Former ‘RHONY’ Star Bethenny Frankel Reportedly Pitched a Series to Bravo Only Months Before Suing the Network for Exploitation

While Bethenny Frankel is calling out Bravo, some are calling her bluff.

The former The Real Housewives of New York City star, who recently joined forces with SAG-AFTRA in her efforts to unionize reality TV personalities and to protect them from NBCUniversal and Bravo’s “exploitation,” reportedly pitched a new reality series to Bravo just six months prior to her public cries to bring down the network, Page Six claims.

The new show reportedly would have followed wealthy Connecticut families and their children, including actress Susan Sarandon‘s daughter Eva Amurri, who resides in the state.

While the show allegedly received the green light to begin development, the series was shelved after alleged arguments between Frankel and the show’s production team, per Page Six.

Decider has reached out to Bravo for comment, but did not hear back by time of publication.

The rumored project would have folded just months prior to Frankel’s first cries to unionize reality TV amid the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The reality star-turned-business mogul has decried what she says is manipulation that she and others have experienced going through the “machine” of reality television, via her “Reality TV Reckoning” videos on social media. She has since teamed up with lawyers Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos of Freedman + Taitelman, LLP law firm in order to work “toward the protection of the reality performers.”

@bethennyfrankel

I was the darling of this media space. I’ve had an open invitation to come back for millions of dollars & have stayed away because i know the difference between right & wrong… i wouldn’t burn this bridge & many others if it weren’t time. And this isn’t about 1 person’s personal gripe like others have done before. This is about an industry change-a reckoning. And when my time comes you bet your ass i’ll get paid for my work. #realityreckoning #bethennyclause

♬ original sound – Bethenny Frankel

NBCUniversal, the media company behind Bravo, released the following statement to Decider on Aug. 4 in response to the allegations of “grotesque and depraved mistreatment” put forth by Frankel and other reality TV stars:

“NBCUniversal is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows. At the outset, we require our third-party production partners to have appropriate workplace policies and training in place,” an NBCUniversal spokesperson said.

“If complaints are brought to our attention, we work with our production partners to ensure that timely, appropriate action is or has been taken, including investigations, medical and/or psychological support, and other remedial action that may be warranted such as personnel changes.”