Andy Cohenhas been going through it.The housewives ofBravohave begun to speak out about the franchise, and it hasn’t ended well for Cohen orBravoas a whole. And now, in anew interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Cohen is talking about exactly what he thinks is happening and what his next steps are.One of the thingshe won’t agree with is the fact that some stars want to form a reality television union.
When asked aboutBethenny Frankelleading the charge in calling for a union and taking care of the housewives as you would actors on a show, Cohen wasn’t shy about his thoughts. “I have a lot to say about that. But I need to make clear that I’m speaking as an independent producer. This is notBravospeaking,” he said. “This is my take on it. If you look at shows likeAmerican Idol,Survivor,The Bacheloror theBelow Deckpeople, 90 percent or more of the reality stars on them are on for one season or less. Also, acting is a full-time profession.You don’t go to school to be a reality star.”
The Real Housewives of New York City
A fast-paced reality show that follows several incredibly busy and ambitious Manhattan women. Watch as they balance envious social calendars, challenging careers, and motherhood, with the hustle and bustle of the big city all around.
‘You Either Want To Be on the Show or Not’
Cohen went on to seemingly justify this by saying that our favorite reality stars are notjustreality stars. “Reality stars typically have other jobs. They’re bar owners, they’re designers. They’re doctors. I think the way thatBravopays people is that it’s a buyout — they’re buying them out for a show that can be distributed in certain ways, and the longer you stay on, the higher your salary gets. And salaries for people who have been on a long time are really high,” he said. “Look, you’re not drafted into theReal Housewives.You either want to be on the show or not, and you either see it as having some greater benefit for you or not. You have a business you’re trying to launch, you have a music career you’re trying to launch, you want exposure. And so you say, ‘OK, I’m going to look at this for the long game and maybe parlay my exposure on the show into other lucrative opportunities.‘And many of them do just that.”
Cohen’s point that reality television stars have other jobs is the reason why stars like Frankel want to unionize. Sure, there are overlyrichhousewives that do not need more money added to their bank. But casts likeVanderpump Ruleshave had to fight to pay their rent while on one of the biggest reality television shows around. Maybe Cohen needs to realize that a union for reality television stars may not be that bad of an idea.All seasons of The Real Housewives franchise can be streamed onPeacock.Watch on Peacock
