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Does Bravo Have a First Amendment Right to Get Its Stars Drunk?

That’s NBCU’s surprising legal rebuttal to the Leah McSweeney lawsuit. And, even more remarkably, there’s actually some precedent for the argument.

real housewives of new york
Despite the new guidelines, NBCU is maintaining that featuring tipsy talent is its prerogative. Naturally, this is a messy debate. Photo: Courtesy of Bravo
Eriq Gardner
June 12, 2024

Back in February, former Real Housewives of New York star Leah McSweeney filed a sensational lawsuit detailing abuse she claims to have endured as a cast member on the show. Of course, reality TV is no stranger to offscreen legal drama (particularly lately), but McSweeney’s allegations are genuinely striking. She claims executive producer and franchise megastar Andy Cohen gave more favorable edits to housewives who snorted cocaine with him (he has vigorously denied this) and that he once congratulated McSweeney on a boob job. (She texted back, “Thank you! Can’t wait to get naked next year and show them.” Make of that what you will.)