The plot thickens!
Bethenny Frankel’s “Reality TV Reckoning” just got a whole lot more interesting. Former and current Bravo producers are now standing in solidarity with Bethenny’s mission of creating union to protect exploited stars.
Now, Bravo producers are also demanding to be a part of the much-discussed reality TV union.
Daily Mail reports that multiple producers are claiming that they are also victims of Bravo executives.
Now is the right time for change
“I think this is the right time for a change of some sort, but I think the messaging is getting lost,” one former producer who worked on the Real Housewives of Dallas said. “We want better pay, and health care, but when you release a 60-page document with all of these allegations of depriving people sleeping and feeding them alcohol, that feels very different.”
Another former Bravo producer says that they hope the network listens to the production teams about their concerns.
“I hope that Bethenny will hear the call if she’s sitting here advocating,” they said. “I’m not saying to take away from the talent needs by any means, but I hope that she can help the production side of it, too. I mean, we’ve all been shouting into the void for years.”
“She’s very concerned about talent,” a third producer added. “And talent is very coddled and very fairly compensated at the Bethenny Frankel stage.”
Reality stars behaving badly
While reality TV stars allege exploitation from networks and producers, including claims that they have been denied food and pressured to drink more alcohol, producers claim they have also endured nasty treatment by the talent.
“I think that cast members, especially people like Bethenny, who are not nicest people, at times, they forget that we are people too,” one producer said.
“When we come to do a show, we leave our lives behind. I’ve been called a lot of derogatory things because I didn’t do or did something.”
Another producer, who worked on the Real Housewives of Orange County, said, “There’s this sense of entitlement.” Said producer notes that talent have said statmenets like, “‘I don’t have to do this, if I don’t want to!’ and ‘you don’t have a show without me!’’’
A different producer opened up about the “toxic culture” and lack of work life balance that go so bad they were forced to quit.
“I almost had a meltdown because I was told I could leave at 12 if I came in early, and then 12 came up, I was getting ready to go and I was told no, I had to stay,” they said. “And to me, as a first-time mom, having left my house before my baby even woke up… I was stoked to get home before he went to bed so that I could see him for maybe 30 minutes.”
“[Network bosses] don’t care,” they added. “They don’t give a sh**. Sadly, it is [a toxic culture]. I was early on in my career and I was working 15 to 20 hours a day. It’s also just not sustainable.”
Producers are also being taken advantage of
Producers do agree with Bethenny’s statement that Bravo cast and crew members have been taken advantage of by the network for over a decade.
“I definitely agree with Bethenny,” one producer said. “I think it’s a long time coming. Right now, we work in an unprotected segment of the industry. There are no residuals, there is no anything to be honest. It’s like lab rats in a social experiment.”
“It’s all a sham. I get that it’s capitalism at its best but it’s like pure advantage. If you end up taking a reality show to a network, they want to own your show. They’re owning people’s IP and taking people’s creative ideas because they’re not creating a damn thing. And it’s not just Bravo shows. Thank God that Bethenny is lighting the match. This is happening nationwide. This is happening across the board.”
Another said, “You’ve got to strike while the iron is hot. Right now, everybody is clamoring for content and everyone is being listened to. People are being heard. And if they’re going to be changes, while there is a mechanism for change, you should speak up.”
Tell us – Thoughts on these statements? Do you think a reality TV union will happen?
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