RHUGT exec producer claims Brandi Glanville “disrespected” Caroline Manzo but didn’t “sexually violate” her. Plus, Brandi reacts to the truth finally being revealed.
As the Bravoverse already knows, Caroline Manzo is suing Bravo. The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum claims that she was sexually harassed by co-star Brandi Glanville while filming season 4 of RHUGT in Morocco.
In her January court filing, Caroline Manzo alleged that several members of the RHUGT asked her cast about whether or not her breasts were real or fake, and they frequently commented about how large her breasts were.
She then alleged: “[A] clearly intoxicated, GLANVILLE walked over to MANZO, spread MANZO’s legs and leaned into MANZO. She then laid her head on MANZO’s inner thigh. MANZO pulled away and moved to the end of the couch.”
“Exerting her dominance over MANZO, GLANVILLE followed MANZO and sat right next to MANZO on the couch. GLANVILLE proceeded to kiss MANZO with a closed mouth. GLANVILLE then kissed MANZO again. MANZO was very uncomfortable. GLANVILLE then proceeded to mount MANZO on the couch, holding MANZO down with her body, forcibly squeezed MANZO’s cheeks together, and thrust her tongue in MANZO’s mouth while humping her,” the documents read.
Now, in new court documents filed in response to Caroline’s lawsuit, RHUGT executive producer Lisa Shannon claims that the RHONJ OG told production at the time that Brandi’s alleged “actions that evening had triggered memories” of her past “childhood trauma.” She notes that Caroline didn’t mention an assault while in Morocco.
“Our primary concern at that point was making sure that Manzo felt safe,” read court documents obtained by Page Six. “She told us that she felt safe, that she wanted to continue to film, and that she did not want Glanville to be sent home.”
Shannon then insisted that Caroline was “not left alone” with Brandi that evening or the following morning. Caroline also told Shannon and other members of production that she “felt safe” and wanted to continue filming the Real Housewives spinoff show.
Per court documents, Caroline purportedly told Shannon, “‘Listen, I feel safe, okay, I feel your support. This is for me… I’m dealing with something that has been buried deep in my soul for 50 years.’”
The documents also note after Brandi and Caroline’s incident, production stopped including the Real Housewives of Beverly alum in group activities. However, Phaedra Parks and other cast members allegedly “perceived the events differently.”
“‘All of us thought we were having fun,’” the RHOA alum purportedly told Caroline. “‘No one knew about whatever has happened to you in the past.’”
Shannon also alleges that Caroline left Morocco early after members of the RHUGT season 4 cast said they were going to visit Brandi at her hotel, which Shannon notes is the “only time” Caroline asked not to be filmed.
“At that time, she asked the production crew not to film her, and we honored that request,” Shannon said in court documents.
“Other than that incident, Manzo never asked not to be filmed or express to me, or to my knowledge, anyone else from production, that she was uncomfortable being filmed,” she continued, noting that Caroline “willingly allowed production to film her” decision to leave the trip early.
Shannon adds that Caroline was paid in full despite leaving the series early.
After Bravo’s reply to Caroline’s lawsuit went public, Brandi Glanville reacted to the news on social media.
She shared Page Six‘s article on Instagram, writing, “It only took 15 months, a lawsuit, and me going through hell for the truth to start coming out.”
Then, on Twitter, she shared:
“Am I happy? No. Do I feel vindicated? No. IM FUCKING MORE PISSED THAN EVER. What these producers do to make a TV show is disgraceful &disgusting. I begged for them to intervene. I almost died. It took a lawsuit… I’m not ok.”
