Brandi Glanville’s Lawyer Slams Producers ‘Cynical Ploy for Ratings,’ Demands PROOF of Sexual Harassment Claim
Brandi Glanville’s Lawyer Slams Producers ‘Cynical Ploy for Ratings,’ Demands PROOF of Sexual Harassment Claim
Brandi Glanville’s lawyers have demanded that Warner Bros. release audio and video recordings to disprove claims that she sexually harassed her Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip co-star, Caroline Manzo, while filming the show’s fourth season, in Morocco.
Caroline Manzo, 61, accused Brandi Glanville, 50, of touching her breast and genitals without her consent while off-camera on the set of the spin-off Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, in January.
Brandi’s attorneys argue that Shed Media, a Warner-owned production company that produces the show for NBCUniversal’s Peacock, should have immediately released the audio recordings from the stars’ microphones to show that Caroline Manzo’s accusations were unfounded.
“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 the letter addressed to Demian West, Esq., an attorney for Warner Bros., as well as Samantha Mirabello, an investigator for Warner Bros., and Lisa Shannon, the Senior Vice President of Programming and Development at Shed.
The letter obtained by Page Six accused Warner Bros. of withholding the tape for the sake of ratings, suggesting that the company hoped to generate interest in Brandi’s alleged misconduct by delaying the release of the footage while the accusations were being reported in the media.
Both supporters of Caroline Manzo and Brandi Glanville had claimed that the audio would vindicate their respective claims regarding the incident, which allegedly occurred on January 25th during a party while the cast filmed the reality series.
Brandi’s lawyer demanded that Warner Bros. release the tapes immediately in the letter addressed to Warner Bros. attorney Demian West, investigator Samantha Mirabello, and Shed’s SVP of Programming and Development, Lisa Shannon.
According to Caroline’s account, Brandi had given her unwanted kisses during the party, and then followed her into a bathroom with two other castmates, where she allegedly “pinned her against the wall,” and groped her over her clothing. Shed Media opened an investigation into the matter after Caroline made her claims the morning after the alleged incident.
Both Caroline and Brandi were relocated from the shared house where their co-stars were residing and subsequently stayed in separate hotels, before eventually returning to the United States.
“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,” he wrote, adding, “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 outlet, the studio has been made aware of three eyewitnesses who corroborate the alleged incident involving the two women, but Shed Media and Warner Bros. have chosen not to release the audio and video recordings.
The letter identifies two of the eyewitnesses as Gretchen Rossi and Alex McCord, but the identity of the third eyewitness is unclear.
Furthermore, the letter claims that Caroline did not object to Brandi’s behavior and was even “outspoken about her liberal views on sex,” offering her castmates the opportunity to touch her breasts to prove that they were not implants.
“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,” Levin wrote, “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 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,” wrote Levin, adding that, “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 further asserts that Shed Media sent Brandi home following the alleged incident (as well as Caroline), but then attempted to justify her removal from the show by insinuating that she engaged in sexual harassment with a different individual, namely a producer.
As reported, Brandi allegedly made inappropriate comments towards a producer, including stating that she wanted to have sex with them that evening in front of other cast and crew members.
Brandi , however, has denied any wrongdoing in either instance.
Levin further alleges that Shed Media instructed Brandi not to obtain legal representation or to attempt to address the allegations publicly, which he deems “unacceptable” and “disturbing.” Additionally, he notes that the company did not confirm whether Brandi Glanville had completed the mandatory sexual harassment training program required of all cast members prior to filming.
Representatives for NBCUniversal, Warner Bros., Shed Media, and Caroline Manzo declined to comment, and those named in the letter did not respond to requests for comment.
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