- Reality TV stars denounce NBCUniversal and Bravo for tying up their NDAs that prevent them from talking about misconduct including racism, sexism, sexual assault, revenge porn and more.
- Non-disclosure agreements violate California law by forbidding actors from disclosing evidence of wrongdoing, and studios have been accused of using these contracts to enforce silence.
- Reality TV stars are seeking fair treatment, including fair pay and protection from exploitation, through unionization efforts supported by SAG-AFTRA and reality TV stars such as Bethenny Frankel and Nene Leaks.
As momentum builds to unite reality TV stars among ongoing RGV And SAG-AFTRA strikes, a letter was sent to NBCUniversal and Bravo on behalf of reality show contestants denouncing the studios for tying up NDA stars that prevent them from talking about illegal behavior. Alleged misconduct includes but is not limited to racism, sexism and sexual assault. A letter sent by a lawyer Brian Friedmancalls the agreements “draconian” and says the studios are responsible for “wrongdoing more than previously thought”.
The letter alleges that non-disclosure agreements reality TV stars are forced to sign violate California law because they prohibit actors from disclosing wrongdoing committed by witnesses. The law firm’s investigation led to the “inevitable conclusion that NBC and its production partners are tackling the systemic rot that [disclosure] is the first necessary remedial action”, but this was made impossible by “the draconian terms of NBC’s contracts with the cast and crew”. the studio is “wielding these contract terms like a sword” to ensure silence.
The alleged misconduct includes not only the aforementioned racism, sexism, and sexual assault, but also revenge porn, child labor violations, forced intoxication of actors, and psychological, emotional, and physical abuse. Friedman aims to completely exempt reality TV stars from the NDA, but at least give them the opportunity to publicly discuss illegal behavior witnessed during filming. Friedman with co-counsel Mark Geragos, recently spoke out against NBC, arguing that actors are being exploited for a variety of reasons, including mental illness, as they are subjected to “grotesque and depraved abuse.” The original letter sent to the studio also spoke of “deliberate attempts to cause mental instability by drugging actors with alcohol, depriving them of food and sleep.”
Reality TV stars fight for fair treatment
This is the latest attempt to get studios to treat reality TV stars fairly as tensions have escalated amid ongoing strikes. While the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are fighting over issues like protection from AI tools and fairer pay, reality TV stars are also speaking out about unfair pay. Former-The Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel led the charge in calling for unionization of reality TV stars as she denounced studios for not paying residual payments to actors, despite how mainstream their shows could become. She shared that she was only paid $7,250 to appear on the hit show Brave and didn’t receive any extra payments despite the show’s success.
Frankel’s comments were echoed by a colleague real housewives star Nene Lixand SAG-AFTRA, who released a statement saying: “We encourage any reality show performers and/or contestants to contact SAG-AFTRA Entertainment Contracts so that we can work together to protect reality show performers ending in exploitative practices. that have developed in this area and find a new way to embrace the Union”.
Source: Collider
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