SAG-AFTRA Supports Bethenny Frankel’s “Reality TV Reckoning,” Joins Forces With Former ‘RHONY’ Star in Fight to Unionize Reality TV Personalities

Bethenny Frankel‘s cries for help might have just been answered. The former The Real Housewives of New York City star has been taking to Instagram and TikTok to share “Reality TV Reckoning” videos, in which she exposes the “exploitation” of reality television and calls her fellow reality TV stars, past and present, to unionize amid the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Frankel referred to reality TV stars like herself as “the ones that the entertainment industry is going to rely on right now to carry the water and do the heavy lifting” while the strikes continue.

According to Deadline, SAG-AFTRA, which protects reality TV hosts but not contestants, released a statement announcing that they are working “toward the protection of the reality performers.”

The Union’s statement, which Frankel posted a screenshot of to her Instagram story, reads, “SAG-AFTRA has engaged in discussions with Bryan Freedman at the Freedman + Taitelman, LLP law firm who has been retained by Bethenny Frankel around the subject of reality performers.

“SAG-AFTRA is the Union that represents reality performers. Depending on the structure of the production and the performers involved, we can cover these performers under our Network Code Agreement,” they continued.

@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

Such agreement allows daytime television soap operas such as General Hospital to continue airing new episodes with writers outside of the union.

SAG-AFTRA added, “We stand ready to assist Bethenny Frankel, Bryan Freedman and [criminal defense lawyer] Mark Geragos along with reality performers and our members in the fight and are tired of studios and production companies trying to circumvent the Union in order to exploit the talent that they rely upon to make their product.

“We encourage any reality performers and/or members to reach out to SAG-AFTRA’s Entertainment Contracts Department so that we may work toward the protection of the reality performers ending the exploitative practices that have developed in this area and to engage in a new path to Union coverage,” they shared.

The news comes after NBCUniversal, which owns Bravo, was accused last week of mistreating its reality stars in a bombshell lawsuit. The company is accused of “deliberate attempts to manufacture mental instability by plying cast members with alcohol while depriving them of food and sleep,” “exploiting minors for uncompensated and sometimes long-term appearances on NBC reality TV shows,” “distributing and/or condoning the distribution of nonconsensual pornography,” “covering up acts of sexual violence,” and more.

When reached for comment by Decider, an NBCUniversal spokesperson shared the following statement:

“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. 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.”