Reality show stars have declared all-out war on NBC and Bravo, accusing the network in an explosive letter of “covering up sexual violence, condoning revenge porn, exploiting minors and denying mental health treatment.”

“Real Housewives of New York City” star Bethenny Frankel is leading the fight according to the Daily Mail. She is calling for reality TV stars to unionize. This seems to be occurring during the writers’ and actors’ strikes in order to nail the network while it is mired in negotiations.

“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,” Frankel said, referencing the recent SAG-AFRA strikes.

“I myself have generated millions and millions of dollars in advertising and online impressions being on reality TV and have never made a single residual,” she stated on Instagram last month. “So, either I’m missing something or we’re getting screwed too.”

(Video Credit: Daily Mail)

“It’s complete and total bullsh*t,” she added. “It just occurred to me, everyone is talking about actors and we don’t get paid sh*t.”

The stars charged they are the victims of “grotesque and depraved mistreatment” in the letter, which also asserted that both current and former stars were “mentally, physically, and financially victimized.” The letter has now reportedly morphed into a lawsuit.

The letter goes on to claim that the stars were “threatened with ruin should they decide to speak out about their mistreatment.”

Frankel previously accused executives of exploiting “young, doe-eyed talent” who are desperately seeking fame on TV, according to the Daily Mail.

The letter was addressed to Bravo Media, E!, and CNBC, all of which are controlled by NBC Universal. It bluntly states that the networks’ massively popular reality TV universe is the reason the stars’ purported suffering has “remained under wraps for far too long.”

NBC & Bravo have been hit with a major lawsuit from their reality stars, who allege sexual and mental exploitation.

The stars accuse the networks of distributing non-consensual pornography and covering up acts of sexual violence.

Below are some of the alleged complaints listed… pic.twitter.com/WCVT3wjm4Z

— LifeandFortune (@LifeandFortune) August 4, 2023

“The day of reckoning has arrived,” the letter threatens.

It goes on to claim that network chiefs would deliberately and knowingly damage the mental health of cast members by giving them booze and depriving them of food and sleep.

When stars complained about the treatment, they were allegedly denied mental health treatment according to the letter.

The communication also stated that the executives were guilty of exploiting minors by not paying them but making them appear on the shows for long periods of time anyway.

The letter details over 100 emails from talent, producers, and various showrunners concerning the abuses, according to sources that spoke with the Daily Mail.

The letter gets even more disturbing, accusing showrunners of distributing or condoning “the distribution of non-consensual pornography” and covering up “sexual violence.”

Reality stars are taking a stand against NBC and Bravo, alleging ‘grotesque and depraved mistreatment’.

The stars claim they’ve been threatened with ruin if they speak out about their mistreatment.

Lawyers are now demanding NBC retain information related to these allegations. pic.twitter.com/HR2bSYaFDd

— BoreCure (@CureBore) August 4, 2023

It’s also being charged that stars were not allowed to leave their shows “even under dire circumstances.”

All of this is coming down months after former NBC Universal CEO Jeff Shell was canned following an investigation looking into sexual harassment allegations against him. Acting CEO Michael Cavanagh took over after Shell got the boot in April.

Attorneys Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos are representing the reality stars and wrote the blistering letter. They claim the disturbing behavior by executives had been witnessed “on innumerable occasions.”

They go on to charge that NBC Universal has “exceeded the moral and legal limits permissible in a civilized society,” adding that network has left itself vulnerable to lawsuits due to “intentional infliction of emotional distress, distribution of revenge porn, and false imprisonment.”

Oh my. This is gonna implode!

— linda Rose (@Lindabrose4B) August 4, 2023

Geragos and Friedman, who have represented stars such as Michael Jackson, Winona Ryder, Gabrielle Union, Mariah Carey, and more, are demanding that NBC preserve and retain information regarding pornography and the alleged sexual violence.

The claims of forcing the stars to stay on their shows despite mental health issues follow Vanderpump Rules’ Raquel Leviss checking into a mental health facility in April. That happened roughly at the same time as the Shell scandal was unfolding.

Leviss’ representatives were reportedly in talks with Bravo about her role on the network. They insisted that her mental health must be addressed before any possible return to the hit show.

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