Over the years and multiple privileges, there have been Real Housewives Stars who have grown too big. Unfortunately, this is a trait that usually occurs among the stars of a certain franchise. I don’t know what it is, but there is something that bothers them and inflates their egos. There is no doubt that these stars have unparalleled star power, but that does not mean they should bite the hand that feeds them.
Bethenny Frankel – Real Housewives of New York
I thought Bethenny Frankel would be satisfied when she landed the coveted interview with Rachel Levis. But the CEO was only scratching the surface. Bethenny has inserted herself into the Scandinavian drama after years away from Bravo and the show that made her a household name. Following the success of her solo podcast interview, Bethenny has blazed a new trail she’s never been on by taking charge of a reality TV show.
Bethenny wasn’t exactly thrilled with her place on The Real Housewives of New York. In turn, she called for “systemic change.” In an Instagram post, she shared, “To succeed in reality TV, you have to kill or be killed. Not getting dirty means getting fired. Someone wins, someone loses in a zero-sum game where people like me get rich, and the less strategic go bankrupt or get canceled.” At the time, Bethenny was called out for biting the hand that fed her, but she was quick to respond by writing, “The hand deserves to be bitten.” She made sure to point out, “We feed the machine with ratings, ad dollars, catchy phrases and content. We get dirty, they get filthy rich.”
Leah McSweeney – Ronnie
Leah McSweeney, the reigning Real Housewives of New York, shocked viewers when she decided to sue Bravo. McSweeney’s complaint has been a point of contention among viewers. Before filing her lawsuit, she spoke to Vanity Fair, alleging that producers ignored her sobriety and that of other Real Housewives of New York cast members. Prior to her first season on the series, Leah relapsed after nine years of being sober. Leah accuses Bravo and the producers of “engaging in a guerrilla-style psychological warfare aimed at pressuring her to break down psychologically and cause her to relapse.”
Leah focuses on the producers who were with her during these experiences. The mother of one claims that they failed to “adjust to her bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety.” According to Leah, “the truth” is on her side. Speaking to Addiction Talk, she emphasized this by saying, “As hard as it is to be faced with a very powerful entity, and to have people also disapprove of me or, you know, come at me and have negative reactions and all that stuff, I don’t care, because that’s the truth. I’m on my side, and my intentions are really good.”
Nene Leakes – Real Housewives of Atlanta
Nene Leakes was the star who put The Real Housewives of Atlanta on the map. Between her ability to go from zero to 100 and her witty retorts, it was easy to love Nene. So, viewers were surprised to learn that Nene was alleging that the show had a racist environment. In April 2022, Nene filed a lawsuit in Atlanta federal court. At the time, the former peach carrier accused NBCUniversal, Bravo, True Entertainment, Truly Original, and Andy Cohen in the lawsuit, alleging that she worked in a hostile and racist environment. “NBC, Bravo, and Truly Original foster a corporate and workplace culture where racially insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated—if not encouraged,” the lawsuit reads.
However, in August 2022, Nene dropped her lawsuit. “All parties agree to dismiss the above-mentioned lawsuit, and neither party will seek to recover costs or attorneys’ fees in any lawsuit filed in this court,” court documents obtained by People read. The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning Nene could refile the lawsuit if she so desires.
Brendi Glanville – The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Brandi Glanville, star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, was not among those threatening to sue Bravo. In July 2024, Brandi said on X: “I have no choice but to sue Bravo. I have receipts from 4 days ago. This stress has ruined my health. I have angioedema from uncontrollable stress. I haven’t worked in a year and [a half]“I’m so depressed I can’t do my podcast and I’m so bloated because of 4cameo or Only Fans. I’m being used as a scapegoat.”
Brandi has been coy about the specific case, but she has hinted that it may have something to do with Caroline Manzo’s sexual harassment accusation. In a separate post, Brandi maintained her innocence, tweeting, “I was fired, removed from the cast, and held hostage in a hotel in Morocco for days! The cast rallied around me and didn’t want to continue without me. Due to the false bad press, I have been canceled from all jobs.” This isn’t the first time Brandi has bitten the hand that fed her. Previously, she asked her attorney to send her a letter alleging that an “obviously drunk” Andy sent her a video showing his “intent to sleep with another Bravo star that night while she was thinking and invited her to watch it via FaceTime.”
Tell us – do you think the Real Housewives were right to oppose Bravo?