A cast member on an as-of-yet unaired season of “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip” sued Bravo on Friday, alleging she was sexually harassed and assaulted by Brandi Glanville, a fellow cast member, during filming in Morocco.
Caroline Manzo, who previously appeared on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” alleges that Glanville forcibly kissed her and groped her vagina and breasts during taping of an episode.
The suit, filed in state court in New York, alleges that Bravo and other NBCUniversal entities knew of Glanville’s history of sexually harassing conduct, and yet hired her anyway because her behavior would be good for ratings.
“Defendants even encouraged Ms. Glanville to become drunk on the set so that she would be more likely to commit outrageous and harassing acts, thereby helping Defendants’ ratings without regard to the rights and safety of those around her,” the lawsuit states.
Glanville is not named as a defendant in the suit.
In a series of posts last month on X, formerly known as Twitter, Glanville also pinned the blame for the incident on the show’s producers and on the consumption of alcohol.
“These producers need to be held accountable,” she wrote. “Producers may not shove the alcohol down our throats, but they sure do encourage it even in Morocco during the day where it’s illegal to drink!”
The installment of Peacock‘s “Ultimate Girls Trip” was filmed a year ago in Morocco, with returning ex-“Housewives”Alex McCord from “The Real Housewives of New York City,” Eva Marcille and Phaedra Parks of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” Vicki Gunvalson and Gretchen Rossi of “Orange County,” and Camille Grammer, who along with Glanville had also been on “Beverly Hills.”
AfterPeople broke the newson Jan. 30, 2023 that Glanville and Manzo had been sent home early, because Glanville had kissed Manzo “multiple times throughout the evening without her consent,” Glanville wasn’t included in the reunion for “The Traitors,” another Peacock show. And in August, when Peacock announced that“RHONY: Legacy” would leapfrog this “UGT” seasonin the schedule, and would premiere in December 2023, speculation intensified that NBCU might have to scrap the entire season of the series, losing millions of dollars as a result.
The suit, filed by attorney Derek T. Smith, includes a detailed breakdown of the events leading up to the alleged assault.
The cast members were filming the third day of the trip in Morocco when tensions began to arise between Manzo and Glanville. According to the complaint, the cast members were at the home of a local chef when Glanville made rude and offensive sexual comments. At one point, she compared a vegetable to a penis, saying “THAT PEPPER LOOKS LIKE A DICK,” according to the complaint.
Glanville also was using a potato peeler to peel a strawberry. When the chef corrected her, Glanville said, “I KNOW BITCH! THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.”
Manzo reprimanded Glanville, saying that her comments were appalling and put American women in a bad light. According to the complaint, Glanville responded: “Shut up! This is my vacation, bitch. I’ll do what the fuck I want!”
Later that evening, the women were taping a scene at the villa, where a snake charmer was performing. The suit alleges that Glanville was clearly drunk, and that she came over to Manzo, who was on a couch, forced Manzo’s legs apart, and put her head on Manzo’s thigh.
Manzo pulled away, but Glanville sat down next to her and forcibly kissed her, and then put her tongue in Manzo’s mouth, according to the complaint. Manzo broke free and, distraught, went to the bathroom to wash her hands.
While standing at the sink, Glanville allegedly came up behind her, pressed her body against Manzo’s, and wrapped her arms around her, the suit states. Manzo tried to get away again, but Glanville pressed her up against the bathroom door.
“Glanville then reached around Manzo’s body and then groped, grabbed, and forcibly fondled Manzo’s vagina and breasts,” the lawsuit states. “At the same time, Glanville pushed her face into Manzo’s neck in order to kiss her.”
Manzo cried, “Help! Help!,” until finally McCord opened the bathroom door and let her out.
The next day, Glanville sent Manzo a text: “I’m sorry I made you feel uncomfortable.”
Manzo wanted to be kept apart from Glanville from that point on, but Glanville was nevertheless at lunch with the group the following day, and also took part in a camel ride.
The suit alleges that over the producers continued filming for several more days, and sought to get Manzo and Glanville to meet in order to heighten the drama. Ultimately, Manzo left Morocco.
A spokesperson for Bravo and NBCU declined to comment.
The lawsuit alleges claims of harassment, retaliation, sexual battery, negligence and discrimination.
