'Real Housewives' star Caroline Manzo sues, claiming sexual harassment by castmate

One of the stars of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" is suing Bravo and its affiliated companies, saying she was sexually harassed and assaulted by another cast member while filming the show.

Caroline Manzo filed a lawsuit in New York against Bravo, Forest Productions Inc., Warner Brothers Entertainment, NBCUniversal Media, Shed Media US and Peacock TV. Manzo said the plaintiffs sacrificed "their cast members' safety for their own ratings and profits."

The suit accuses Bravo of regularly providing the cast with alcohol to get them "severely intoxicated" and then directing, encouraging and allowing "them to sexually harass other cast members because that is good for ratings."

Manzo joined the cast of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" in 2009, and she said Brandi Lynn Glanville, who became a supporting cast member of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" in 2011 before being made a full-time cast member in 2012, harassed and assaulted her during the filming of "The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip" season four.

According to the lawsuit, Glanville had a "long history" of sexually harassing people and was encouraged to do so.

Manzo said that on the third day of the trip, while at a local Moroccan chef's home, Glanville began "making lewd gestures and sexual comments," and when Manzo spoke to Glanville, her castmate cursed at her and told her she would "do what the [expletive]" she wanted.

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The lawsuit says that on the same night, an intoxicated Glanville spread Manzo's legs and laid her head on her inner thigh, with Manzo pulling away and moving to the other end of the couch.

"Exerting her dominance over Manzo, Glanville followed Manzo and sat right next to Manzo on the couch," the suit says.

Manzo said Glanville kissed her multiple times before forcibly holding her down, squeezing her cheeks and sticking her tongue in her mouth, while humping her. The suit says Granville is a foot taller than Manzo and heavier, making it hard for Manzo to free herself, which she eventually did.

Manzo said that not long after that, Glanville came into the bathroom with two other housewives from the New York cast and inappropriately touched her, eventually pinning her against the door and pushing Manzo's hand away from the lock.

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She said she called for help multiple times but no one came. The lawsuit says producers listened to the interaction on audio and sent one of the producers to the door to investigate, but the producer didn't open the door or do anything to stop the assault.

Manzo said she was finally let out of the bathroom by one of the New York housewives after she saw what was happening.

According to Manzo, when she got back to her room, two producers came in and asked her what happened in the bathroom. She said she began to cry and told them what happened, asking not to be left alone with Glanville.

"Manzo was scared for her safety and well-being," the lawsuit says.

Manzo said Glanville sent her a text message apologizing for her behavior the night before, to which she didn't respond. She said filming continued with Granville present, and she was uncomfortable, noting that Glanville was complaining that Manzo had accused her of sexual assault.

She said she was told Glanville was being removed from the desert and villa property to stay at a nearby hotel. Manzo said two of the producers told her Glanville's actions were her way of showing love, and they wanted her to meet with Glanville.

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"[The] defendants were more focused on the continuation of the show rather than the health and well-being of Manzo after she was sexually assaulted," the lawsuit says.

Manzo said she was "disgusted" at how her sexual assault and its aftermath were being used for entertainment purposes and put her other castmates in danger of facing the same sexual harassment and assault.

She left the production early, saying the producers were still trying to film her for "the drama." The lawsuit cites other incidents of sexual assault and harassment of other housewives during the several seasons Glanville was on and the seasons of "Ultimate Girls Trip."

The lawsuit says the defendants allowed Glanville's behavior because it helped their ratings, "regardless of who was hurt."

On X, formerly Twitter, Glanville responded to an article about the incidents on the website Collider, calling it "character assassination" and saying the producers are the ones who encourage alcohol use on set. She also posted Sunday asking them to air the new season of "Ultimate Girls Trip" so she could be "vindicated."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Caroline Manzo sues Bravo