Vanity Fair to Publish Expose on Bravo & Housewives

Credit: Bravo

Vanity Fair is expected to publish what is being described as a “deeply reported probe” into Bravo‘s relationship with its Real Housewives cast members in the coming weeks after conducting months of interviews not only with the franchise’s stars but also with other sources connected to the shows.

According to a new report, the magazine will allegedly address the many demands faced by the ladies of the franchise, as well as the status of their mental health, the amount of alcohol they consumed on their shows, and the sacrifices they made to retain their roles from year to year.

“[The journalist] is really going deep into what the women go through and what’s expected of them as members of the cast and members of the ‘Bravo family,’” an insider told Page Six on October 19. “I think it’s going to explain a lot that fans don’t really see or understand about how it really works.”

Following about six months of extensive research, Vanity Fair will reportedly zone in on the challenges Real Housewives cast members face when it comes to giving up their privacy and risking their images in exchange for what has been reported as large, often million-dollar paychecks.

As the magazine prepares to share its findings, Page Six claims that those working behind the scenes at Bravo’s headquarters are getting nervous about what may be revealed. However, at the same time, another source claimed that network executives are actually not “sweating it,” stating that they are used to being in the spotlight.

In addition to sharing their experience with Bravo, the Real Housewives interviewed are expected to divulge whether or not the sacrifices they’ve made for the show have been worth their while.

Other topics reportedly coming soon include the control — or lack thereof — the women had over their stories. They’ll also discuss the protocols and guidelines Bravo has in place for ensuring the well-being of its cast members — and if they are effective.

As Bravo fans well know, the network and its parent company, NBCUniversal, have been under fire in recent months due to ongoing claims about the supposed mistreatment of their casts — and former Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel, 52, has been leading the charge against them.

Just months ago, in a legal letter sent to NBC’s representation, Kimberley Harris, by attorneys Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos, the media giants were accused of putting their stars through “grotesque and depraved mistreatment” and of making “deliberate attempts” to “manufacture mental instability” by providing them with “alcohol while depriving them of food and sleep, as well as denying mental health treatment for those displaying obvious and alarming signs of mental deterioration.”