Andy Cohen Suffers Major Setback In Leah McSweeney Lawsuit
The legal battle between former Real Housewives of New York City star Leah McSweeney and Bravo, along with its key figure Andy Cohen, is intensifying. A judge has now granted McSweeney’s attorney the opportunity to begin gathering private recordings and documents related to the case and to conduct depositions of key individuals involved.
Leah McSweeney’s lawsuit, which was first filed in February, claims that producers of RHONY and Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip deliberately tried to sabotage her sobriety in an effort to boost ratings. The suit accuses Bravo and Cohen, who is an executive producer on both shows, of pushing McSweeney to drink again to create more volatile and unpredictable television.
McSweeney’s Sobriety and Volatility Claims
McSweeney, who has been open about her struggles with addiction, alleges in her filing that producers believed her drinking would make her a more dynamic and controversial presence on screen, potentially leading to higher ratings for the network. The lawsuit also claims that Cohen himself engaged in drug use with stars from the Housewives franchise — an allegation he has strongly denied.
Legal Battle Heats Up
In a significant development, Judge Lewis J. Liman of the Southern District of New York ruled that McSweeney’s attorneys may move forward with the discovery process. This decision came despite a request from Cohen’s legal team to halt discovery while the court considers their motion to dismiss the lawsuit entirely.
Attorneys for Cohen and Bravo had previously asked the judge to pause the discovery phase — during which both sides can request evidence such as documents and testimony — until a final ruling on their dismissal request. Judge Liman, however, rejected that bid, allowing McSweeney’s team to begin delving into private files and recordings related to the case.
Lawsuit Targets Bravo and Production Companies
In addition to Bravo and Cohen, McSweeney is suing various producers, including Shed Media, which produces RHONY and Ultimate Girls Trip. The lawsuit also names NBC Universal, Bravo’s parent company, and Warner Bros., which owns Shed Media.
As discovery moves forward, the spotlight will remain on the allegations against Bravo and Cohen, and whether the records obtained in the process will support McSweeney’s claims.