak out about their mistreatment.”
Sources told DailyMail.com that reality star Bethenny Frankel has led “the charge” against the network weeks after accusing executives of exploiting “big-eyed young talent” desperate to get on TV.
‘I get to speak on this’: Frankel, one of the biggest names in the Real Housewives franchise, also stressed that her power came from not being a ‘disgruntled’ former employee
In a statement, NBC said it is “committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew during our reality shows.”
“From the outset, we require our third-party manufacturing partners to have appropriate workplace policies and training in place,” an NBCUniversal spokesperson said in a statement to Dailymail.com.
“When complaints are brought to our attention, we work with our manufacturing partners to ensure that timely, appropriate action is or has been taken, including investigations, medical and/or psychological support, and other remedial action that may be warranted, such as personnel changes . ‘
Bravo has also been contacted for comment regarding the allegations, which were first reported by TMZ.
The explosive letter addressed to Bravo Media, E! and CNBC, which are jointly controlled by NBCUniversal, argue that the networks’ widespread reality TV universe is the reason stars’ alleged suffering “has been hidden for far too long.”
“Judgment Day has arrived,” the letter began, accusing network executives of deliberately harming the mental health of cast members by overloading them with alcohol and depriving them of food and sleep.
‘Burning bridges’: Frankel and Cohen on an episode of Watch What Happens Live last year, ahead of her call for unionization
When stars complained, they were reportedly denied mental health treatment despite showing signs of struggling, the letter said.
The networks have also been accused of exploiting minors by not paying them, despite lengthy appearances on the shows.
Sources told DailyMail.com that there have been more than 100 emails from talent, producers and various showrunners about the issues described in the letter.
Showrunners were also charged with distributing or condoning “the non-consensual distribution of pornography” — or so-called “revenge porn” — and covering up “sexual assault.”
At the end of their alleged ordeal, stars were also not allowed to leave their shows, “even under appalling conditions.”
The allegations come months after Jeff Shell, former CEO of NBC Universal, was fired following a sexual harassment investigation that arose when a female employee filed a complaint against him.
Strike Back: Bethenny would lead the charge against the network
Acting CEO Michael Cavanagh took over after Shell was fired in April.
The letter, written by lawyers for the stars, said the disturbing behavior had been observed “countless times.”
It is alleged that NBC Universal has “crossed the moral and legal boundaries allowed in a civilized society,” adding that it has reportedly opened itself to lawsuits for “intentional infliction of emotional distress, distribution of revenge porn and false imprisonment ‘.
The lawyers also claimed that the non-disclosure agreements the reality stars sign with NBCUniversal prohibit them from speaking out about alleged assault in a second letter sent to the network.
In an official statement following the second legal letter, NBC Universal said confidentiality clauses have been put in place to prevent storyline leaks, and stars can reveal “inappropriate” behavior in the workplace.
“Confidentiality clauses are standard practice in reality programming to prevent pre-air storylines from being revealed,” the network told DailyMail.com in their official statement.
“They are not intended to prevent disclosure by cast and crew of unlawful acts in the workplace, nor are they enforced in that way. For the avoidance of doubt, any current or former cast or crew is free to discuss and disclose alleged unlawful acts in the workplace, such as harassment or discrimination, or any other conduct they have reason to believe is inappropriate.
“We are also working with our third-party production companies to remind all cast and crew that they are encouraged to report any such concerns through the channels made available by the production company so that concerns can be promptly addressed.”