Bravo has released a statement about non-disclosure agreements, after Bethenny Frankel – a former Bravo reality star – hired a legal team to lead her fight in an effort to protect reality stars from networks – amid the SAG-AFTRA attack.
The former reality star, 52, is aiming to allow TV stars to join a union and get better working conditions, protection and pay.
Last week, Bethenny’s lawyers claimed that the non-disclosure agreements the reality stars sign at NBCUniversal prohibit them from speaking out about alleged assault.
The network released a statement to Variety clarifying that is not the case – after receiving “several” legal letters from Bethenny’s legal team – Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos, per Variety.
The latest: Bravo has released a statement about non-disclosure agreements, after Bethenny Frankel – a former Bravo reality star – hired a legal team to lead her fight in an effort to protect reality stars from networks – amid the SAG-AFTRA attack
NBCUniversal is the parent company of Bravo, Oxygen, USA, Peacock, E!, CNBC and more.
The NDAs are there to “protect storylines,” not forbidding them or prohibiting them from speaking out to report assault — the statement said.
“Confidentiality clauses are standard practice in reality programming to prevent pre-air storylines from being revealed,” the spokesperson told Variety.
“They are not intended to prevent disclosure by cast and crew of unlawful acts in the workplace, nor have they been enforced in that manner.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, any current or former cast or crew is free to discuss and disclose allegedly 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,” the statement said to Variety. .
Speaking out: The former reality star is aiming to get TV stars to join a union, offer better working conditions, protection and pay
Focus: Last week, Bethenny’s lawyers claimed that the nondisclosure agreements the reality stars sign at NBCUniversal prohibit them from speaking out about alleged assault; seen on March 23, 2023 in New York City
The statement came a month after multiple letters from Bethenny’s legal team were sent to the network.
Her legal team accused the network of “gross and depraved mistreatment of reality stars and crew members” in a letter. deadline.
A second letter was sent earlier this week.
“We are left with the inescapable conclusion that NBC and its production partners are grappling with systemic rot for which sunlight is the first necessary remedy,” the letter read via Deadline.
“Until now, that’s been impossible because of the draconian terms of NBC’s contracts with its cast and crew, which include heavy confidentiality provisions coupled with catastrophic penalties for violation,” the paper said.
“To ensure silence, NBC wields these contractual terms like a sword.”
In August, Bethenny confirmed that SAG-AFTRA, which is currently on strike, is ready to support television personalities in forming unions.
SAG-AFRTA, the union representing more than 160,000 actors, is on strike at the same time as WGA, which represents 11,000 writers.
The union authorized the strike on July 14, citing growing concerns over the use of artificial intelligence and residue streaming.
WGA has been on strike since May 2.