Bethenny Frankel’s Quest To Destroy Bravo and Andy Cohen Makes MAJOR Progress!
Bethenny Frankel’s Quest To Destroy Bravo and Andy Cohen Makes MAJOR Progress!
SAG-AFTRA announced Thursday that it’s working “toward the protection of the reality performers” in a commitment to end “the exploitative practices that have developed in this area” and “to engage in a new path to union coverage.”
The organization, which protects hosts but not contestants on competition-themed reality shows, stated — “We are tired of studios and production companies trying to circumvent the union in order to exploit the talent that they rely upon to make their product.”
The action comes after “Real Housewives of New York City” alum, Bethenny Frankel, called for reality TV stars to strike to win fair pay and to stand against abusive practices linked to various reality shows.
“Why isn’t reality TV on strike?” Bethenny said, via a recent TikTok video. “I got paid $7,250 for my first season of reality TV, and people are still watching those episodes.”
She pointed out that reality stars “are the stepchildren, the losers, the mules, the pack horses. The ones that the entertainment industry is going to rely on, right now, to carry the water and do the heavy lifting when real stars, real A-list Hollywood is on strike.”
The SkinnyGirl mogul continued — “Reality television exploits affairs, bankruptcy, falling off the wagon, not really having what you say you have, something inappropriate, risking cancellation every single time the camera goes on.”
Bethenny went on to retain powerhouse lawyers, Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos, to investigate the alleged mistreatment of reality stars.
Last week SAG-AFTRA announced that it had “engaged in discussions with Bryan Freedman at the Freedman + Taitelman, LLP law firm who has been retained by Bethenny Frankel around the subject of treatment of reality performers. SAG-AFTRA is the union that represents reality performers. Depending on the structure of the production and the performers involved, we can cover these performers under our Network Code Agreement.”
“We stand ready to assist Bethenny Frankel, Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos along with reality performers and our members in the fight and are tired of studios and production companies trying to circumvent the Union in order to exploit the talent that they rely upon to make their product.”
“We encourage any reality performers and/or members to reach out to SAG-AFTRA’s Entertainment Contracts Department so that we may work together toward the protection of the reality performers ending the exploitative practices that have developed in this area and to engage in a new path to union coverage.”
On August 3, Freedman fired off a letter to NBCUniversal, telling the company that an investigation was underway and that “we have reason to believe that cast members and crew members on NBC reality TV shows have been subjected to disturbing mistreatment by NBCUniversal and/or its employees, contractors, and third-party affiliates.”
Freedman’s list of allegations accused the network of depriving cast members of food and sleep while pushing alcohol use, denying mental health treatment, exploiting minors, distributing and/or condoning the distribution of nonconsensual pornography, concealing acts of sexual violence and refusing to allow cast members to leave their respective shows even in dire circumstances.
A NBCUniversal rep responded to the statement, telling Page Six that the company was “committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows.”
The statement read—“At the outset, we require our third-party production partners to have appropriate workplace policies and training in place.If complaints are brought to our attention, we work with our production partners to ensure that timely, appropriate action is or has been taken, including investigations, medical and/or psychological support, and other remedial action that may be warranted such as personnel changes.”
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