Caroline Manzo Sues Bravo for Harassment, Sexual Battery, Negligence, and Discrimination

The former RHONJ claims the network is liable for the alleged sexual harassment and assault she experienced while filming Ultimate Girls Trip.

By Audra Heinrichs | January 26, 2024 | 11:20pm

Caroline Manzo Sues Bravo for Harassment, Sexual Battery, Negligence, and Discrimination

One year after it was first reported that former Real Housewife of New Jersey, Caroline Manzo, accused former Real Housewife of Beverly Hills, Brandi Glanville, of sexual assault during production on a forthcoming season of Ultimate Girls Trip, Manzo has filed a lawsuit against Bravo and other NBCUniversal entities.

The filing stems from an alleged incident that occurred in January 2023 as Manzo, Glanville, and the rest of the cast were filming in Morocco. Allegedly, Glanville—who’s not included as a defendant in the suit—sexually assaulted and harassed Manzo while intoxicated. Among the listed defendants are Bravo, Forest Productions Inc, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., NBCUniversal Media, LLC, Shed Media US Inc., and Peacock TV LLC. Manzo has accused them of negligence, sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and more.

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“Defendants, including Bravo, regularly ply the Real Housewives cast with alcohol, cause them to become severely intoxicated, and then direct, encourage and/or allow them to sexually harass other cast members because that is good for ratings,” the filing asserts. “Caroline Manzo is a victim of those harmful actions.”

The suit goes on to claim that Bravo was aware of Glanville’s past behavior—allegedly akin to that of sexual harassment—but still hired her for the show because ratings would be higher. “Defendants even encouraged Ms. Glanville to become drunk on the set so that she would be more likely to commit outrageous and harassing acts, thereby helping Defendants’ ratings without regard to the rights and safety of those around her.”

The alleged assault took place during a party at the home the cast was staying in: “Clearly intoxicated, Glanville walked over to Manzo, spread Manzo’s legs and leaned into Manzo,” the filing describes. “… 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.”

Manzo, the suit states, was “distraught, scared, and confused,” and emphasized the fact that she’s a survivor of a previous sexual assault that occurred when she was a child. She then claimed to have gone to the bathroom in an attempt to compose herself and accused Glanville of following her.

“As Manzo stood at the sink washing her hands, Glanville entered the bathroom and came behind Manzo, forced her vagina against Manzo’s buttocks, breasts against Manzo’s back, wrapped her long arms around Manzo forcibly restraining her, and began washing her hands with Manzo’s hands entwined,” the filing claims. “Immediately, Manzo tried to exit the bathroom. The bathroom door was locked. Glanville pinned Manzo’s body against the door. Glanville pressed her breasts and vagina against Manzo…. Glanville then reached around Manzo’s body and then groped, grabbed, and forcibly fondled Manzo’s vagina and breasts. At the same time, Glanville pushed her face into Manzo’s neck in order to kiss her. From inside the bathroom, Manzo cried, ‘HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP,’ but no one ever came.”

“It was unwanted,” the filing continues. “And Caroline’s distress over the matter did not seem to stop Brandi. Things escalated and physical boundaries allegedly were crossed that Caroline felt were serious and uncomfortable.”

Days later, Manzo and Glanville departed separately and earlier than scheduled. Production, Manzo claimed in the suit, wanted her to meet with Glanville and filmed her the entire way to the airport with the intention of “gathering more ‘drama’ to increase their ratings.”

Tweets from Glanville’s Twitter account, where she made her own allegations against the networks, are attached to Manzo’s lawsuit. “I am completely innocent, the producers ask you to do something,” Glanville wrote in one. “Producers may not shove the alcohol down our throats, but they do encourage it even in Morocco during the day where it’s illegal to drink!” she wrote in another.

“We are outraged by Bravo, Peacock and NBC’s conduct and look forward to having the issues decided by a jury. Sexual harassment should never be entertainment!” Manzo’s attorney, Derek Smith, told Page Six. All of the defendants, meanwhile, have yet to comment publicly on the suit. However, after news of the alleged assault broke last year, representatives for Peacock and Shed Media gave a joint statement to People: “The safety and security of cast and crew while shooting is extremely important and we take all reports seriously. In this situation, production immediately launched a comprehensive review and is taking appropriate action.”