Skip to content 
Leah McSweeneyand bitter legal battle with Andrew Cohen and Bravo has reportedly reached a settlement, closing the case before it goes to trial. The former “Real Housewives of New York City” star accused producers of exploiting her struggle with alcohol addiction and trying to undermine her sobriety for better television. Now, McSweeney has withdrawn the lawsuit, and her lawyer says they are happy with the outcome. The financial terms are still under wraps.
Lawyer Leah McSweeney celebrates the result
According to Page Six, McSweeney reached a settlement with Cohen and Bravo following allegations about her treatment during filming. Her attorney, Gary Adelman of Adelman Matz, told the publication on Friday that his client’s fight had reached an appropriate conclusion. “We are very happy with the result [and] We are proud of Leah and her perseverance.”
The settlement also means the charges will not be proven at the expected trial.
The ‘RHONY’ alum is accusing producers of putting ratings before her sobriety
McSweeney’s lawsuit was based on her claim that agents saw her drinking as entertainment and pushed her to drink despite knowing about her addiction. The Married to the Mob founder had been sober for ten years before she relapsed shortly before she started filming “RHONY” in 2019. She got sober again before its second season. According to her lawsuit, however, the stress of alcohol continued.
The former “Real Housewives of New York City” star said the people behind the show thought she would deliver stronger television while drunk. She also said that her experiences on the franchise caused severe mental and emotional turmoil.
Her accusations went beyond being found drunk during filming. She accused agents of targeting the vulnerabilities she shared with them.
Her complaint outlined attributes of addiction and mental health
McSweeney appeared on two seasons of “RHONY” and one season of “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.” In the lawsuit, she said agents made fun of her drinking problems, continued to make comments after she asked them to stop, and encouraged other cast members to attack her about her mental health and substance abuse history. She also accused production of coaching other women to disparage her, including calling her a drug addict.
McSweeney’s case went beyond drinking on reality TV. She accused agents of targeting her addiction and undermining her sobriety. With the settlement, these claims will not be put to trial.
McSweeney said she was banned from attending AA meetings
Another allegation relates to the support McSweeney said she needed to maintain sobriety while filming “Ultimate Girls Trip.” According to the former “Real Housewives of New York City” star’s complaint, she received promises in advance that she would be able to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings during production.
Once filming started, she said they told her she couldn’t go. She pointed to the alleged incident as another example of agents making it harder for her to stay sober.
Although the settlement avoids a lawsuit, the lawsuit had already gone through court proceedings, including a hearing in November 2024. Judge Lewis Liman considered arguments related to Bravo’s First Amendment protections and allowed allegations of the allegedly harmful methods used to pressure McSweeney to continue, according to Page Six.
The case later remained in public court after an attempt to move it to private arbitration was rejected.
Andy Cohen denied the cocaine charge
McSweeney’s complaint also included an allegation that Cohen used cocaine with favorite members as part of her broader claim that substance use was rewarded. Cohen denied the allegation.
Through his lawyer, he accused McSweeney of trying to “shake” her and asked him to withdraw the cocaine charge and apologize.
McSweeney did not apologize, and the report provided says Cohen had not filed a separate lawsuit against her.
For now, the dollar figure and other settlement details remain private, and McSweeney’s attorney has made it clear they are satisfied with how the fight ended.
