Leah McSweeney Slams Bravo After Shared Bizarre Andy Cohen Video
By Afouda Bamidele on August 23, 2024 at 12:45 PM EDT
The Bravo drama intensifies with Leah McSweeney using Andy Cohen's low moment to support her scathing claims.
The "Real Housewives of New York City" alum recently slammed Bravo and its executive for believing they are above the law. She accused them of poor employee treatment, referencing Cohen's newly emerged video.
Earlier this year, former housewife Brandi Glanville filed a legal complaint against Andy Cohen for sexual harassment. However, the video he sent her wasn't unveiled until now — a moment Leah McSweeney happily cashed on.
Leah McSweeney's Lawyer Calls Out Bravo And Andy Cohen
Following the release of Cohen's drunken video to Glanville, McSweeney shared her two cents on the controversial situation through her lawyer. Gary Adelman didn't hold back, tearing Bravo and its executives apart for abusing their power.
"[Usually] if a person associated or employed with a company… sent a video like that to one of his employees, he would be immediately terminated," Adelman claimed, noting the lack of disciplinary action against Cohen showcased McSweeney's claims.
"It buttresses our claims and sends the message that [Bravo executives] 'think they are above the employment law' and really do not care at all about their employees. Especially the women who have made these shows successful," the attorney told Page Six.
McSweeney Refuses To Have Her Lawsuit Dismissed
McSweeney filed her bombshell lawsuit against Bravo, Cohen, and other producers in February, claiming they ran a toxic work environment and attempted to use her alcohol struggles for ratings. However, the defendants fired back with a motion for dismissal.
They argued that McSweeney's claims were without merit and cited their First Amendment rights to refute her claims of discrimination and removal from the Housewives franchise. Her attorney, Adelman, recently filed a response to their dismissal request.
In the papers filed on Wednesday, he claimed the defendants "evidently believe that merely because they are in the business of filming and displaying 'reality' television, the First Amendment provides them the unfettered right to discriminate against their employees."
McSweeney's team argued that if the defendants' First Amendment claim could be used in that context, "every employer in the entertainment industry would be permitted to engage in invidious discrimination against their employees."
Inside Cohen's Bizarre Video To Brandi Glanville
The video McSweeney's attorney highlighted initially made waves when Glanville filed her sexual harassment lawsuit against Cohen in February. However, the clip wasn't publicly shared until recently by The US Sun.
In the video message, Cohen and "Below Deck" star Kate Chastain appeared drunk as they addressed the camera. The "Watch What Happens Live!" host held a drink while slurring the words: "Brandi, we have something to tell you."
"Hey, b-tch!" Chastain chimed in as Cohen continued: "We are f—king tonight, and we're gonna talk about you the whole time." His partner echoed her agreement, noting it would be a "threesome" with Glanville.
"Actually, if you're around in like 90 minutes or two hours, do you wanna watch us on Facetime?" Cohen added, with Chastain confirming she was okay with Glanville watching them.
The Former Housewife Was 'Mortified' By The Proposal
Although Glanville responded to the sexual proposal with a vulgar statement, she claimed it wasn't from the heart. The former Bravolebrity felt she always needed to "match Andy's energy" to keep her job.
"Oh my god, my two favorite people!!!! I love that c-nt. Trust me, you're going to want me there if you're having sex. I have a magic p-nis," her response to the July 2022 video read, to which Cohen replied: "So I've heard."
As for how she truly felt about Cohen and Chastain's proposal, Glanville confessed: "I was mortified. This is my boss, he's my employer. This isn't the first explicit text message or email he sent me, but it's the worst one."
Andy Cohen Claimed The Video Was A Joke
In her legal complaint, Glanville described Cohen's actions as "an extraordinary abuse of power" that left her feeling "trapped and disgusted." She called for the termination of his position at Bravo; however, the executive fought back.
In a message shared on X, Cohen apologized for his behavior, claiming: "The video shows Kate Chastain and I very clearly joking to Brandi. It was absolutely meant in jest."
He also cited Glanville's response, noting her text message "clearly communicated she was in on the joke. That said, it was totally inappropriate, and I apologize." However, the former Bravolebrity believed he intentionally preyed on her due to her financial situation.
Will Brandi Glanville and Leah McSweeney be victorious in their respective battles against Bravo and Andy Cohen?
