Bethenny Frankel pitched a show to Bravo months before calling out the “grotesque and depraved” mistreatment of reality TV stars, according to a juicy new report.
Sources tell Page Six that just months before her lawyers sent Bravo a blistering legal letter, the former Real Housewives of New York City pitched a Connecticut-based reality series that would follow the lives of “rich Connecticut families” — and their children.
Here’s what the Page Six report said:
“We’re told the former Real Housewives of New York star — who starred in two of her very own spin-offs and a smattering of other shows for the NBCUniversal subsidiary — got the go-ahead from network execs to develop the show, which was set to star Susan Sarandon’s daughter, the actress/blogger Eva Amurri.
But we hear there was some kind of bust-up between Frankel and the production company that she was working with and the project was shelved, though Bravo remained theoretically interested in the comings and goings of Westport’s most delectably nepo-licious residents.”
The gossip outlet reached out to Bravo for comment and was told “we don’t comment on shows that were potentially in development. Please reach out to Bethenny’s rep.”
Bethenny fights back
These anti-Bethenny stories from Page Six should come as no surprise considering the former RHONY star is waging an all-out war on her former network.
As previously reported on TVDeets.com, Bethenny Frankel’s high profile attorneys Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos have sent a letter to NBC, accusing the organization of “tormenting” their unnamed clients, who are all employees or contracted to Bravo, E!, and CNBC.
The letter is demanding that NBC preserve a variety of receipts and information, including footage from various shows, with the attorneys alleging the organization has “threatened [cast members] with ruin should they decide to speak out about their mistreatment.”
In a post on TikTok after the letter was made public, Bethenny opened up about why she is taking on NBC. “Some of you say that ‘people,’ overall, ‘sign up for this and they get what they deserve.’ This entire systemic change and systemic problem is not just about talent, it’s not about people who have made millions of dollars,” she explained. “It’s about production, it’s about people that are weak that have been used and discarded, it’s about manipulated contracts. It’s an entire sphere and space in entertainment that has gotten away with manipulation and exploitation without compensation.”
Despite Bethenny’s public campaign against Bravo, few reality stars have been willing to put their own names on the line. In a recent Page Six piece, both Lea Black and Dorinda Medley explained why they would not be joining her efforts.
“My experience has been positive. I’ve been part of the network for nearly 10 years, and I’ve loved getting to share my journey with the viewers,” Dorinda told the gossip outlet.
Lea, for her part, was much clearer in her position: “Bethenny likes to be the hero but she should be grateful,” the former Real Housewives of Miami star explained. “I can’t even wrap my head around anyone being so ungrateful for the opportunity that they want to sue the person that gave it to them.”
