Leah McSweeney, a former cast member of Bravo's Real Housewives of New York City, has had her lawsuit against executive producer Andy Cohen and the network dismissed before trial. In February 2024, McSweeney named Cohen and Bravo in a lawsuit claiming production encouraged her to relapse into substance abuse after years of sobriety.

According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly, McSweeney alleged that producers pressured her to drink throughout her reality TV tenure on RHONY and The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip season 3. She also claimed that Cohen "engaged in cocaine use" with multiple Bravolebrities and allegedly rewarded participants with "more favorable treatment and edits."

Cohen and Bravo have vehemently denied the accusations at various times since the lawsuit was filed. In a February 2024 statement, Cohen's representative said, "The claims against Andy are completely false." Months later, Cohen stated during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that production is accommodating of cast members' sobriety journeys, citing examples of sober individuals who have appeared on the show, including Countess Luann de Lesseps.

In May 2024, Andy Cohen was cleared of potential misconduct following an investigation initiated by Bravo into McSweeney's allegations. A Bravo rep told Deadline at the time that the outside investigation found the claims to be unsubstantiated.

The dismissal of McSweeney's lawsuit comes after a judge denied Bravo and Andy Cohen's request to move their dispute with Leah McSweeney to private arbitration in March 2026. According to the ruling, defendants did not seek to compel arbitration until they had first invoked the Court's authority and sought affirmative dispositive relief.

After the judge denied their request for private arbitration, Andy Cohen filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that McSweeney's evidence of Cohen's alleged drug use consisted of two anonymous cast members who "privately confirmed" her allegations, as well as a public video created by an unspecified person. Cohen's team further stated that McSweeney does not cite a single instance in which she witnessed any cocaine use in her lawsuit.

News broke in October 2026 that McSweeney voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit with prejudice, meaning she cannot refile the same claims in a new suit. McSweeney's lawyer, Gary Adelman, released a statement saying, "We are extremely satisfied with the outcome [and] we are proud of Leah and her perseverance."

Frequently Asked Questions

What were Leah McSweeney's allegations against Bravo and Andy Cohen?

McSweeney claimed that production encouraged her to relapse into substance abuse after years of sobriety and that Cohen engaged in cocaine use with multiple Bravolebrities.

Did Andy Cohen respond to these allegations?

Yes, Cohen has repeatedly denied the accusations, stating that production is accommodating of cast members' sobriety journeys and that his interactions with McSweeney were professional.

Was there an investigation into McSweeney's allegations?

Yes, Bravo initiated an investigation into McSweeney's allegations, which concluded that the claims were unsubstantiated.

Why was McSweeney's lawsuit dismissed before trial?

McSweeney voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit with prejudice, meaning she cannot refile the same claims in a new suit.