Brandi Glanville is fighting Shed Media, the production company behind RHUGT, over an incident between her and Caroline Manzo on the set of Season 4.
Attorneys for Brandi have sent a letter to Warner Bros. demanding that the company release audio and video tapes that they claim will exonerate the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, according to a new report from Page Six.
As previously reported, Warner Bros., which oversees production company Shed Media, is currently investigating Brandi after reports surfaced that she sexually harassed Caroline while filming Season 4 of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip in Morocco.
According to the gossip outlet, Brandi Glanville allegedly touched Caroline Manzo’s “vaginal area” in a bathroom as cameras rolled during a group dinner scene which is even more shocking than the original allegation that she had kissed the former Real Housewives of New Jersey star without her consent.
Caroline and Brandi entered a bathroom alongside Alex McCord following the first incident of inappropriate behaviour, along with a fourth cast member who has not yet been named. In the bathroom, Glanville allegedly “pinned Caroline against the wall” and “put her hands on Caroline’s breast area and vaginal area.” (The outlet adds that this information has been corroborated by many other sources.)
Shed Media, the production company overseeing the show, had been serving the cast alcohol and it is reported that Glanville was drunk at the time of the incident. While she reportedly apologized via text message to Manzo, the RHONJ matriarch ended up leaving the show early and Brandi was sent home by production over the incident.
According to a report from People Magazine, it was a production source that first alerted executives to the incident and Peacock has launched an investigation into the ordeal while the show is being edited in post-production.
Now, Brandi’s attorneys are arguing that production should have to release the audio and video tapes in order to stop the harsh headlines coming Glanville’s way.
“It is absolutely unacceptable that your company would knowingly and willingly allow such a story to take hold in the media, without any regard for the truth or the impact on Ms. Glanville’s reputation,” wrote lawyer Duncan P. Levin, Esq. in a letter addressed to Warner Bros. attorney Demian West, Esq., Warner Bros. investigator Samantha Mirabello and Lisa Shannon, Shed’s SVP of programming and development, according to Page Six.
He also reportedly referred to the headlines and gossip as a “cynical ploy for ratings.”
“In that bathroom, as the audio will confirm, nothing inappropriate or illegal whatsoever occurred. As you know both from your [investigation] and the audio and video that you possess, the four women washed their hands before returning to the party where they enjoyed some food and chatted,” the lawyer wrote. “Throughout, Ms. Manzo appeared to be having a great time and didn’t telegraph any signs whatsoever that she wanted Ms. Glanville to leave her side. Overall, the entire incident was comprised of some flirtatious conduct and kissing between Ms. Manzo and Ms. Glanville, and all of it was absolutely mutual and consensual.”
According to the letter, Gretchen Rossi and Alex McCord are two of three eye witnesses who reportedly saw the entire incident go down.
“Not only did the eyewitnesses ask Ms. Manzo if she was OK, to which she responded with a smile and thumbs up, but, after the alleged bathroom incident, when the group returned to the dinner table,” he continued. “Ms. Manzo made a lighthearted comment to the eyewitnesses about having been kissed by a girl before but never having ‘kissed back’ until now.”
The letter continues, “The night in question was one that was egged on by your own producers, who, earlier in the same day, encouraged Ms. Glanville to bring some ‘excitement’ to the party. When Ms. Manzo arrived at the main house, the two women spent time together, enjoying some shots, laughter, and dancing with the other women. It is beyond contention that you provided non-stop alcohol and an environment where the participants were drinking and smoking marijuana all day and night.”
The letter confirms that Brandi Glanville was in fact sent home from production on RHUGT Season 4 due to the incident with her also being absent from the recent Traitors reunion, which is also a Peacock original.
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Season 3 premieres this March while Season 4, starring Brandi and Caroline, is set to premiere early next year.
