Bethenny Frankel revealed she is not taking legal action against Bravo or its parent company NBC for its alleged ‘toxic environment’ on reality shows.
The former Real Housewives of New York star, 52, took to her Instagram on Monday to clarify her stance after she recently vowed to fully expose the ‘systemic rot’ behind the scenes of the hit programs.
‘I have not hired lawyers nor am I suing,’ she wrote in the 3-slide post.
‘I have directed wronged talent and production members legal representation and am fighting for systematic change in a damaged institution.
‘This is not only a reckoning within an industry but one within myself…’
About face: Bethenny Frankel revealed she is not taking legal action against Bravo or its parent company NBC for its alleged ‘toxic environment’ on reality shows
Reality reckoning: Frankel took to her Instagram on Monday to clarify her stance after she recently vowed to fully expose the ‘systemic rot’ behind the scenes of the hit programs
Frankel began the lengthy statement by reflecting on her time on the popular Bravo franchise, claiming she succeeded by creating ‘conflict and judgment’ with her female costars that she ‘pretended to know’.
She said that she had now spent time with the women outside of production, grew to appreciate them and wondered if the ‘toxic environment designed for ratings’ had affected their relationships at the start of filming.
‘To be successful in reality tv, you must kill or be killed, to not get dirty is to get fired,’ she explained.
‘Someone is winning and someone is losing in this zero sum game where people like myself get rich and the less strategic go broke or get cancelled.’
Frankel said she was ‘good at the game’ because she was ‘broke and desperate’ and ‘wanted “it” so badly’.
‘My one liners and quick with (crafted and honed from a dysfunctional childhood) often at others’ expense, shot me through the ranks of this toxic cesspool.
‘This medium preys on and profits from the emotionally flawed and damaged’.
The Skinny Girl mogul also claimed she ‘did not know what she signed up for’ when she joined the Real Housewives cast in 2008, but said she ‘would do it again to not be broke and afraid.’
Strategy: Frankel wrote, ‘I have directed wronged talent and production members legal representation and am fighting for systematic change in a damaged institution’
However, Frankel received backlash for that part of the Instagram post and clarified it in her caption, writing, ‘Me saying I would do it again means I was scared & desperate and that is what is exploited in all of us.
‘I can explain it to you. I can’t understand it for you and I have no doubt about my feelings or actions about it. I know I’m correct.’
As for critics slamming Frankel for ‘biting the hand’ that fed her, she hit back, saying, ‘the hand deserves to be bitten.’
‘We have fed the machine ratings, ad dollars, catch phrases and content,’ she explained. ‘
‘We get filthy and they get filthy rich’.
Origin story: The Skinny Girl mogul claimed she ‘did not know what she signed up for’ when she joined the Real Housewives cast in 2008
Last month, sources told DailyMail.com that Frankel ‘led the charge’ against the network, after slamming executives for exploiting ‘young, doe-eyed talent’ who are desperate to be on TV.
Frankel’s lawyers were demanding that NBCUniversal and Bravo allow reality TV stars to break their nondisclosure agreements in order to reveal alleged mistreatment.
NBC said in a statement that it was ‘committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows’.
But in a bombshell letter sent to the broadcaster in August, attorney Bryan J Freedman said the ‘breadth and scope of wrongdoing is greater than previously believed.’
He said there had been a ‘collective failure’ by NBCUniversal and its third-party production partners to comply with the law – along with their own anti-discrimination policies.
This has caused ‘hundreds or thousands of people to stay silent about unlawful workplace conduct they have witnessed or experienced’ – including racism, sexism, sexual violence, revenge porn, child labor, forced intoxication, and physical abuse.
‘This culture of fear and silence is no doubt responsible, in part, for the disproportionate rate of suicide among reality tv participants,’ Freedman said.
‘Please be advised that this reprehensible practice must end now. NBCUniversal has two choices: lead by example or be forced into compliance.’
Freedman ended his fiery letter by re-emphasizing calls for the corporation to release all staff from ‘unlawful’ NDAs.
