Andy Cohen has bashed a lawsuit filed by former “Real Housewives of New York City” star Leah McSweeney.
The Bravo head honcho’s rep told Deadline Tuesday: “The claims against Andy are completely false!”
In her suit, the 41-year-old reality TV personality alleged that Cohen, 55, “engaged in cocaine use with ‘Housewives’ and other Bravolebrities that he employs.”
The “Watch What Happens Live” host also allegedly favors the “’Housewives’ with whom he uses cocaine with more favorable treatment and edits.”
Andy Cohen’s rep said on Tuesday: “The claims against Andy are completely false!”bravoandy/Instagram
Additionally, the court docs allege that “defendants with the knowledge that Ms. McSweeney struggled with alcohol use disorder, colluded with her colleagues to pressure Ms. McSweeney to drink, retaliated against her when she wanted to stay sober, and intentionally failed to provide reasonable accommodations that would aid her efforts to stay sober and able to perform.”
The document was filed in New York City on Feb. 27 and also names Bravo Media, NBCUniversal Media, Warner Bros. Discovery, production company Shed Media US and producers John Paparazzo, Lisa Shannon and Darren Ward in the complaint.
McSweeney further alleged that Cohen and the TV network used her alcoholism to fuel ratings for “RHONY” and “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.”
McSweeney took to social media just hours after Cohen rebutted her claims.
The Married to the Mob clothing-brand founder blasted both Cohen and Bravo as “diabolical” in an Instagram post.
Fashion designer Leah McSweeney has previously struggled with alcohol and drug addictions and her lawsuit docs allege that “RHONY” producers “colluded with her colleagues to pressure Ms. McSweeney to drink, retaliated against her when she wanted to stay sober, and intentionally failed to provide reasonable accommodations that would aid her efforts to stay sober and able to perform.”leahmob/Instagram
“There’s something wonderful about the concept of reality TV — that millions of people you’ve never met can laugh with you, cry with you, empathize with and root for you,” she penned Tuesday.
“But the reckless and diabolical way in which people at the top drool over the mishaps and misfortunes of the women including myself are disturbing.”
McSweeney then claimed that Bravo’s reality shows are “run by people who create a dangerous work environment, encourage substance abuse to artificially create drama and cynically prey on the vulnerabilities of their employees.”
McSweeney alleged that Cohen and Bravo used her alcoholism to fuel ratings for “RHONY” and “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.”Elder Ordonez / SplashNews.com
She continued: “It’s a workplace culture where toxicity, alcoholism and pain are not only expected but encouraged and facilitated.”
McSweeney starred on “RHONY” from 2020 until 2021. In 2023, she was a main cast member on Season 3 of “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.”
The fashion maven got sober in 2009 after first becoming acquainted with drugs and alcohol in her teens.
However, she relapsed with drinking just several months before Season 12 of “RHONY.” In March 2022, she celebrated two years of sobriety.
Source : nypost.com
