For once, there’s an ugly fight that Bravo doesn’t want its viewers to ogle.
The reality network is trying to take its bitter legal battle with one-time star Leah McSweeney behind closed door, Page Six has learned, with its lawyers taking another swing at preventing her lawyers from delving into its private documents and making its execs sit for under-oath interviews.
And McSweeney’s lawyers claim the move is intended to hide “damaging evidence” from the public.
In 2024, the former “Real Housewives of New York City” star claimed in a lawsuit that producers — including famed “Housewives” honcho Andy Cohen — had pressured her to fall off the wagon when she was appearing on two of its shows, “Real Housewives of New York City” and “Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip,” because they believed it would make for better ratings.
She also claimed that Cohen had sexually harassed her by asking on air about her boob job and made comments about it in texts. (He has denied all wrongdoing).
It was in McSweeney’s contract when she signed up for “Real Housewives of New York” that any disagreements between she and the network would be handled in private, rather than in court. But there’s a law that says sexual harassment allegations should be heard in court, regardless of what it says in a contract. So the case went to court because of the boob job claims.
But earlier this year a judged tossed that chunk of McSweeney’s suit. So Bravo’s briefs say the rest of the case should now be handled privately, or “in arbitration,” per the contact.
What’s most interesting is that the reality giant’s lawyers are racing to stop McSweeney’s team from sticking its nose in those private documents and deposing execs, demanding that the court call an end to the so-called “discovery” process while the judge rules on whether the case has to go ahead in private or in open court.
“It comes as no surprise that [Bravo, Cohen and the producers] are once again trying to unnecessarily delay the matter by trying to move the case to [arbitration],” McSweeney’s attorney Gary Adelman of Adelman Matz told Page Six, “They think that this maneuver will shield the damaging evidence that, we believe, will be forthcoming as the case proceeds.”
“We are moving forward with the case, we are requesting that the [defendants] provide the evidence that we seek and we believe, that no matter where the case resides, the truth should come out and the public, who has the right to know, should know,” he said.
A rep for Bravo didn’t get back to us.