Andy Cohen was hit with a lawsuit this week by former Real Housewives of New York City star Leah McSweeney, who is accusing both Bravo and Andy of encouraging substance abuse, playing favorites, overlooking sexually predatory behavior and more.
According to Page Six, Leah–- who appeared on two seasons of ‘RHONY’ (2020-2021) and one season of the franchise 2023 spin-off The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip –- filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday in which she claimed it was an open secret that Andy– “engages in cocaine use with ‘Housewives’ he employees” and tends to provide those individuals “with more favorable treatment.”
“[Andy] intentionally uses cocaine with his employees to further promote a workplace culture that thrives off drug and alcohol use, which leads to a failure to accommodate employees who are disabled and trying to stay substance-free,” the lawsuit alleges.
Andy–- an executive producer for ’RHONY’ and ‘RHUGT’ and host of Watch What Happens Live–- is named in the suit, along with network and production company Shed Media.
In the lawsuit, Leah claims that producers were made aware prior to her first season of ‘RHONY’ that she had been sober for 30 days and was working to maintain a sober lifestyle. Despite this, she says Bravo failed to allow her to seek proper care for her alcohol addiction and even “pressured her” to drink.
Leah’s lawsuit also accuses Bravo and Shed Media of being aware that a senior producer within the franchise “routinely sends unsolicited pictures of [their] genitalia to lower-level … production employees,” but that higher-ups fail to do anything to stop the behavior.
In a statement posted to Instagram Tuesday, Leah said she was “petrified to speak” on these allegations, but insisted to followers that their “favorite Bravo 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.”
She also claimed “there will be much more that comes out once the people involved are under oath.”
“Today I am taking back my reality,” she wrote. “ … the reckless and diabolical way in which the people at the top drool over the mishaps and misfortunes of the women including myself are disturbing. [Reality TV is] a workplace culture where toxicity, alcoholism and pain are not only expected but encouraged and facilitated.
“There is nothing more important to me than my sobriety, without it I risk losing everything,” she continued.
Leah went on to write that while she “may be a pariah” to those associated with Bravo as a result of her lawsuit, she hopes it will “help reality TV to align with its true purpose: to authentically depict the complexities of life while offering genuine support to those who share their stories.”
“ … Bravo can try to manipulate my reality and others’ all they want, but the cold hard facts of this case are as real as it gets,” she continued.
Leah’s statement and legal action were met with support by former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi Glanville, who fired off her own accusations against Andy just last week.
“We are NOT expendable,” Brandi comment on Leah’s post. “We are strong women & even stronger together. Time to take our power back.”
Page Six reports that Brandi accused Andy of sexual harassment in a letter written by her attorney. In the legal filing, Brandi alleged that Andy invited her over FaceTime to watch him have sex with another Bravo star–- later revealed to be Below Deck’s Kate Chastain–- while he was “obviously inebriated.”
Shortly after the allegations went public, Andy took to social media to apologize for the incident, calling it an “inappropriate” joke.
“The video shows Kate Chastain and I very clearly joking to Brandi,” he wrote. “It was obviously meant in jest, and Brandi’s response clearly communicated she was in on the joke.”
A representative for Andy responded to Leah’s allegations in a statement to Page Six on Wednesday, telling the outlet the claims against the executive producer and host “are completely false.”
Also on Wednesday, numerous Bravo show stars spoke out in defense of Andy.
Luann de Lesseps, who costarred with Leah on ‘RHONY, told TMZ Live that she’s “known Andy for years” and that it’s “not in his character” to do the things that Leah is accusing him of.
View this post on Instagram
“In the years and years that I’ve been doing the ‘Housewives’ I’ve never, ever seen any drug abuse,” she said.
Luann also addressed Leah’s claims that Bravo stars are pressured to drink on the shows.
“Part of [being on] the ‘Housewives’ is parties and of course there’s drinking involved,” she said. “But it’s not like anybody forced [Leah] to drink… it was hard for her, it was hard for me. But at the end of the day, you are the one responsible for your own self. You don’t have to drink to have a good time. Maybe that was Leah’s experience but it certainly wasn’t mine.”
Luann said she’s refrained from drinking while shooting the show and it was not an issue.
“Of course, alcohol is there but it’s up to you to decide to drink or not,” she said. “And if you feel like you’re no fun if you don’t drink then I don’t think you should really be on the ‘Housewives’ to begin with! You know what you’re getting into.”
Luann stated that sobriety is important to her just as it is to Leah but she “can’t agree that she was forced to drink.”
You can watch Luann’s interview below.
Cynthia Bailey— who stars on ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’— also answered TMZ‘s questions regarding Leah’s lawsuit and her claims that Andy encouraged the stars of the shows to drink and use drugs in order to create better TV.
“Everything that I did on the show was a choice,” she said. “I think grown people, at the end of the day, have to be accountable and responsible for themselves, and not put themselves in situations where, if they have an issue, it can cause an issue.”
She also defended Andy.
“I’ve known Andy for years,” Cynthia— who just appeared on ‘Watch What Happens Live’– said. “I’ve never seen him do blow [cocaine]. And he certainly never offered it to me. I’m just speaking for myself.”
UPDATE! On Wednesday, Page Six reposted a 2017 Twitter video of Kathy Griffin claiming that Andy allegedly offered her cocaine before both of her appearances on ‘Watch What Happens Live.’
View this post on Instagram
“Both times I did the show, both times before we went live, Andy Cohen privately asked me in an office in Embassy Row— which is the production company that does that s**t show— if I wanted to do blow,” she stated. “I’ve never had a drink in my life. You guys know I’m no prude, but I’m kind of a straight edge. I thought he was kidding the first time.
RELATED STORY: Tom Sandoval Claims In New Legal Filing That Ariana Madix Owes Him $90K; Wants Payback Before Agreeing to Sell Their Home
(Photos: Bravo; Instagram; Twitter/X)
Sure he’s garbage. But these lawsuits are garbage as well. You’re an adult. Act like one.
Nobody held them down and made them drink. Period…. Just trying to make money off other people because they are not making enough money to keep up with their lifestyle(s). I haven’t seen any proof of Andy doing Cocaine with anyone, so where is you evidence? Oh that’s right, there is no evidence.
Naked wasted. That was so long ago. I stopped watching at “naked wasted.”
Leah, you’re 40 years old no can make you drink unless you want to drink.
Take responsibility for yourself and your actions.