Some of the women of the Real Housewives have alleged pressure is put on them by producers to drink alcohol while filming, which fuels on-screen drama.
Aviva Drescher, who appeared on Seasons 5 and 6 of Real Housewives of New York, told Page Six that the set was never short of alcohol and producers would sometimes go too far when encouraging the women to drink.
The 47-year-old recalled a time she was ‘intimidated by the production team’ to take a shot on camera with a casttmate for a scene, and was told no when she asked to fill the glass with water.
She isn’t the only cast member to come forward. Multiple ‘housewives’ from various season and cities said the production team perpetuates alcoholism, ignoring potentially dangerous situations or the sake of good TV ratings.
Some women of the Real Housewives claimed that alcohol is always flowing on set. Pictured are New York Housewives Ramona Singer, Carole Radziwill, Luann D’Agostino, Sonja Morgan, Bethany Frankel
Aviva Drescher, who appeared on Seasons 5 and 6 of Real Housewives of New York, said producers encouraged the women to drink for better TV ratings
Drescher told Page Six: ‘The producers just have two goals. One is to create a great television show. And two, if they can capture reality, that’s TV gold. A lot of the time, it’s not always 100-percent authentic. But when you catch somebody drunk, that’s as real as can be.’
The ‘housewife’ spoke about a situation where a producer called her before filming and asked her to take a shot with fellow ‘housewife’ Ramona Singer during a reconciliation scene.
She said she grew up with an alcoholic mother and had never taken a shot before.
‘I told the head producer, ‘I don’t want to do a shot. Can you just fill it with water?’ And they said no’ Drescher said.
‘I was so weak and so intimidated by the production team, and I had just gone through all the negotiations of my contract for the second season and those were demoralizing,’ she said. ‘I took the shot. I felt tremendous pressure to do it.’
The ‘housewives’ expressed that while the production staff typically did not force them to drink, alcohol was always available and free.
‘At times, the producers would say, ”Well, we’re not going to pay for Mr. Chow to cater your party because that’s over budget.” But you’ll never hear them say, ”We won’t pay for alcohol.” It’s always readily available,’ Drescher said.
‘I think a lot of women in NYC who are [in their 40s and 50s] self-medicate with alcohol,’ she said. ‘But then you throw in a reality show where you are basically a gladiator with tits, and you have the perfect recipe for a drinking disaster.’
Multiple ‘housewives’ from different seasons and cities said the production team perpetuates alcoholism, ignoring potentially dangerous situations or the sake of good TV ratings
Ramona Singer and Bethenny Frankel are pictured at a bar while filming. The drinks were typically always free
A Bravo spokeswoman told The Post, ‘The franchise follows the women in their real lives. No one is pressured to drink alcohol.’
‘If the network, production company or castmates have deemed that someone is putting themselves at risk in their overall lives, we have taken and will continue to take responsible action,’ the spokeswoman said.
Gretchen Rossi, who appeared on Real Housewives of Orange County recalled a time where she got very drunk at a party.
‘I woke up and thought, ”Gosh, I never specifically went up and asked for another drink.” My drink always seemed to be magically filled up,’ the 39-year-old said.
Rossi said she believed the producers were telling servers to refill her drink. She approached the producers about the party the next day.
‘One of the producers goes, ”Did anybody force you to drink? According to our notes here, you had two martinis, two shots of tequila . . .”’ she said.
‘They had literally documented every single drink I had. I found that to be very strange. It makes your stomach turn a little. It made me question what their intentions are.’