Leah McSweeney and Andy Cohen will slug their issues out in open court.
The former “Real Housewives of New York City” star has landed another huge win as her legal battle against Andy Cohen and Bravo progresses.
Leah McSweeney and Andy Cohen have been stuck in a contentious court battle for nearly two years as she claimed that the host, alongside Bravo and other producers, abused her alcohol addiction to boost the show’s ratings.
Leah McSweeney To Get Her Day In Open Court Against Andy Cohen
An order of 10 pages was obtained on Tuesday, March 17, stating that all parties involved in the case will proceed in federal court, as a judge denied a request to move the case to private arbitration. The U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman had stated that Bravo and Cohen had waited too long to request arbitration after they had already fought the case in court, so the defendants had waived that right.
PEOPLE noted that the judge stated that Cohen and Bravo wanted arbitration to avoid the “daunting specter of civil discovery.” Liman continued that because they litigated the case first, they waived their rights and were now “trying to have their cake and eat it too.”
Sweeney had reacted to the ruling on her Instagram story on Tuesday, March 17, admitting that it has become mentally and emotionally draining for her to discuss the case. She added that while reality TV might look entertaining to some people, there are toxic behaviors on there that should never be normalized.
What Did The Reality TV Star Accuse The Defendants Of?
In 2024, The Blast shared that the Bravo alum claimed the show benefited from the misery of some of its cast and would deliberately project them looking confused and clueless.
According to the TV personality, the producers of the show, who were fully aware of her inadequacies with alcohol and mental health issues, exploited her condition to boost the show’s ratings by further indulging her. She added that they succeeded in making her drink the first time, but could not manipulate her the second.
Sweeney continued that Cohen even did cocaine with some of the Housewives, although other defendants in the case have vehemently denied her claims. Cohen especially threatened to file a defamation lawsuit against Sweeney, urging her to retract her statement and insisting that he never used cocaine with any Bravo employee.
Leah McSweeney’s Allegations Tagged Cash Grab By Andy Cohen
The “Watch What Happens Live” host continued that the cocaine allegations were all a ploy to get the media on her side and induce a quick financial settlement. The media personality’s legal team noted that there is a need for more specifics in the cocaine claims. Still, the reality star would find it nearly impossible to come forward with that because all she has are baseless allegations.
“The truth matters. Litigation cannot be used to create fake news. And it cannot be used as a vehicle to spread false and malicious lies in furtherance of a shakedown,” Cohen added. They also demanded that the reality star issue an immediate apology to Cohen, noting that every day she failed to do that, increasing Cohen’s claims for damages.
McSweeney responded to the host’s claim, wondering why he insists on making their exchange public when their differences should be settled in court. However, a source from Cohen’s camp insisted that the host had the right to defend himself from McSweeney’s alleged lies about his character and reputation.
The Fashion Designer’s Lawsuit Against Bravo Is Unprecedented
McSweeney currently holds the record of being the first housewife to likely have her case argued in court, blazing the trail for possible future legal challenges against Bravo.
The Blast shared last April that while some parts of her initial filing got thrown out, the judge allowed her to pursue the central theme of her case, which is her claims that the network producers directly coerced or harassed her based on her addiction. She claimed that the producers often taunted her about her alcohol use, joked about her sobriety by directing demeaning comments towards her, while inviting cast members to participate in the humiliation.
McSweeney was also cleared to continue pursuing justice on her claim that the producers failed to fulfill their promises towards her request to attend an AA meeting during taping for “Ultimate Girls Trip.” Judge Liman had stated that the Bravo alum’s request could have been attended to without unreasonable hardship or expense.
Leah McSweeney Slammed Bravo’s Questionable Disposition Towards Andy Cohen
The 43-year-old took advantage of a sensitive moment between Brandi Glanville and Cohen in 2024 to pass an important message to executives at Bravo. Glanville, a former housewife, had filed a legal complaint earlier in 2024 against the TV host for alleged sexual harassment.
She claimed that a drunk Cohen had sent her a video in which he boasted about wanting to sleep with another Bravo star and invited Glanville to watch via FaceTime. McSweeney described the situation as abuse of power by Cohen and Bravo, especially since the latter has failed to hold him accountable for his bad behavior.
McSweeney, through her attorney, Gary Adelman, stated that the lack of disciplinary actions against Cohen was proof that Bravo sees itself as someone above the employment law. Adelman continued that Bravo and its producers have no regard for women who have contributed to the success of their shows over the years.