Bravo refutes claim reality stars can’t break NDAs to report ‘unlawful acts’ amid Bethenny Frankel legal war
Bravo is shutting down a major claim made amid Bethenny Frankel’s legal fight against the network and its parent company, NBCUniversal, that states the companies forbid reality stars from speaking out about alleged mistreatment.
Attorney Bryan Freedman, who represents the “Real Housewives of New York City” alum, previously alleged in a legal letter obtained by Page Six that Bravo and NBC have violated a California law by forcing employees to sign a nondisclosure agreement that would deny them from disclosing “unlawful acts in the workplace.”
Some of the misconduct that allegedly could not be publicly exposed includes “racism; sexism; sexual violence; revenge porn; child labor; forced intoxication; and psychological, emotional, and physical abuse.”
A Bravo spokesperson tells Page Six in response Saturday, “Confidentiality clauses are standard practice in reality programming to prevent disclosure of storylines prior to air.
“They are not intended to prevent disclosure by cast and crew of unlawful acts in the workplace, and they have not been enforced in that manner.”
The rep reiterates that all of their employees, including any current or former cast member or crew, are “free to discuss and disclose any allegedly unlawful acts in the workplace, such as harassment or discrimination, or any other conduct they have reason to believe is inappropriate.”
Bravo’s spokesperson concludes, “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 concerns can be promptly addressed.”
Page Six is also told that the networks require third-party production companies to provide cast and crew with multiple ways to report workplace misconduct and they are informed about these methods via production training protocols.
There is also an anonymous NBCU hotline or the production company’s own anonymous hotline.
Page Six reached out to Freedman and a rep for Frankel for a response, but did not immediately hear back in time for publication.
The Skinnygirl founder, 52, decided to wage a war against her former employer earlier this month because she believes Bravo and NBC have subjected her fellow reality stars to “grotesque and depraved mistreatment.”
Frankel claimed in a legal letter written by Freedman and attorney Mark Geragos that the companies “manufacture mental instability” by supplying their talent with “alcohol while depriving them of food and sleep.”
They also accused the networks of depriving mental health treatment for those with “alarming signs of mental deterioration.”
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The letter also claimed Bravo and NBC facilitated the “distribution of revenge porn” and concluded with the bombshell allegation that the networks have been guilty of “covering up acts of sexual violence.”
Bravo and NBC previously said in response to the letter in part, “NBCUniversal is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows.”
However, Frankel has not backed down as we’re told she has more than 80 people in her corner.
She has also been emboldened by the fact that SAG-AFTRA — who is in the midst of a labor strike — has expressed interest in her crusade and “engaged in discussions” with her attorneys.
A source previously alleged to Page Six that Frankel has been boasting about bringing down Bravo.
The successful businesswoman got her reality TV start on the first three seasons of “RHONY.” She then briefly returned during Season 7 before leaving for good after Season 11 in 2019.
