Bethenny Frankel’s lawyers are demanding that NBCUniversal and Bravo allow reality TV stars to break their nondisclosure agreements in order to reveal alleged mistreatment.
Attorney Bryan Freedman accused the companies of violating a California law that prohibits companies from forcing employees to sign documents that would deny them from disclosing “unlawful acts in the workplace,” according a legal letter obtained by Page Six.
Freedman alleged in the letter that some of the content that falls under that umbrella includes “racism; sexism; sexual violence; revenge porn; child labor; forced intoxication; and psychological, emotional, and physical abuse.”
The team of lawyers is requesting the company ideally release their reality TV stars from their NDAs, but if not, they want the personalities to at least be able to discuss alleged “illegal conduct” during production.
TMZ was the first to report on the letter. Freedman and NBCUniversal couldn’t be reached in time for comment before publication.
Frankel — who has not been shy in discussing the “bulls–t” business — reportedly hired Freedman and Mark Geragos to go after the networks earlier this month for allegedly subjecting their reality stars to “grotesque and depraved mistreatment.”
In the letter sent to NBC’s general counsel, Kimberley Harris, and obtained by Page Six, they accused the company of making “deliberate attempts” to “manufacture mental instability” by plying their stars with “alcohol while depriving them of food and sleep,” as well as denying mental health treatment for those displaying “obvious and alarming signs of mental deterioration.”
Sources told Page Six that around 80 stars from the network have expressed interest in joining Frankel’s coalition.
“It’s going to be a massive thing. There are multiple individuals wanting to join this … at least 80 people have reached out, men and women,” an insider told us on Aug. 4.
The source didn’t specify any names, but teased, “It’s definitely ‘Housewife’ heavy” with “multiple franchises of ‘Housewives,’ but it’s people from all different Bravo shows.”
Another insider doubled down that “Bethenny is recruiting people” — mainly “former Housewife types.”
Meanwhile, an NBCUniversal spokesperson told Page Six at the time that they are “committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows.”
“At the outset, we require our third-party production partners to have appropriate workplace policies and training in place,” the statement continued.
“If complaints are brought to our attention, we work with our production partners to ensure that timely, appropriate action is or has been taken, including investigations, medical and/or psychological support, and other remedial action that may be warranted such as personnel changes.”
