Bethenny Frankel is not on Real Housewives of New York, but she isn’t done talking about it. Recently, Beth took inspiration from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in the entertainment industry over fairness when it comes to working conditions and residuals.
Would she feel the same way had she kept her apple on RHONY? No idea, but here we are. Bethenny is currently the face of unionizing reality television. She’s also managed to get a lot of former players on her side. After obtaining counsel to fight The Man, now SAG-AFTRA gets behind Bethenny as her battle gets serious.
SAG-AFTRA stands “ready to assist”
Hopefully Bethenny can multi-task because she’s about to get busy. According to The Messenger, SAG-AFTRA released a statement in full support of her mission. It 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 treatment of reality performers,” it began.
“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.”
It continued:
“We stand ready to assist Bethenny Frankel, Bryan Freedman, and 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.”
This could be what Vanderpump Rules alum Rachel Leviss and others are allegedly lining up for. Bethenny has already name-dropped quite a few Bravolebrities who have reached out to her to get involved.
“We encourage any reality performers and/or members to reach out to SAG-AFTRA’s Entertainment Contracts Department so that we may work together 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,” the statement concluded.
Stay tuned, it’s about to get very interesting around here.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IN REALITY TELEVISION? DO YOU SEE BRAVO BOYCOTTS IN THE FUTURE?
