Andy Cohen described Bethenny Frankel’s “reality reckoning” as a “sustained attack” against him.
In a new interview with Vulture published Monday, the Bravo head honcho shared that he was surprised when the “Real Housewives of New York City” alum alleged reality TV stars are financially exploited and should join last summer’s actors’ strike.
Reflecting on the past year, he told the outlet, “There was a lot of noise. And I was definitely sad about it.”
Chiefs heiress Ava Hunt graduates from high school after committing to SMU cheerleading team
Kanye West sued for sexual harassment, wrongful termination by former assistant
Andy Cohen admits he's 'waiting' for the thing that will cancel him after Bravo lawsuits
Frankel, who used to be a good friend of Cohen’s, claimed she had “generated millions and millions of dollars in advertising and online impressions being on reality TV and [has] never made a single residual.”
“So, either I’m missing something or we’re getting screwed too,” she told her Instagram followers in July 2023.
Frankel, 53, cited her first paycheck from her first season on “RHONY,” claiming she received $7,250 in 2008.
But when the Skinnygirl founder left the show in 2019 after eight seasons, she was reportedly earning $1 million.
In August 2021, Frankel took her alleged “attack” on Bravo a step further when her lawyers demanded the network and its parent company, NBCUniversal, forfeit their nondisclosure agreements so that the alleged mistreatment of cast members could be made public.
Around the same time, her attorneys Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos released a statement alleging Bravolebrities were subjected to “grotesque and depraved mistreatment.”
In a letter, NBC and Bravo were accused of giving cast members excessive “alcohol while depriving them of food and sleep.”
The document also claimed that the TV personalities were denied mental health treatment despite “obvious and alarming signs of mental deterioration.”
However, a spokesperson from NBC told us the company is “committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows.”
They added, “If complaints are brought to our attention, we work with our production partners to ensure that timely, appropriate action is or has been taken, including investigations, medical and/or psychological support, and other remedial action that may be warranted such as personnel changes.”
In December 2023, Frankel also made damning comments about Cohen, 56, during ABC News’ “Impact x Nightline: Reality Reckoning?” special.
“He didn’t make me a star,” she said at the time. “He made himself a star on the backs of all of these women.”
At the time, a source told Pvnew that Frankel was recruiting “former Housewife types” to join her crusade.
Former “RHONY” star Leah McSweeney subsequently alleged in a bombshell lawsuit that Cohen offered cocaine to his favorite “Housewives.”
She also claimed the “Watch What Happens Live” host took advantage of her alcohol problem in an attempt to boost ratings.
A rep for Cohen previously denied the accusations, telling us, “The claims against Andy are completely false.”
In February, “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum Brandi Glanville also called out Cohen for his alleged “extraordinary abuse of power.”
She claimed in a lawsuit obtained by Pvnew that he invited her to watch him have sex with “Below Deck” star Kate Chastain.
However, Glanville’s allegations were later “found to be unsubstantiated.”
