Bethenny Frankel, former star of “Real Housewives of New York” and now an entrepreneur, recently discussed her efforts to advocate for the unionization of reality TV and the challenges she has faced along the way. In an episode of the “Literally! With Rob Lowe” podcast, Frankel revealed that while some Hollywood executives have praised her for speaking out, others, including Bravo executive Andy Cohen, likely disdain her efforts due to personal and industry-related reasons.
Frankel stressed the importance of unionization in the reality TV genre to ensure that cast and crew members are protected and have fair working conditions. She expressed concerns about the exploitation of reality stars and the use of restrictive nondisclosure agreements that she deems unrealistic. According to Frankel, these agreements prevent reality TV personalities from speaking out about their experiences and potentially pursuing fair compensation.
Following her initial social media posts questioning the lack of unionization in reality TV, Frankel has been working with lawyers to develop a plan of action. She also revealed that she has received support from the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA, who are interested in exploring ways to include language in contracts that would protect reality TV cast and crew members and address issues related to exploitation and unrealistic NDAs.
In July, Frankel took to Instagram to share a video discussing the idea of a reality TV union. She questioned why reality TV was not joining other entertainment sectors in the ongoing strike and emphasized that reality TV played a significant role in the success of the industry during the writers’ strike. Frankel argued that networks and streamers should not be able to profit from reality stars without recognizing their contribution to the entertainment industry. She also revealed that she had never received residuals, raising questions about the fairness of compensation for reality TV personalities.
In response to concerns raised by cast and crew members, Bravo recently clarified its nondisclosure agreements. NBCUniversal, the parent company of Bravo, received letters from lawyers representing individuals involved in Bravo, E!, and CNBC series, alleging mistreatment and overly restrictive NDAs. Bravo stated that confidentiality clauses are standard practice to prevent the disclosure of storylines but clarified that they are not intended to prevent the disclosure of unlawful acts in the workplace. The network also assured current and former cast and crew members that they are free to discuss and disclose any allegedly unlawful acts or inappropriate behavior. However, further comments from Andy Cohen regarding the matter were not available.
Overall, Bethenny Frankel’s advocacy for the unionization of reality TV highlights the need for fair working conditions and protection for cast and crew members. Her efforts have garnered both praise and criticism within the industry, with some executives acknowledging the importance of her message and others resisting potential changes. As the discussion around unionizing reality TV progresses, it remains to be seen what impact Frankel’s advocacy will have on the industry.
