UPDATE
12:03 PM PT — Attorney Bryan Freedman joined us on “TMZ Live” Friday, breaking down the allegations being made against the studios … and while he has about 15 people interested in the case, he says hundreds will come forward.
He says tons of folks have been exploited for many different reasons, with mental illness being a big one — and it’s an alleged tactic Bryan thinks is “disgusting.”
Bryan claims these reality stars have laws that protect them from things like this, but something shady’s been going down. BTW, he also talked to us about an alleged “slave contract” that he says was utilized for production.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED — 6:39 AM PT
Some reality stars have gone scorched earth against NBC and, it appears, in particular, Bravo … claiming its reality stars have been subjected to “grotesque and depraved mistreatment.”
TMZ has obtained a letter sent by attorneys Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos to NBC, claiming current and former cast and crew members of its reality shows have been tormented. Among the allegations:
— Deliberate attempts to manufacture mental instability by plying cast members with alcohol while depriving them of food and sleep
— Denying mental health treatment to cast members displaying obvious and alarming signs of mental deterioration
— Exploiting minors for uncompensated and sometimes long-term appearances on NBC reality TV shows
— Distributing and/or condoning the distribution of non-consensual pornography
— Covering up acts of sexual violence
— Refusing to allow cast members the freedom to leave their shows, even under dire circumstances
The pornography claim is interesting … in the letter, the lawyers mention “distribution of revenge porn,” though they do not elaborate.
The letter demands that NBC retain a slew of information, including “nonconsensual pornography in connection with cast members … [and] alleged sexual violence perpetrated by or against cast members …”
The lawyers claim NBC has “threatened [cast members] with ruin should they decide to speak out about their mistreatment.”
This aligns with Bethenny Frankel‘s call to unionize reality stars.
We reached out to NBC for comment … so far, no word back.
Originally Published — 6:39 AM PT
