Former ‘RHONY’ Star Leah McSweeney Stands By Lawsuit Against Bravo, Andy Cohen: “This Is The Truth”

Real Housewives of New York City alum Leah McSweeney has spoken out about the shocking lawsuit she filed against Andy Cohen, accusing him of fostering a “rotted workplace culture” that pressures employees to consume alcohol and illegal substances.

During a recent appearance on the Addiction Talk podcast, McSweeney stood by the lawsuit, saying that she chose to go up against the “powerful entity” of Bravo with “good” intentions.

“As hard as it is to be going up against a very powerful entity, and for people to maybe also just not agree with me or you know, come at me and get blowback and all the things, I don’t care, because this is the truth, you know?” she said.

She added, “My intentions are really good. And I check myself all the time about that.”

In the suit, McSweeney claimed that Cohen “engages in cocaine use with Housewives and other ‘Bravolebrities’ that he employs,” per People, and rewards those who used cocaine with “more favorable treatment and edits.”

The lawsuit also names Shed Media, Warner Bros. Discovery,  Bravo Media, NBC Universal Media and producers John Paparazzo, Lisa Shannon and Darren Ward as defendants.

McSweeney also alleged that the defendants failed to offer her proper support for her “alcohol use disorder” and other “mental health disorders.” The lawsuit also accuses the defendants of “intentionally planning scenarios intended to exacerbate [her] disabilities” to “create morbidly salacious reality television.”

Cohen has since denied the allegations and demanded that McSweeney retract her “categorically false” claims.

In a letter sent to her legal team, Cohen’s lawyers claimed that the lawsuit is “littered with false, offensive, and defamatory statements.” They also outrightly denied that Cohen ever used cocaine with “any cast member on any Real Housewives show or with any other Bravo employee,” per Page Six.

Cohen’s lawyers accused McSweeney of attempting to “force an unjustified settlement.”

McSweeney appeared in two seasons RHONY and one season of Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. She openly struggled with her sobriety while on the show, though she was sober again by Season 12.

The former housewife shared a statement after filing the lawsuit, telling her fans that Bravo shows are “run by people who create a dangerous work environment, encourage substance abuse to artificially create drama and cynically prey on the vulnerabilities of their employees.”

She wrote that the lawsuit can help bring changes to reality television so that it can “authentically depict the complexities of life while offering genuine support to those who share their stories.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.