Andy Cohen and Bravo have settled a landmark lawsuit with “Real Housewives of New York” star Leah McSweeney, avoiding what would have been the network’s first courtroom trial against a cast member.
As Page Six first reported back in January 2024, McSweeney sued the reality giant, “Housewives” executive producer Cohen and others, claiming they had preyed on her alcohol addiction, callously attempting to get her to fall off the wagon because they believed she’d draw better ratings if she were drunk.
Other Bravo stars have sued the network — including the “Real Housewives of Atlanta’s” Nene Leakes — but in November 2024 the fashion designer’s suit became the first one taken all the way into a courtroom.
New York Judge Lewis Liman found after a hearing that Bravo had a First Amendment right to require its stars to drink to excess — but he said he wanted the network to answer for the allegedly brutal methods it had used to encourage McSweeney to drink.
Liman had noted that McSweeney — who appeared on two seasons of “RHONY” and a season of “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip” — alleged in her suit that producers “joked about [her] drinking issues in her presencedespite her requests that they stop, taunted her about her alcohol use disorder and tried to undermine her sobriety through harassing comments, directed other cast members to bring up [her] mental health and substance abuse issues and to call [her] a drug addict, and coached fellow cast members to further disparage [her].”
She had also claimed in the docs that they assured her she’d be able to attend AA meetings while shooting “RHUGT” but, once she was on set, told her she couldn’t go.
Now Page Six has learned that McSweeney has withdrawn the suit, and we understand Bravo settled with her. The dollar figure of the settlement is unknown.
Her attorney, Gary Adelman of the law firm Adelman Matz, told Page Six Friday, “We are extremely satisfied with the outcome [and] we are proud of Leah and her perseverance.”
McSweeney, founder of streetwear label Married to the Mob, had been sober for 10 years, but relapsed shortly before she began filming the show in 2019.
She found her way back to sobriety before beginning her second season, but she claimed in the suit that producers had pressured her to return to drinking. She also claimed in the papers that she suffered serious psychological and emotional anguish during her time with the show.
While making the case that Bravo rewarded substance abuse, McSweeney had claimed in court papers that Cohen had snorted cocaine with favored cast members. Not only did Cohen deny the claims, but he took the stunning step of accusing McSweeney via his attorney of defaming him (allegations made it court are protected against defamation claims), accusing her of a “shakedown” and demanding McSweeney withdraw the cocaine claim and apologize.
McSweeney has issued no apology and Cohen has not filed suit. Bravo didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
The post Andy Cohen, Bravo settle bitter lawsuit with ‘RHONY’ alum Leah McSweeney who claimed they preyed on her alcoholism appeared first on Page Six.
