Dozens of reality stars from the television giant NBC have denounced the audiovisual group for "covering up sexual violence, tolerating 'revenge porn', exploiting minors and denying mental health treatment" in a five-page letter to which they have had access various media such as Rolling Stone magazine or the Daily Mail, among others.
The explosive letter, addressed to Bravo Media, which NBC bought in 2002, E! and CNBC, which are networks controlled by NBCUniversal, claims that the universe of reality shows widely consumed by viewers is the reason why the alleged suffering of the stars "remained a secret for so long."
"As you know, NBC - which has more than 100 years of history - has a pattern and practice of grotesque and depraved mistreatment of the stars and crew members of reality shows, programs with which they swell their coffers," says the letter. "These people have been mentally, physically and financially attacked by NBC and threatened with ruin if they choose to speak out about this mistreatment. As a result, the seedy and dark underbelly of the NBC reality TV universe, widely consumed by the public, it has remained a secret for too long. Be aware that the day of reckoning has arrived."
As published by the Daily Mail, the reality star Bethenny Frankel, a former participant of the successful reality The Real Housewives of New York City and two programs derived from it that aired on the Bravo channel (NBC), has been the one who "has led the attack" against the television group, weeks after she herself criticized executives for exploiting "young talent" who are desperate to be on television. In fact, the law firm from which the harsh letter is sent, signed by famous lawyers Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos, is the same one that represents Frankel in other legal matters.
"I think this is going to be just the beginning of the truth about what's really going on," Freedman told Variety magazine. "I have met many people who have told me many stories. This will end up being a war and I am going to lead the war."
The reality TV business is notorious for contracts that essentially allow them to do anything with the people who participate and force them to keep quiet about their experiences. However, the lawyers allege that the situation has gone beyond what is legally permissible for such agreements.
In fact, Bravo is the most prolific network in reality shows within the group, with well-known titles, such as Top Chef, and with the reality show about millionaire women The Real Housewives, which currently has versions in dozens of US cities. Like Beverly Hills, New York, New Jersey, Dallas...
In the letter, which does not directly identify any of the clients represented in potential litigation, the lawyers outline six specific allegations on behalf of their clients: "attempts to manufacture instability through food and sleep deprivation and an abundance of alcoholic beverages , denying treatment with mental health specialists, exploiting minors by not paying them to appear on television shows, distributing pornography, concealing sexual violence, and binding cast members to their contracts even in the worst circumstances."
The letter explains that while the attorneys' investigations are ongoing, they are looking into what they describe as "intentionally inflicting emotional distress, fraud, distribution of revenge pornography, and false imprisonment."
"On countless occasions, which we will detail later, NBC has exceeded the moral and legal limits that are permissible in a civilized society governed by the rule of law," the lawyers wrote. "No doubt, when fully reported, the legal system, and the public, will agree."
In fact, the law firm whose name heads the letter uses harsh language to describe what its clients have had to experience, but they also ensure that practically all the papers and hard drives that the company has had on reality shows such as the Real Housewives franchise are now they should be preserved as possible evidence for a potential lawsuit.
The attorneys further state that "while our investigation is still ongoing, we have reason to believe that cast and crew members on NBC reality shows have been subjected to disturbing mistreatment by NBCUniversal and/or its employees, contractors and outside affiliates".
For its part, NBC was quick to respond to the harsh letter. The New York-based television giant told Deadline that the group "is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for the cast and crew on our reality shows."
"From the beginning," adds an NBC spokesperson, "we require our third-party production partners to have proper workplace policies and training. If complaints are brought to our attention, we work with our production partners to ensure that they are addressed." o Timely and appropriate measures are taken, including investigations, medical and/or psychological support, and other corrective measures that may be warranted, such as personnel changes."
NBC is not going to have an easy time proving that the accusations contained in the letter have not really occurred. Bryan Freedman has been at the forefront of some of Hollywood's biggest headline battles of late. He currently represents Vanna White in her fight against Sony for a higher salary on Wheel of Fortune. Negotiated pay for The Bachelor host Chris Harrison when he left the ABC dating show after coming under fire for defending a contestant's racist behavior, and won a 2020 settlement for Gabrielle Union after she alleged toxicity rampant in the workplace when she was a judge on NBC's America's Got Talent.
For his part, the client list of his partner, Mark Gerago, is even more spectacular, and includes, among others, Michael Jackson, whom he represented in one of the singer's first sexual abuse cases. He defended Winona Ryder in 2002 when she was accused of stealing more than $5,500 worth of merchandise from a Beverly Hills mall. In 2017, he helped Colin Kaepernick reach a confidential settlement after the soccer star alleged the NFL tried to stop him from playing when he took a knee during the national anthem.
"Something has to happen because the current system doesn't work," Geragos told Variety about the case. "I'm not a betting man, but if I had to predict, I think this will end up in court."
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
