Andy Cohen denies allegations after Leah McSweeney sues him and Bravo for toxic workplace environment
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Leah McSweeney has filed a lawsuit against Bravo and its executive, Andy Cohen, citing discrimination and a toxic environment but Cohen denied the allegations.
On Tuesday, February 27, the reality star who made her appearance on one season of 'Real Housewives' Ultimate Girls Trip' and two seasons of the 'Real Housewives of New York City' sued the network, according to ET.
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Leah McSweeney says she was warned not to speak against Bravo
After filing the lawsuit, McSweeney took to Instagram to share the reason behind her legal move.
The Married to Mob fashion designer said, "I was petrified to speak on it and was warned not to."
"Your 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 claimed.
"Today I am taking back my reality. 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. It's a workplace culture where toxicity, alcoholism, and pain are not only expected but encouraged and facilitated," she added.
Fellow Bravo alum Brandi Glanville has also threatened legal action against Bravo and Cohen expressed her support to Sweeney as she commented, "We are not expendable. We are strong women & even stronger together. Time to take our power back ⭐️."
Leah McSweeney claimed she relapsed in her sobriety during Season 12 of 'RHONY'
The 41-year-old reality star alleged that the defendants encouraged alcohol consumption and had a toxic workplace.
As per the 109-page complaint obtained by People, McSweeney alleged that she did not have a safe working environment amid her "alcohol use disorder" and "mental health disorders."
She further stated that after nine years of sobriety, she relapsed when she began the filming of 'RHONY's season 12.
McSweeney alleged that producers were "intentionally planning scenarios intended to exacerbate disabilities" in order to "create morbidly salacious reality television."
Before she joined the season 3 cast of the 'Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip', she filmed two seasons of 'RHONY.'
McSweeney accuses Cohen of engaging in "cocaine use with Housewives and other 'Bravolebrities' that he employs," and alleges he has a "proclivity for cocaine usage with his employees."
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"Cohen tends to provide the Housewives with whom he uses cocaine with more favorable treatment and edits," she alleges in the legal filing.
"Cohen intentionally uses cocaine with his employees to further promote a workplace culture that thrives off drug and alcohol abuse, which leads to a failure to accommodate employees who are disabled and attempting to remain substance-free," read the lawsuit.
