Leah McSweeney broke her silence on her lawsuit against Bravo and Real Housewives franchise executive producer Andy Cohen on Thursday.
The Real Housewives of New York star, 41, is suing the network and Cohen, 55, for alleged discrimination and a hostile work environment, and claims a “rotten” work culture caused cast members to consume alcohol, causing her to relapse.
The now-sober reality star opened up about facing a “powerful entity” like Bravo during her appearance on the show Addiction Discussion podcast.
She said that even though the trial has caused blowback, it doesn’t matter because “it’s the truth, you know?” And I have it on my side.
DailyMail.com has contacted Bravo representatives for comment.
Leah McSweeney broke her silence on her lawsuit against Bravo and Real Housewives franchise executive producer Andy Cohen on Thursday.
The Real Housewives of New York star, 41, is suing the network and Cohen for alleged discrimination and a hostile work environment, and claims a ‘rotten’ work culture caused cast members to consume alcohol ; Leah pictured with Andy
“As difficult as it is to face a very powerful entity, and people maybe just disagree with me or, you know, come up to me and get negative reactions and stuff, I ‘Don’t care, because that’s the truth, you know?’ she shared.
“And my intentions are really good. And I check myself on that all the time,” the star added.
Leah added that she’s doing “great” all things considered.
“I rely on my program, my meetings, my sober friends and my regular friends who aren’t sober but are amazing,” she shared.
“And I use the things I learned in recovery about intention and inventory.” And I’m in a really good place right now.
“It took a long time to get here. It’s a journey and it’s not linear.
“What I learned is to have a healthy fear of your addiction. And it never feels like it’s that far away. Because that’s not the case.
“I have a very healthy fear of my addiction and alcoholism. But I’m fine.
Later, she added: “Even when you’re in a really good place, it still hurts. It’s still not a pleasant experience having people come up to you or dealing with the situation I’m in.
The reality star, who is sober, opened up about facing a “powerful entity” like Bravo during her appearance on the Addiction Talk podcast.
She said that even though the trial has caused blowback, it doesn’t matter because “it’s the truth, you know?” And I have it on my side’
“And my intentions are really good. And I check myself on that all the time,” the star added. Leah added that she’s doing “fine” all things considered.
McSweeney (seen in an Instagram post) said in court that Bravo producers sought to sabotage his sobriety by exacerbating it and preventing him from getting treatment for his problem.
When asked if she would go on reality TV knowing what she knows now, or if she regrets it, Leah replied: “As an addict, there are so many things that don’t have been great, which I might regret. But what’s the point? I can’t change it now.
Her interview follows news that Cohen and his legal team are threatening the ex-RHONY star with legal action after she claimed he did cocaine with her favorite Real Housewives stars.
Last month, producer and Bravo personality Cohen was accused of “using cocaine with housewives he employs,” according to a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York by McSweeney.
A representative for Cohen told Dailymail.com that “the allegations against Andy are completely false” at the time and today, a letter from Cohen’s lawyers obtained by TMZ urged McSweeney to retract his “categorically false” allegations or face a trial.
Cohen’s lawyers said everything McSweeney claimed in the lawsuit was false and added on the cocaine complaint: “(We) demand that you immediately retract and remove all allegations relating to the alleged ‘cocaine use’ of Mr. Cohen.”
“Let me be clear: these allegations are categorically false. Mr. Cohen has never used cocaine with any cast member of any Real Housewives show or with any other Bravo employee. The absence of any reasonable basis for making such allegations is confirmed by your pleading itself.
His lawyers point out that no details are included in the allegation and say McSweeney made the explosive statement “just for headlines and a quick payday.”
A source close to McSweeney told the publication she was “flabbergasted” that Cohen continued to draw attention to the case in the press “rather than just letting it play out in court.”
Her interview follows news that Cohen and his legal team are threatening the ex-RHONY star with legal action after she claimed he did cocaine with her favorite Real Housewives stars; seen with Cohen and Sonja Morgan on Watch What Happens Live
Cohen “intentionally uses cocaine with his employees to further promote a work culture that thrives on drug and alcohol use, leading to a failure to accommodate disabled employees who attempt to remain substance-free ” McSweeney said in court.
A rep for Cohen told Dailymail.com that “the allegations against Andy were completely false” at the time and now, a letter from Cohen’s lawyers obtained by TMZ has urged McSweeney to retract his “categorically false” allegations or make facing a trial.
McSweeney’s lawsuit filed last month against Cohen and Bravo alleges that cocaine use is rampant at the network, with the lead producer and on-air personality both using the illegal drug and supplying it to employees.
McSweeney said in court documents reviewed by Page six that Cohen “tends to give the housewives he uses cocaine with more favorable treatment” and a strategic setup to make them more beautiful.
Cohen “intentionally uses cocaine with his employees to further promote a work culture that thrives on drug and alcohol use, leading to a failure to accommodate disabled employees who attempt to remain substance-free ” McSweeney said in court documents.
McSweeney appeared on two seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City in 2020-2021, and one season of Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, which aired last year.
McSweeney said in legal documents that Bravo “thrives off the use of drugs and alcohol,” without naming other parties after Cohen.
She said she informed Bravo producers before her casting for the series, that she focused on staying sober, and that she had a 30-day sobriety streak before the show began. series.
McSweeney told the court that producers failed to make a “reasonable accommodation” for her addiction-related disability – but instead provided her with “free, unlimited alcoholic beverages” and “encouraged her to consume these alcoholic beverages “.
McSweeney’s legal team said “this environment caused Ms. McSweeney to relapse into alcohol addiction shortly after joining Season 12 of RHONY.”
McSweeney appeared on two seasons of The Real Housewives of New York City in 2020-2021, and one season of Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, which aired last year; seen in 2021
McSweeney said in court that Bravo producers sought to sabotage his sobriety by exacerbating it and preventing him from getting treatment for his problem.
McSweeney told the court that Bravo executives violated her employment rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act by preventing her from getting help for her alcohol problems, knowing that she faced it.
McSweeney, who owns a fashion brand called Married To The Mob, said in legal documents that sexual harassment was also rife at the company, saying a senior producer “regularly sent unsolicited photos of (their) genitals to lower-level production employees. » and that leaders ignored the problems.
McSweeney’s suit, which seeks unspecified damages, names Cohen, Bravo, Shed Media and Shed’s parent company, Warner Media.