Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty; Rich Polk/Bravo via Getty Leah McSweeney is claiming Andy Cohen planned a "coordinated attack" against her over her 2024 lawsuit against him The former reality star alleged that he recruited former and presentReal Housewivesstars to disparage her character in the press McSweeney also doubled down in her claims that Cohen gave preferential treatment to reality stars who engaged in cocaine use with him Leah McSweeneyis claimingAndy Cohenorchestrated an "attack" with former and currentReal Housewivesstars. In new court filings obtained by PEOPLE, the formerReal Housewives of New York Citystar, 42, alleged that the Bravo mogul used the press for a "coordinated attack" against her after she filed her2024 lawsuitagainst him, Bravo and other subsidiaries for a toxic work environment that encouraged drug use. In her initial filing, McSweeney claimed that she told Bravo producers that she suffered from alcohol use disorder but intentionally planned scenarios where her "disabilities" would be exacerbated in order to "create morbidly salacious reality television." Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty (2) She also alleged that Cohen engaged in "cocaine use with Housewives and other 'Bravolebrities' that he employs," and would provide Housewives who partook in the drug with him "more favorable treatment and edits." After the lawsuit went public, McSweeney claimed in new filings that Cohen abused his power to "direct or induce" other Bravo stars to say she was a "liar" in the press. She wrote that Cohen "either directly requested or induced current and former 'Real Housewives' cast members publicly disparage McSweeney's character, and propensity for truthfulness, to curry favor with Cohen in the hopes that such favor would propel their entertainment careers." PEOPLE has reached out to attorneys for both Cohen and McSweeney. Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU/getty The filing named more than 20 Bravo stars, includingLuann de Lesseps,Kyle Richards,Melissa Gorga,Kandi BurrussandDorinda Medley. McSweeney also specifically referencedLisa Vanderpump'sApril 2024 appearance onThe Talkwhere she opened up about her "very close relationship" with Cohen before weighing in on the ongoing lawsuit. "He's inappropriately naughty, like I am, too. I mean, that's what Bravo is a lot of the time. But it is 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 said of Cohen, which prompted claps from the studio audience. The filing then referencedHeather Dubrow'sLet's Talkpodcast, where she implied McSweeney should be "thanking" the network because she was "making money and thriving because of this platform."Margaret Josephswas also named for herPage Sixinterview, where she claimed that the allegations against Cohen were an attempt to "assassinate [Cohen's] character and that is disgusting." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. McSweeney also attempted to double down on her claims that Cohen gives preferential treatments to reality stars who use cocaine with him. She alleged that two unnamed cast members confided in her about Cohen's alleged drug use and named other instances where Bravo stars likeNeNe Leakeshas called him a "cocaine head" and his former friendKathy Griffinclaimed he once offered her cocaine. The new filings come after the two parties appeared in acourt hearingin November 2024, and Cohen filed a motion to dismiss which a judge ultimately let three of her disability-related claims go forward and dismissed all the others in whole or in part. Read the original article onPeople
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