A man who appeared as a butler on a “Real Housewives” series says his time on the show went terribly wrong when one of the stars of the franchise sexually harassed him.
The network Bravo, which is the source of the hugely popular Real Housewives franchise, is accused of setting the stage for sexual harassment to occur and then turning a blind eye when it does, according to Marco Vega, a resident of Utah, who filed a civil action in a New York state court on Friday.
He claims, in particular, that Brandi Glanville, a former cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” singled out Vega. Despite being fired off the show in 2015, she made a comeback to appear in “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip — Blue Stone Manor,” which followed a few of the Real Housewives’ celebrities on a trip to the Massachusetts Berkshires in 2021.
According to Vega, Glanville’s sexual harassment of him was relentless — and Bravo knew about it the whole time.
“This cause involves acts of sexual harassment and assault committed by Glanville against Vega which was caused by and allowed to happen by Defendants,” the complaint says. “Glanville has a history of becoming drunk on the show and committing inappropriate and offensive sexual acts against others. Defendants were well aware of this prior to Plaintiff’s involvement with Defendants and yet, Defendants allowed and even encouraged Glanville to sexually harass Plaintiff.”
In addition to Bravo, Vega is suing NBC Universal and Warner Bros. Entertainment. Glanville is not named as a defendant.
According to the complaint, one of Vega’s first encounters with Glanville occurred when producers told him to update her and the other Housewives on the itinerary.
“Vega knocked on Glanville’s door and was told to enter,” the complaint says. “Glanville was standing in her underwear. Extremely uncomfortable, Plaintiff Vega gave her the itinerary and left the room.”
On what became known as the day of the “Lasagna Making” episode, Glanville’s behavior grew increasingly inappropriate as she continued to drink, the lawsuit alleged.
“As the night went on, Glanville consumed alcohol, became intoxicated and more brash, going so far as to grope Plaintiff,” the complaint says. “At one point during the night, Glanville pushed Plaintiff Vega out of the rolling camera’s sight and took off Plaintiff’s mask saying, ‘I just want to see your face.’ Glanville then poured a shot of alcohol and demanded Plaintiff drink it. Plaintiff Vega refused the shot several times, but eventually drank it with hopes Glanville would move on.”
Apparently, she didn’t, the complaint says.
“Immediately after Plaintiff Vega drank the shot, Glanville asked the camera crew and producers to follow them to Glanville’s room. Glanville then asked Plaintiff Vega to ‘deliver c—‘ to the other Housewives, revealing bottles of wine shaped like penises that she had under her bed.”
Vega alleges that the producers all but served him up to the drunk Housewives.
“Defendants have now caused eleven housewives to become excessively inebriated,” the complaint says. “They then brought in a striptease act which put the women in a sexual mood. They then decided to throw Plaintiff, the only male cast member, into the lion’s den.
From the complaint:
As soon as the burlesque dancer was finished with her performance, the producers directed Plaintiff Vega to “Go over and get the women dancing!” Plaintiff did as he was told.
Plaintiff complied as directed and started dancing with them.
Unwanted and without consent, either express or implied, Housewife, Phaedra Parks then slapped Plaintiff on his buttocks.
The practically naked striptease performer was dancing next to Plaintiff. Then, while Plaintiff’s back was turned away from her, Glanville ran over to Plaintiff and pulled him over to her by the back of his shirt against his will. Glanville turned Plaintiff around and Glanville then ripped Plaintiff’s shirt off of him exposing his bare chest and torso. Plaintiff tried to stop Glanville but was unable.
Plaintiff tried desperately to stop Glanville from taking his shirt off. Plaintiff looked to the producers to end this assault and harassment but was told to keep dancing.
The editing of the final cut and resulting video footage shown on Bravo distorts the reality of what actually happened.
Vega says he was “finally able to dance out of the scene,” but was denied when he asked producers if he could leave for the night.
“Plaintiff was not offered another shirt and sat to the side, shirtless, until producers told him he was done for the evening,” the complaint says. “Immediately after, Defendants’ staff ‘congratulated’ Plaintiff, like he had done something great, when, in fact, he felt used and violated merely for Defendants’ ratings. At all times material, Plaintiff did not consent to or want the sexual harassment.”
The complaint implies that Glanville essentially demanded that Vega undress.
“Glanville, while describing her actions, stated on camera, ‘Earn your money, Marco. Take your shirt off. Do Something!’” the complaint says.
Vega says that the “sexual assaults caused marital problems” between him and his wife.The complaint outlined examples of what he described as examples of Glanville’s behavior that provided “overwhelming prior notice of Glanville’s sexually harassing behavior” prior to the Ultimate Girls Trip.
“Previously, during Defendant Bravo The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 2 – Episode 17, Glanville did sexually harass Housewife of Beverly Hills Adrienne Malouf by trying to make out with her without her consent,” the complaint says. “Glanville told Adrienne’s husband Paul ‘I tried to make out with your wife, but I don’t think she wanted to.’ Malouf’s husband told Glanville, ‘I wouldn’t want you kissing my wife.’”
“Previously, during Defendant BRAVO The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 2 – Episode 17, Glanville did sexually harass Housewife of Beverly Hills Lisa’s Vanderpump’s husband (Ken) by hugging and pawing at him, with Housewife Lisa Vanderpump telling Glanville ‘Get off my husband!’” the complaint also said.
Glanville’s behavior was also racist, Vega alleges.
“Previously, during Defendant Bravo The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 4 – Episode 6, Glanville did racially discriminate against Housewife of Beverly Hills Joyce Giraud, telling her ‘You’re a black person’ as if this were some sort of reason why she did not or could not swim,” the complaint says.
Vega also cites as an example of alleged racism Glanville’s demand that a bartender “[f]ill this up before I murder a Puerto Rican.”
Bravo and the other defendants are directly responsible for Glanville’s actions, Vega says.
“Defendants have not stopped their reprehensible actions and continue to cause others to fall victim to Glanville and others,” the complaint alleges. “They see the sexual assaults and sexual harassment as good for their ratings and completely disregard the rights of others; yet another reason why punitive damages are warranted.”
The complaint alleges discrimination on the basis of sex, unlawful employment retaliation, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and sexual battery. Vega is demanding an unspecified amount of damages.
“We are appalled by Bravo’s conduct,” Vega’s attorney Derek Smith said in a statement emailed to Law&Crime. “Television ratings are important to Bravo. However, nothing is more important than a person’s civil rights and well-being. We look forward to litigating this case and learning more of Bravo’s role in sacrificing cast members’ safety for profit. Perhaps we can prevent this from happening to others as well.”
Bravo did not immediately respond to Law&Crime’s request for comment.