Lisa Vanderpump is defending Andy Cohen after a series of allegations made against him by former Bravo stars.
In a recent interview, Vanderpump came to Cohen’s defense after the Watch What Happens Live host was accused of sexual harassment and engaging Real Housewives stars to use drugs.
It was recently reported, and subsequently shut down by Cohen’s reps, that he was negotiating his Bravo exit. While appearing on The Talk, Vanderpump was asked about the rumors, to which she said, “Well, I hope not. I really do.”
“I’ve had a very close relationship with Andy over the years,” Vanderpump continued. “Andy and I have always had a very playful relationship. I think I’ve been one of the few people that have done Watch What Happens Live on their own for many years, and had a kind of very connected relationship, and he’s playful. He’s appropriately naughty, like I am, too. I mean, that’s what Bravo is lots of the time.”
She added, “But it’s innocuous. He’s a gay man that we have a lot of fun with. So, am I on his side? Damn right, I’m on his side.”
Vanderpump noted that it was “strange” that “these allegations seem to come from people that are no longer working for Bravo.”
About the drug allegations, Vanderpump said, “We’ve seen Watch What Happens Live. It’s one of those talk shows where you can be slightly inappropriate [and] slightly naughty. But when it comes to these drug allegations, a thousand percent I would know and no way does it ever happen.”
In February, former The Real Housewives of New York City star Leah McSweeney filed a lawsuit alleging that “Cohen intentionally uses cocaine with his employees to further promote a workplace culture that thrives off drug and alcohol abuse, which leads to a failure to accommodate employees who are disabled and attempting to remain substance free.” A rep for Cohen later replied saying the claims were “completely false.”
Former The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi Glanville named Cohen in a letter sent to NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery and Shed Media in which they cited a video from 2022 where Cohen allegedly appears “inebriated” and “boasted of his intention to sleep with another Bravo star that night while thinking of her and invited her to watch via Facetime.”
Glanville’s attorneys claim “this was an extraordinary abuse of power that left Ms. Glanville feeling trapped and disgusted.” Cohen would reply to these claims saying, “The video shows Kate Chastain and I very clearly joking to Brandi. It was absolutely meant in jest, and Brandi’s response clearly communicated she was in on the joke. That said, it was totally inappropriate and I apologize.”
Watch Vanderpump’s interview on The Talk in the video below.
