Marco Vega, the butler on the second season of Peacock’s The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, has filed a lawsuit claiming that he was sexually assaulted by cast members Brandi Glanville and Phaedra Parks. This shocking lawsuit has sent shockwaves through the reality TV industry and raises serious questions about the safety and well-being of participants.
A List of Defendants
The lawsuit, filed in the state of New York, lists Bravo, Forest Productions, Warner Bros., NBC Universal, Shed Media, and Peacock as defendants. These major players in the production of The Real Housewives franchise now find themselves embroiled in a legal battle that could potentially tarnish their reputation.
According to the lawsuit, Vega alleges that it was Brandi Glanville who sexually harassed and abused him during their time on RHUGT in the Berkshires. What is particularly disturbing is the claim that the defendants had prior knowledge of Glanville’s deviant sexual proclivities and sexually harassing conduct, yet they chose to ignore these warning signs and continue to hire her.
Vega’s lawsuit argues that Glanville should never have been hired in the first place due to her known tendency to sexually harass others. It further asserts that the producers encouraged Glanville to become intoxicated on set, presumably to make her more likely to engage in outrageous and harassing behavior. This raises serious questions about the duty of care and due diligence exercised by the defendants.
In addition to Glanville, Vega’s lawsuit also implicates Phaedra Parks and other housewives in a culture of inebriation and sexual harassment. The suit claims that the defendants actively encouraged Parks and others to become intoxicated and engage in similar misconduct. This paints a troubling picture of a toxic environment within the production of The Real Housewives franchise.
This lawsuit comes on the heels of Bethenny Frankel’s push for reality stars to unionize amidst the SAG-AFTRA strike. The lawsuit highlights the issue of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) signed by reality show participants, which have often prevented them from reporting misconduct. However, NBCUniversal maintains that these contracts do not restrict participants from discussing illegal activities.
It is worth noting that both Brandi Glanville and Phaedra Parks have faced similar allegations in the past. Glanville’s return to RHUGT for Season 4 was cut short due to sexual assault claims made by co-star Caroline Manzo during filming. Glanville later blamed the show’s producers and felt set up by them. Parks, on the other hand, was a cast member on The Real Housewives of Atlanta before being dropped amid rumors she started about her co-star Kandi Burruss and her husband.
The second season of RHUGT, entitled “Ex-Wives Club,” was scheduled to air this year but has been postponed until 2024 and replaced with RHONY Legacy. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of the show and the real housewives franchise as a whole.
Regardless of the outcome of this lawsuit, it shines a light on the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of reality show participants. The allegations made by Marco Vega against Brandi Glanville and Phaedra Parks should not be taken lightly, and it is crucial for the defendants to address these claims with utmost seriousness. The reality TV industry must strive for accountability and create an environment free from harassment and misconduct.
Marco Vega’s lawsuit against The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip cast members and the show’s production companies has brought to light disturbing allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. While these claims have yet to be proven in court, they serve as a crucial reminder that the well-being of reality show participants should always be prioritized. The outcome of this lawsuit will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for the future of The Real Housewives franchise and the reality TV industry as a whole.