As Bravo tries hard not to look like the Big Bad Wolf overseeing reality stars on the network, reps are once again trying to calm everyone down. They can send a thank you card to Real Housewives of New York alum, Bethenny Frankel. All of this is courtesy of her hot takes.
While Bethenny’s idea to unionize reality TV is excellent in theory, people are questioning her motives. Is it about equality for others or is it about Bethenny herself? In Beth’s latest move, she decided non-disclosure agreements are stifling the talent. Now Bravo claps back at her most recent claim. Variety has the scoop.
The NDAs of it all …
Beth has been at the center of a legal battle with NBCUniversal over the treatment of the company’s reality stars. In response, Bravo is stating publicly that it does not use non-disclosure agreements to silence its cast members.
Bethenny has been loudly advocating for unscripted television performers to receive higher salaries, benefits, and protections. She was inspired by the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, absolutely not overly butthurt about Bravo passing on one of her shows.
The attorneys hired by Bethenny to take on the big guys stated NDAs are presented to “stars” to sign and then forbid them from speaking out about alleged maltreatment. Additionally, the stars are ALLEGEDLY threatened if they voice any concerns.
According to NBCUniversal, they don’t provide non-disclosure agreements to prevent them from discussing time spent filming shows or reporting maltreatment. A Bravo spokesman clarified the goal of confidentiality agreements is to safeguard the plots of their shows. Not to prevent people from talking about their own personal experiences.
And to that I call BS because social media took the surprise out of plotlines YEARS ago. But a Bravo rep tried. “Confidentiality clauses are standard practice in reality programming to prevent disclosure of storylines prior to air. They are not intended to prevent disclosure by cast and crew of unlawful acts in the workplace, and they have not been enforced in that manner,” they said.
NDAs are to protect storylines?
“To be clear: any current or former cast or crew 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,” the statement continued.
Additionally, “We are also working with our third-party production companies to remind all cast and crew that they are encouraged to report any such concerns through the channels made available by the production company so concerns can be promptly addressed.” I hope we can hear from Bethenny’s “assistants” who sat around her apartment and helped with the birth of SkinnyGirl!
A source shared that Bravo and NBCUniversal demand third-party production companies give cast and crew multiple ways to report workplace misconduct and mandate production training protocols include information about reporting channels. Also, producers doing business with NBCUniversal are instructed to give cast and crew information on reporting channels or hotlines on their daily call sheets.
Shed Media, want to chime in on this one? 51 Minds? Anyone?
TELL US – DO YOU BELIEVE THE RESPONSE FROM BRAVO? ARE NDAS PREVENTING REALITY STARS FROM REPORTING INCIDENTS?
