Lisa Vanderpump and her husband, Ken Todd, are being sued for wrongful termination by former bartenders of TomTom Restaurant & Bar, one of their establishments in West Hollywood, Calif.
According to documents obtained by The Blast on Thursday, the employees — who worked for the couple from May to December 2022 — claim that they were terminated in retaliation for complaining about unsavory working conditions.
One former employee further claims that Vanderpump, 63, and Todd, 78 — whose Los Angeles restaurant portfolio also includes SUR and Pump — “blacklisted him by defaming him to future employers.”
This individual even alleges that the pair — who tied the knot in August 1982 — “[published] false statements and comments to numerous third parties” regarding his “profession, reputation and character.”
The ex-employee feels that the “rumors and false statements were made with actual malice,” per the documents.
The workers claimed that TomTom had “unsafe work conditions” and that there was “sewage and backup in the employee break/locker room.”
The suit elaborates, “During this period, [the former bartenders] experienced rampant violations of California labor laws, harassment, and unsafe working conditions.”
Reps for Vanderpump and Todd didn’t immediately respond to Pvnew’s request for comment.
TomTom — which is featured heavily on Vanderpump’s hit Bravo reality show “Vanderpump Rules” — is co-owned by series stars Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz, but they were not named in the suit.
Reps for Vanderpump and Todd did not immediately return Pvnew’s request for comment.
News of the legal filing comes just weeks before the Season 11 premiere, the show’s first since Sandoval’s cheating scandal — dubbed “Scandoval” by viewers — rocked the world of pop culture.
More of the aftermath of his secret affair with castmate Rachel “Raquel” Leviss and its devastating impact on now-ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix will be explored in the next “VPR” installment.
“Vanderpump Rules” Season 11 premieres Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
