Andy Cohen filed to dismiss Leah McSweeney’s discrimination and substance abuse lawsuit, claiming her allegations are “threadbare.” In the documents, Cohen’s legal team argued that McSweeney’s claims about him intentionally preying on her alcohol problems to bolster ratings should be dismissed. This comes after McSweeney claimed Bravo viewed her alcohol addiction and mental health disorders as an opportunity for ratings and drove her to drink through various methods, leading to a breach of her rights under employment law.
Cohen’s legal team argued against McSweeney’s discrimination claims, stating they never intentionally featured inebriated cast members on the “Real Housewives” franchise, and even if they did, it would be within their First Amendment rights. They claimed that the casting decisions and other creative elements of the show are protected by the First Amendment, and any judicial intervention would regulate their right to alter their creative works. The filing aimed to dismiss McSweeney’s allegations as they sought to abridge Cohen’s rights to convey messages through their creative works.
Regarding McSweeney’s claims of gender/sex-based harassment, Cohen’s legal team argued that the statute of limitations had passed, and her only timely allegation did not meet the standards of the New York City Human Rights Law. McSweeney’s lawyer countered Cohen’s arguments, stating that his motion did not have merit and essentially argued for dismissal on technical grounds without addressing the specifics of the discrimination claims. The lawyer suggested that agreeing with the defendants would imply that creative industries are not subject to anti-discrimination laws.
Leah McSweeney also sued Bravo, Shed Media, and Warner Media in addition to Andy Cohen. In her lawsuit, she alleged that Cohen engages in cocaine use with Housewives that he employs, and this behavior is well-known throughout the Real Housewives franchise. However, a representative for Cohen dismissed these claims as completely false, and Cohen himself labeled them as hurtful. Despite the outside investigation clearing Cohen of the drug allegations, McSweeney’s team remained skeptical and questioned the credibility of the investigation due to the lack of contact with her lawyers.
Cohen expressed that being a target is not enjoyable, but he has no regrets about his actions and confidently stands by the truth. He believes that everything that happens in life informs the next steps and takes pride in his conduct. The network cleared Cohen after an investigation found the drug allegations unsubstantiated, but McSweeney’s legal team questioned the validity of the investigation due to the lack of communication with them. They expressed doubts about the authenticity of the investigation and insinuated that it was not conducted genuinely.
Overall, the legal battle between Andy Cohen and Leah McSweeney revolves around discrimination, substance abuse, and harassment allegations. Cohen’s team is pushing for the dismissal of McSweeney’s claims, citing technical grounds and the protection of their creative decisions under the First Amendment. McSweeney’s lawyer is refuting these claims and arguing that the creative industry should not be exempt from anti-discrimination laws. The drug use allegations against Cohen remain disputed, with his representatives labeling them as false and harmful. The investigation’s findings clearing Cohen did not convince McSweeney’s team, who raised concerns about the lack of communication during the investigative process.
