Credit: JOHN NACION/startraksphoto.com, Bravo
Bethenny Frankel spoke of the money-making opportunities Ariana Madix was presented with as the result of “Scandoval” on a recent episode of her podcast while validating what both her and Raquel Leviss, aka Rachel Leviss, experienced after Raquel’s months-long affair with Ariana’s longtime boyfriend, Tom Sandoval.
As the Real Housewives of New York City alum, 52, said that Vanderpump Rules star Ariana, 38, was able to capitalize in the way that most are not and pointed out that she and Sandoval, 40, weren’t married and had no children, her attorney, Bryan Freedman, warned that the “horrific” stories of reality stars would soon be revealed.
“NBC, Bravo and its agents have wrongfully silenced even the most famous of these reality performers and continue to do so today. Their stories are horrific and in due time will be made public,” he told Page Six on August 30.
According to the report, the reality cast members, who Freedman did not name, are planning to join an “abuse” lawsuit threat led by Bethenny.
An insider added, “They got these performers wasted on national TV, there has been revenge porn, they have illegally filmed people having sex — and they are trying to keep people silent … You will definitely know their names.”
In August, Freedman and his fellow lawyer, Mark Geragos, have sent a couple of legal letters to NBCUniversal’s General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation, Kimberley Harris, accusing NBCUniversal and Bravo of making “deliberate attempts” to “manufacture mental instability” by plying their cast members with “alcohol while depriving them of food and sleep, as well as denying mental health treatment for those displaying obvious and alarming signs of mental deterioration.”
They also claimed the non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) the media giants force their talent to sign breaches California law because it prohibits them from disclosing “unlawful acts in the workplace.”
However, in response, Bravo said the NDAs are standard practice to ensure their storylines aren’t spoiled and added that talent is “free to discuss and disclose any allegedly unlawful acts in the workplace, such as harassment or discrimination, or any other conduct they have reason to believe is inappropriate.”
Bravo also noted that its stars have outlets to report inappropriate workplace behavior. But Freedman said this was a “bold-faced lie.”
“NBCU is a party to NDAs which specifically restrict disclosure of anything that occurs during the person’s employment. This clearly includes any illegal activity witnessed or experienced on set,” he alleged. “This restriction is enforced through a draconian penalty of $500,000 per violation for individuals making $28,000 or less. They can say whatever they want to but restrictions are actually in writing and are clearly intended to silence reality performers, producers, and crew members. “
As Bethenny continues her charge against the network that made her famous, she’s also continued to weigh in on “Scandoval,” most recently validating Ariana and Raquel’s experiences.
“If you go through a terrible, terrible breakup and then a windfall of money and business opportunities comes, you’re in rare air. That’s a rarity. Most people that get cheated on broke up with don’t have an influx of opportunities,” Bethenny began in a clip of Just B With Bethenny shared by By Wig, Hello Drama on Instagram. “It does not invalidate the fact that you’ve gone through something terrible. It just helps. Most people that have gone through bad divorces and custody battles don’t have a vehicle to make a lot of money off of that experience.”
After then confirming that she was referring to Pump Rules, giving a nod to her controversial three-part interview with Raquel, Bethenny said that although it may be “unpopular,” she feels for Ariana and Raquel.
“I validate Ariana’s experience as a woman who went through a breakup and was cheated on. I also validate Rachel’s experience of a woman who did terrible things for seven months, was duplicitous and cheated but then was emotionally abused in the process,” she noted. “Two wrongs don’t make a right. She went to an emotional help facility for three months that she paid for, it wasn’t paid for and she worked on herself. I am allowed to validate her experience as much as I am validating that Ariana was cheated on and broken up with.”
Bethenny also suggested that because Ariana and Sandoval weren’t married, the situation wasn’t as severe as some have made it.
“Breaking up with someone when it’s not legally binding and not having children and going through a custody battle is not the same thing. It’s not the same thing,” she stated.
