Bravo’s Andy Cohen is finally opening up about the Real Housewives reckoning and the accusations that have been made against him. Get all the details here!
Andy Cohen told The Hollywood Reporter that he has “no regrets about the way [he has] handled anything” amid the sexual harrassment acucsations he faces from former Real Housewives.
“Obviously, it’s no fun to be a target,” he said, noting that the recent allegations about his behavior are “hurtful.”
“But I have no regrets about the way I’ve handled anything,” he adds.
While the Watch What Happens Live host couldn’t “talk about” the specific lawsuits for obivous legal reasons, he explained how he is remaining postive during the litigation.
“I think everything that happens in your life informs the next thing that happens in your life,” Andy Cohen said. “That’s the way I look at all this. I know what the truth is and I know how I’ve conducted myself, and I walk tall every day on that.”
He then addressed Leah McSweeney‘s February claim that he and Bravo preyed on her alcoholism for ratings on the Real Housewives of New York.
“We have so many sober people and people who have gotten sober on the show,” he said. “So sure, there are people who drink. There are many people who never drink. We don’t force anyone to do anything. But no one is secretly hiding liquor bottles on set. That’s ridiculous. We’ve been very supportive of people’s sobriety.”
Andy Cohen also insisted that Bravo doesn’t need to use alcohol to create drama on the Real Housewives.
“We don’t need to gin up drama! Have you seen Ramona Singer on a random Tuesday at 1 p.m.? Have you ever run into Lisa Rinna at noon? Lisa Rinna does not need a glass of rosé in order to tell you exactly how she is feeling. Margaret Josephs only drinks Diet Coke, and she is a truth cannon wherever she goes. I don’t think Teresa Giudice would say that it was the red wine that caused her to flip that table! We start filming the reunions at 6 a.m. for God’s sake!”
When it comes to Bethenny Frankel‘s call for a reality TV union, the father of two explained:
“I have a lot to say about that. But I need to make clear that I’m speaking as an independent producer. This is not Bravo speaking. This is my take on it. If you look at shows like American Idol, Survivor, The Bachelor or the Below?Deck people, 90?percent or more of the reality stars on them are on for one season or less.”
Andy Cohen continued, “Also, acting is a full-time profession. You don’t go to school to be a reality star. Reality stars typically have other jobs. They’re bar owners, they’re designers. They’re doctors. I think the way that Bravo pays people is that it’s a buyout — they’re buying them out for a show that can be distributed in certain ways, and the longer you stay on, the higher your salary gets. And salaries for people who have been on a long time are really high.”
“Look, you’re not drafted into the Real?Housewives. You either want to be on the show or not, and you either see it as having some greater benefit for you or not. You have a business you’re trying to launch, you have a music career you’re trying to launch, you want exposure. And so you say, “OK, I’m going to look at this for the long game and maybe parlay my exposure on the show into other lucrative opportunities.” And many of them do just that,” he added.
As for whether or not he’s hurt by some of Bethenny’s recent comments about him, Bravo executive producer said:
“You know, I am a nostalgic person. I’m someone who appreciates everyone being on the same ride. I’m incredibly proud of the close relationships I’ve built in my 20 years at the network. I’m super proud of what we’ve built and of everybody who’s been a part of it. I think most people involved with these shows have been very grateful for the platform, but there will always be a few with complaints.”
“There are legions of fans who are passionately devoted to this brand. It’s a tonic that helps them get through the pains and obstacles in their lives. When I got onstage at BravoCon, I was just blown away — 35,000 screaming people who came in from all across the globe. It was an intense experience that helped me put all this in perspective.”
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