‘Ringleader’ Bethenny Frankel recruits ‘over 80 folks’ in Bravo, NBC conflict

It’s the facility of Bethenny Frankel.

Frankel enlisted authorized eagles Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos to wage a actuality conflict on NBC and its subsidiary Bravo earlier this week, based on Selection.

And we’re listening to the fact star neighborhood are greater than keen to hitch her trigger.

Freedman instructed Selection he’d heard from roughly “50 actuality present castmembers” and now a supply conversant in the state of affairs tells Web page Six there’s much more.

“It’s going to be an enormous factor. There are a number of people wanting to hitch this … not less than 80 folks have reached out, women and men,” they mentioned.

On Friday, Freedman and Geragos fired off a authorized risk to NBCUniversal’s Normal Counsel and Government Vice President of Comcast Company, Kimberley Harris.


Bethenny Frankel enlisted energy attorneys Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos to threaten the community with a lawsuit.
NBCU Photograph Financial institution/NBCUniversal by way of Getty Pictures

Within the letter, obtained by Web page Six, they accuse NBC and Bravo of creating “deliberate makes an attempt” to “manufacture psychological instability” by plying their expertise with “alcohol whereas depriving them of meals and sleep, in addition to denying psychological well being therapy for these displaying apparent and alarming indicators of psychological deterioration.”

Our insider wouldn’t identify names of the folks already concerned, however instructed us, “It’s positively ‘Housewife’ heavy” with “a number of franchises of ‘Housewives,’ nevertheless it’s folks from all totally different Bravo exhibits.”

For extra Web page Six you’re keen on …



They doubled down on the e-mail alleging the community is “feeding them alcohol, not giving them meals.”

“The circumstances are mentally exhausting to get the perfect content material,” the supply added.


Bethenny Frankel
Frankel was an unique forged member of “The Actual Housewives of New York Metropolis.”
NBCU Photograph Financial institution/NBCUniversal by way of Getty Pictures

One other Bravo insider instructed us it’s no secret that “Bethenny is recruiting folks” and believes the majority of her followers are “former housewife sorts.” Frankel was on a campaign to unionize actuality stars amid the continued SAG-AFTRA strike.

However maybe essentially the most pissed-off set may be these behind the scenes, with the supply describing Bravo as working manufacturing “like animals.”

“It might be an even bigger case with them,” they mentioned.


Bethenny Frankel
The Skinnygirl founder is urging actuality stars to unionize.
Michael Simon/startraksphoto.com

Bethenny Frankel
Frankel is working with Freedman and Geragos to research how NBC and Bravo deal with actuality stars.
NBCU Photograph Financial institution/NBCUniversal by way of Getty Pictures

Working example: We hear showrunners apparently walked off whereas filming the final season of “The Actual Housewives of New York” over insensitive feedback round race and sophistication.

They additional claimed the forged was silenced and “it felt like a cover-up” when Bravo didn’t air the reunion. They subsequently axed the OGs and rebooted with a brand new set of apples.

A spokesperson for NBC responded to Frankel and the facility legal professional’s threats, insisting they’re “dedicated to sustaining a protected and respectful office for forged and crew on our actuality exhibits.”

“On the outset, we require our third-party manufacturing companions to have acceptable office insurance policies and coaching in place. If complaints are delivered to our consideration, we work with our manufacturing companions to make sure that well timed, acceptable motion is or has been taken, together with investigations, medical and/or psychological assist, and different remedial motion that could be warranted corresponding to personnel modifications,” they mentioned.