A lawsuit filed by former The Real Housewives of New York City star Leah McSweeney against Bravo, producer Andy Cohen and others involved in the hit franchise will proceed in federal court after a judge this week denied a request to move the case to private arbitration.
McSweeney broke her silence on the ruling in an Instagram Story on Tuesday, writing that it has been “emotionally and mentally draining” to discuss the case. She called the decision a “huge ruling” and noted that it has been a long two years since she first filed the lawsuit.
“Reality TV might look like entertainment, but behind the drama, there can be harmful misconduct that should never be normalized,” she said.
The suit alleges discrimination, a hostile work environment and claims that producers “nefariously” pressured her to drink on camera. According to the filing, despite being aware of McSweeney’s struggles with alcohol and mental health, top producers coerced and coaxed her into drinking while filming two seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City and a season of The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip.
The complaint also targets Cohen directly, accusing him of playing favorites with castmembers who socialized with him.
“[Cohen] engaged in cocaine use with ‘Housewives’ and other Bravolebrities that he employs,” the suit claims, adding that he rewarded those individuals with more favorable treatment and edits.
Cohen has denied the allegations, previously calling the lawsuit a “shakedown” and rejecting claims that he encouraged substance abuse or used drugs with cast members. Bravo, Cohen and the production companies have also argued that McSweeney was an independent contractor — not an employee — and therefore not entitled to certain workplace protections.
McSweeney, who founded the fashion brand Married to the Mob, joined RHONY in 2019 for two seasons. She later appeared on the third season of The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, which aired in 2023.
In her filing, McSweeney describes what she calls a “rotted workplace culture” that depended on pressuring cast members to consume alcohol. The suit alleges that producers, with full knowledge of her struggles, “colluded with her colleagues to pressure Ms. McSweeney to drink, retaliated against her when she sought sobriety and intentionally failed to provide reasonable accommodations,” including transportation to AA meetings.