Caroline Manzo, a former Real Housewives of New Jersey star, is suing Bravo and its affiliated companies over an alleged sexual misconduct incident involving former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi Glanville, which occurred last year while filming The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.
According to documents, Manzo claims that during the filming of season 4 of the Housewives spinoff series, the network “regularly plied the Real Housewives cast with alcohol, causing them to become severely intoxicated, and then directed, encouraged, and allowed them to sexually harass other cast members because that is good for ratings.”
The document says Caroline Manzo was a victim of such behavior. Manzo left to use the bathroom, but Glanville cornered her and “groped, grabbed, and forcibly fondled Manzo’s vagina and breasts.”
Manzo, who the suit claims was a victim of sexual assault as a child, claims she called for help, which producers overheard while “listening to the interaction on audio.”
It alleges that someone approached the bathroom door, but “he didn’t open the door to intervene and prevent the sexual assault.”
The suit claims that instead of caring about her well-being, the production crew continued filming her “even though she was in distress from the sexual assaults.”
The next day, two members of production are said to have told Manzo that Glanville’s behavior was “just her way of showing Manzo love as per Glanville,” and that they wished to meet up again.
Both Manzo and Glanville left the series before it was completed.
Representatives for Bravo, Peacock, and NBC Universal—all named defendants due to their involvement with the show—did not immediately respond to EW’s request for comment. Reps for Warner Bros. and Shed Media declined to comment.
“Networks must always think about the safety and security of their employees. The housewives are not their pawns to abuse for ‘drama’ purposes,” Manzo’s attorney, Derek Smith, said in an interview.
“We believe this case is about the networks selfishly sacrificing the well-being of their talent for ratings and profit. Brandi Glanville stated that she was simply doing what the producers told her. Reality TV is causing severe emotional and physical harm to its talent. This must stop.”
“We are outraged by Bravo, Peacock, and NBC’s actions and eager to have the issues decided by a jury,” Smith explained. “Sexual harassment should never be considered entertainment!”
Along with Glanville, Manzo is suing production company Forest, network Bravo, and parent companies Warner Bros., NBCUniversal, and others in the New York Supreme Court.
Her case suggests these players also bear responsibility, potentially enabling harassment by pressuring the cast with alcohol and egging on dramatic situations.
By targeting not just Brandi Glanville but the wider reality TV machine, Manzo’s lawsuit tackles wide accountability for the welfare and dignity of reality personalities.
As the legal proceedings continue, Caroline Manzo’s case against Brandi Glanville and Bravo remains a watershed moment in reality television history.
It emphasizes the importance of transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior in the production of reality TV shows.
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