Credit: Cindy Ord/Bravo
Brandi Glanville addressed allegations that she inappropriately touched Caroline Manzo while filming Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.
The 50-year-old, who previously starred on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, has continually denied the claims.
In an interview with Page Six, Brandi addressed the impact of the allegations.
“It was a really tough beginning of a year,” said Brandi. “I feel like the narrative that’s out there is very unfair … I’m ready to clear things up.”
Sources have claimed to the outlet that both of the castmates’ mics were on throughout the incident. Brandi’s lawyers demanded that the production company, Shed Media, release the audio to rebut the allegations.
According to an insider who spoke to Page Six, however, the recordings were never delivered.
“If anything like that actually transpired,” said Brandi, “I would’ve thought that production would’ve stepped in.”
“The longer they push [my season] back, the more speculation there is,” she went on. “I just want it to air and be done, so everyone can have their takeaways.”
“I’m hired to be the drunk, fun one,” added Brandi, who indicated she felt “punished” for acting the way she always has.
“Honestly, the old days of reality TV will never be again because we are such a sensitive society now,” she explained, adding that “new rules” are now in place.
“If they’re going to have rules for us, we can’t be shooting 15 hours a day, drinking all day long,” the star continued, “and [producers] telling us to ‘bring the party [because] we don’t have a show.’”
A production insider told the outlet that Brandi was “never forced to drink and, like all cast members, was only encouraged to be her authentic self.”
“I’ve always been an a–hole. I’ve always been very outspoken and sassy,” said Brandi in her interview. “I think the secret sauce is just not holding back and being yourself.”
“[In RHUGT season one] we got drunk and high and I made out with Taylor and gave people lap dances,” added Brandi, who believed the “assignment” was the same when she returned for the new season.
Following the allegations, Brandi was reportedly prevented from attending the reunion of Peacock’s The Traitors, in which Brandi was a fan favorite.
She said the reunion episode was “super boring” without her.
The star claimed Caroline was not boring, however, during RHUGT. “She was fun! She was definitely engaging in talking about threesomes and telling us to feel her boobs because they were … perfect,” said the star.
“And the girls were touching her boobs,” Brandi stated. “We kind of thought she was going to be uptight. And she was honestly cool — until you crossed her.”
Brandi said she had “no ill feelings” toward Caroline, and she tried to talk about the matter in private after returning to the U.S., but she received no response.
“I just want to make sure she’s fine. Caroline didn’t want to talk, but she seems to be doing great,” said Brandi. “I think it just comes down to she hasn’t been on [‘Housewives’] TV in [nearly] 10 years and she wasn’t ready for what a ‘Girls Trip’ really is. She’s a grandma, it’s different.”
Responding to Brandi’s claims, Caroline’s lawyer Derek Smith told the outlet: “Sexual assault is something we take very seriously. We are not interested in engaging in a shameless tabloid war.”
Brandi shared that Andy Cohen has been her sounding board throughout the controversy.
“Andy and I have had a ton of conversations because this is the first time I’ve ever dealt with anything like this,” said Brandi. “This is new for me and this is scary for me. He’s been very helpful, honestly … He’s like, ‘It’s going to be what it’s going to be. Some people are going to probably see it and just say, ‘That’s Brandi being Brandi’ … ‘Don’t be too hard on yourself.’”
The star noted that Andy isn’t taking a side. “He knows me as a human, he knows Caroline as a human,” she explained. “He likes us both.”
As Brandi explores reality TV projects not associated with Bravo, she explained, “I’m definitely not taking a break.” Although she believes stars should form a union, she is not associated with the “reality reckoning” of Bethenny Frankel.
“For a while, this whole narrative had me all shook up but then I just realized life goes on,” said the mother of two. “I’m in control of my happiness and I’m in control of how I move forward.”
She expressed her desire to eventually produce reality TV shows rather than starring in them. “I’m pitching ideas. Ultimately, I don’t want to be in front of the camera forever. I don’t want to be throwing wine at 60,” she expressed. “I want to be drinking it.”