Talk show host Andy Cohen has apologized to Brandi Glanville for inviting her to watch him have sex with Bravo star Kate Chastain, after Glanville filed a bombshell sexual harassment lawsuit.
Glanville, 51, claims an “obviously drunk” Cohen sent her a video saying he wanted to have sex with another Bravo star and invited her to watch the act over FaceTime in 2022.
But Cohen – an openly gay man – insists the video was intended as a joke, writing today on X, formerly Twitter: “The video shows Kate Chastain and I clearly joking with Brandi.” meant and Brandi's response clearly showed that she was in on the joke. However, it was completely inappropriate and I apologize.”
Glanville has not yet responded to the apology.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum accused Cohen of sexual harassment in an explosive legal letter obtained by earlier this month, which her lawyers sent to NBC, Shed Media and Warner Bros. on Thursday.
Glanville decided to wage a “public reputation war” against the network after she was “silenced” after her “Ultimate Girls' Trip” co-star Caroline Manzo made sexual assault allegations against Glanville.
Cohen (left) insisted in a new statement that the video to Glanville (right) was meant in jest
Cohen – an openly gay man – took to X, formerly of Twitter, to share a statement about the video
Kate Chastain at the 17th Annual Woman's Day Red Dress Awards in New York, February 4, 2020
has reached out to representatives for Cohen and Bravo for comment.
The Bravo star's identity was not revealed in the letter, but Cohen later revealed that it was Below Deck alum Kate Chastain when responding to Glanville's allegations on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
Cohen said that he and Chastain “joked” about dating, but acknowledged that it was “inappropriate.”
“The video shows Kate Chastain and I very clearly joking with Brandi.” This was absolutely meant in jest and Brandi's response clearly showed that she was in on the joke. Nevertheless, it was completely inappropriate and I apologize,” the WWHL host wrote.
In the legal brief, Freedman notes that at the time the alleged video was sent, Cohen was Glanville's supervisor while she was working on the second season of “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip,” a Real Housewives spinoff for NBC's streaming service Peacock .
She also worked closely with Cohen for over a decade after landing a spot on the hit Bravo series Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills in 2011.
'Mister. Cohen was Ms. Glanville's boss at the time and exercised complete control over her career. “This was an extraordinary abuse of power that left Ms. Glanville feeling trapped and disgusted,” he writes.
“It is inconceivable that Mr. Cohen would remain in his post despite this behavior, evoking the bad old days of Matt Lauer and NBC News when profits came before people.”
After 20 years as co-host, Lauer was suddenly fired from the Today show amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Although NBC denied rumors of a cover-up, journalist Ronan Farrow claimed in his bombshell book that the network took internal steps to protect Lauer.
Glanville's allegations against Cohen did not represent even a fraction of the explosive allegations her lawyers made in the new legal brief obtained by this week.
In it, Glanville's lawyer claimed she was “exploited and abused by NBC, Bravo, Warner Bros. and Shed Media” and accused the network of “hiding evidence” that would clear her name.
Glanville has decided to wage a “public reputation war” against the network after she was “silenced” in the wake of sexual assault allegations made against Glanville by her “Ultimate Girls' Trip” co-star Caroline Manzo.
The 62-year-old “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” star made headlines in 2023 when she claimed that Glanville kissed her without consent and even “kissed her vagina against her back” while filming the Housewives spin-off show in Morocco pressed”.
Last month, Manzo formally filed a lawsuit against Bravo over her claims that the production encouraged Glanville to engage in sexual harassment.
Now, in a new legal demand, Glanville's lawyers appear to be claiming that Manzo is lying and insisting that no attack occurred as they demand that the network turn over to them “all existing documents and data” related to the allegations.
Glanville, 51, claims an “obviously drunk” Cohen sent her a video in which he talked about wanting to have sex with another Bravo star and invited her to watch the act over FaceTime in 2022; seen in 2023
The Bravo star's identity was not revealed in the letter, but Cohen later revealed that it was Below Deck alum Kate Chastain when responding to Glanville's allegations on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday
Cohen explained that he – an openly gay man – and Chastain had “joked” about an affair, but acknowledged that it was “inappropriate”; Chastain was seen on February 14th
'MS. Glanville and Ms. Manzo engaged in “dirty dancing,” flirting and playful touching,” the letter said. “Throughout the night they shared a few kisses.
“We have heard of an alleged 'bathroom incident' through press releases, but Shed Media has repeatedly refused to allow Ms. Glanville or her attorney to view the footage in question; There is no truth to the allegations of impropriety.
The letter continued: “It is obvious that an allegation has been made; However, neither the nature nor the source of this claim has been clarified by NBC, Shed Media or Warner Bros.
“From press coverage – generated by malicious and intentional leaks – we understand that Ms. Manzo formally accused Ms. Glanville of sexual misconduct and that Ms. Glanville was subsequently sent home.”
They continued: “It must be emphasized that Ms. Glanville and Ms. Manzo were never alone together; Everything that happened took place in the presence of the cast and crew. “All events were captured on camera or recorded by microphone.”
Glanville's legal team maintains her innocence, insisting that the TV star was never alone with Manzo and that her co-star “at no time demonstrated a lack of consent.”
In the letter, Glanville's representatives also accuse Manzo of “providing a defamatory narrative” to the media and of being the source behind press leaks regarding the claims.
The letter states: “We have every reason to believe that Ms. Manzo, with the tacit or explicit support of Bravo and Shed Media, is the source of the early and extensive press leaks that began immediately after Ms. Glanville's return home.”
“Nevertheless, Ms. Glanville was cautioned to remain completely silent and not to defend herself.” She was further told that, assuming she complied with this policy, she would have the opportunity to work for Shed Media/Warner Bros. again, under on the condition that she complete six months of outpatient therapy with a therapist affiliated with Warner Bros. Ms. Glanville did so.
Freedman notes that Cohen was Glanville's supervisor when the alleged video was sent while she was working on the second season of “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip,” a Real Housewives spinoff for NBC's streaming service Peacock
Brandi Glanville's lawyer claims the TV star was “exploited and abused by Bravo” and accuses the network of “hiding evidence” that would clear her name in a new legal brief. Real Housewives of New Jersey star Caroline Manzo (right), 62, is suing Bravo, claiming the production encouraged Glanville to sexually harass her during filming of the Housewives spinoff Ultimate Girls Trip
“However, it later emerged that this was a false promise intended to silence Ms Glanville.”
It continues: “Meanwhile, Ms. Manzo, Bravo and Shed Media spread a defamatory story that destroyed Ms. Glanville's reputation, employment prospects, mental health and financial stability, and caused immeasurable harm to Ms. Glanville and her family.”'
In a statement shared with , attorney Bryan Freedman urged other “victims” of Bravo and NBC to contact their team and join the “fight” against the network.
He wrote: “This is yet another example of the abusive practices of the reality television industry.” Mark Geragos and I have heard from thousands of current and former reality show cast members about the physical and emotional harm caused to them by their participation became. NBC, Bravo, Warner Bros., and Shed Media are intentionally obscuring their legal rights, binding them to illegal contracts, and knowingly allowing them to suffer in silence.
“We know that there are countless innocent victims who have not yet told their stories or sought legal redress. “We encourage you all to contact us and join our growing team as we fight for change in this dirty industry.”
The letter highlighted that Glanville has been struggling with health issues since Manzo's allegations came to light, and said she was in “extreme distress” after Bravo attempted to “publicly humiliate and ruin” her.
The reality star has opened up about how her face was disfigured due to stress-induced angioedema – a condition that causes swelling under the skin
Glanville's team accuses the network of a “reckless disregard for the mental and emotional health” of employees, adding that Glanville was treated like a “sacrificial lamb” and faced “social and economic death.”
They search for evidence on the network's servers, storage, personal computers and portable systems.
The legal letter warns that “Ms. Glanville is in a unique position to reveal further revelations and is just one of thousands of stars who have taken a stand against the network in recent years.
TMZ previously reported that Manzo is suing Bravo, claiming production plied her with alcohol while they filmed the spinoff in Morocco in January 2023.
According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Manzo claims Glanville “pressed her vagina against her back” and “then mounted Manzo on the couch, pinned Manzo down with her body, forcibly squeezed Manzo's cheeks while sticking her tongue in Manzo's mouth.” she.'
The documents state: “The defendants, including Bravo, regularly ply Real Housewives cast members with alcohol, causing them to become highly intoxicated, and then instructing, encouraging, and/or allowing them to sexually harass other cast members , because it’s good for the ratings.”
Glanville previously revealed that her face was disfigured due to stress-induced angioedema – a condition that causes swelling under the skin
The star, pictured left in 2017, is working with a plastic surgeon to overcome her condition – pictured right in 2024
“Caroline Manzo is a victim of these harmful actions,” it continued.
In her full statement on the lawsuit at the time, a representative for Glanville told : “Unfortunately, Brandi has had to wake up to another lawsuit involving defamatory, false allegations about her.” During filming, Brandi followed the producers' instructions and it came to no sexual assault.
“She is innocent of these absurd allegations that have taken a toll on her mental and physical health for far too long, with no support from Peacock, Shed or Bravo.”
The statement concluded: “This painful storytelling seems endless and must stop. “She wants to go further and upward and reclaim her life.”
This isn't the first lawsuit against the network over the Housewives franchise.
Last year, butler Marco Vega — who worked and appeared on the second season of Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip — filed a sexual assault and harassment lawsuit.
In his lawsuit, Vega said he was “sexually harassed and abused” by Dorinda Medley while filming the show at Blue Stone Manor, and claimed he was slapped on the buttocks by Phaedra Parks and “forcibly undressed” by Glanville, who told him ripped the shirt off.
In her lawsuit, Manzo claimed that the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum kissed her without consent and even “pressed her vagina against her back.”
Leah McSweeney filed a discrimination complaint with Bravo last year, claiming she was forced to miss her grandmother's funeral due to filming commitments.
A lawsuit filed by McSweeney was said to be imminent, Page Six reported at the time.
Back in August, a bombshell letter revealed that 80 reality stars had banded together to accuse the network of “covering up sexual violence, condoning revenge porn, exploiting minors and denying mental health treatment.”
Bethenny Frankel was believed to be leading the charge, although the former RHONY star has since clarified that she is not among the people officially taking legal action against Bravo or NBC.