NBCUniversal has simply been hit with one other authorized letter from the attorneys working alongside Bethenny Frankel, 52, in her name to unionize actuality stars.
Just weeks after the media large was accused of “grotesque and depraved mistreatment” of the solid and crew of its reveals by attorneys Bryan Freedman and Mark Geragos, NBCUniversal’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Kimberley D. Harris, has obtained a second letter during which the corporate has been accused of forcing its expertise to signal nondisclosure agreements that “are unlawful and unenforceable.”
“In the course of our investigation, we have not only confirmed the veracity of our initial allegations but have also discovered that the breadth and scope of your wrongdoing is greater than previously believed,” Freedman stated in his August 20 letter, per Deadline.
“We are left with the inescapable conclusion that NBC and its production partners are grappling with systemic rot for which sunlight is the first necessary remedial measure,” he continued, on behalf of himself, Geragos, and others. “To date, that has been impossible owing to the draconian terms of NBC’s contracts with its cast and crew, which contain onerous confidentiality provisions coupled with ruinous penalties for breach. To ensure silence, NBC has been wielding these contractual terms like a sword.”
The letter particularly referred to as out Vanderpump Rules and Real Housewives producers Evolution Media, stating that their NDAs lack phrases required underneath California legislation — and that they maintain workers from “discussing or disclosing information about unlawful acts in the workplace, such as harassment or discrimination or any other conduct that you have reason to believe is unlawful.”
“This culture of fear and silence is no doubt responsible, in part, for the disproportionate rate of suicide among reality TV participants,” the lawyer added.
According to the correspondence, manufacturing corporations might have a “civil liability” to their expertise.
“NBCUniversal has two choices: lead by example or be forced into compliance,” Freedman demanded. “In 2019, NBC News voluntarily released its employees from the nondisclosure agreements that had prevented them from sharing their experiences of sexual harassment and discrimination. This request is no different. We trust that NBCUniversal will do the right thing.”
Although NBCUniversal is being requested to launch its solid and crew members from the agreements they’ve signed, it has not but reacted to the request.
That stated, NBCUniversal did launch an announcement within the wake of the primary letter they obtained.
“NBCUniversal is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows,” a spokesperson advised Deadline earlier this month. “At the outset, we require our third-party production partners to have appropriate workplace policies and training in place.”
Discussion about this post