Attorneys for reality star Brandi Glanville have sent a letter to Warner Bros. demanding that it release audio and video tapes that, they claim, will prove that she didn’t sexually harass a co-star during filming for a show it produces.
Fellow “Real Housewives” veteran Caroline Manzo has claimed that Glanville touched her in the breast and genital area without her consent while they were off-camera on the set of spin-off “Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip” in Morocco in January.
But attorneys for Glanville, 50, say that Shed Media — a Warner-owned production company that makes the show for NBCUniversal streamer Peacock — should have released the audio from the stars’ microphones immediately to show Manzo’s claims were allegedly unwarranted.
“It is absolutely unacceptable that your company would knowingly and willingly allow such a story to take hold in the media, without any regard for the truth or the impact on Ms. Glanville’s reputation,” wrote lawyer Duncan P. Levin, Esq. in a letter addressed to Warner Bros. attorney Demian West, Esq., Warner Bros. investigator Samantha Mirabello and Lisa Shannon, Shed’s SVP of programming and development.
He claimed that the decision not to release the tape while the accusations were being reported in the press was a “cynical ploy for ratings” — the idea presumably being that potential viewers’ interest would be piqued by press reports about Glanville’s alleged behavior.
Supporters of Manzo, 61, and former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” Glanville have both claimed for weeks the audio would confirm their version of events.
Levin demanded in the letter that Warner release them now.
Manzo made her claims the morning after the alleged incident, which is said to have happened on the evening of January 25, sparking a Shed Media investigation into the matter. She claimed that Glanville had given her unwanted kisses during a party, but when they went into a bathroom with two cast mates, Glanville “pinned her against the wall” and touched her in the intimate areas over her clothing.
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She and Glanville were both moved from the house where their co-stars were staying to hotels, and then returned to the United States.
“In that bathroom, as the audio will confirm, nothing inappropriate or illegal whatsoever occurred. As you know both from your [investigation] and the audio and video that you possess, the four women washed their hands before returning to the party where they enjoyed some food and chatted,” he wrote, adding, “Throughout, Ms. Manzo appeared to be having a great time and didn’t telegraph any signs whatsoever that she wanted Ms. Glanville to leave her side. Overall, the entire incident was comprised of some flirtatious conduct and kissing between Ms. Manzo and Ms. Glanville, and all of it was absolutely mutual and consensual.”
The letter — seen by Page Six — also claims that the famed studio is “aware that three eyewitnesses corroborate her actions; yet, Shed Media and Warners Brothers has [sic] chosen to sit idly by and let this false narrative continue.”
The letter identifies two of the eyewitnesses as Gretchen Rossi and Alex McCord. It’s unclear who the third eyewitness is.
The letter also says that “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Manzo did nothing to discourage Glanville from touching her, was “outspoken about her liberal views on sex” and even offered to allow castmates to touch her breasts to confirm they weren’t implants.
“Not only did the eyewitnesses ask Ms. Manzo if she was OK, to which she responded with a smile and thumbs up, but, after the alleged bathroom incident, when the group returned to the dinner table,” Levin wrote, “Ms. Manzo made a lighthearted comment to the eyewitnesses about having been kissed by a girl before but never having ‘kissed back’ until now.”
“The night in question was one that was egged on by your own producers, who, earlier in the same day, encouraged Ms. Glanville to bring some ‘excitement’ to the party,” wrote Levin, adding that, “When Ms. Manzo arrived at the main house, the two women spent time together, enjoying some shots, laughter, and dancing with the other women. It is beyond contention that you provided non-stop alcohol and an environment where the participants were drinking and smoking marijuana all day and night.” (Bravo insiders have previously denied to Page Six that there was marijuana on set).
The letter also claims that Shed sent Glanville home because of the incident, and then — realizing she wasn’t guilty — “is now attempting to insinuate that Ms. Glanville engaged in sexual harassment with an entirely different individual, a producer” as a means to justify her ejection from the show.
Page Six has previously reported that Glanville is alleged to have addressed a producer by name and said loudly in front of other cast and crew: “I want to f*** you tonight.”
Glanville has denied any wrongdoing whatsoever.
Levin also claims that Shed “instructed Glanville not to seek legal representation or to attempt to correct the public record.” He said those instructions were “unacceptable” and “disturbing.” He also claimed that it didn’t confirm that Glanville had taken a compulsory sexual harassment training program that it requires all cast members complete before filming begins.
Reps for Manzo, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. and Shed Media declined to comment. The people named in the letter didn’t respond to our requests for comment.