A former Emmy-winning producer of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Patrick McDonald, recently broke his silence on a controversial topic: the way Bravo reality shows handle stories about substance abuse. In a rare interview, McDonald said it’s disappointing for producers when a cast member decides to get sober, because it often means less drama for the show.
McDonald, who has since left reality TV to pursue a career on OnlyFans, opened up during an appearance on Bethenny Frankel’s Just B podcast on April 11. He and Frankel—who has been vocal about issues within the Bravo franchise—talked candidly about how the shows seem to celebrate chaotic behavior, especially when it involves alcohol, and tend to sideline or even punish cast members who choose sobriety.
These comments come just as McDonald is preparing to appear in court to defend himself and Bravo against a lawsuit filed by Real Housewives of New York City alum Leah McSweeney. She’s accusing the network of encouraging her to relapse into drinking, all for the sake of keeping the drama alive on the show.
McDonald admitted that substance abuse storylines have always made him uncomfortable. He said issues like addiction and sobriety are deeply personal and delicate, and shouldn’t be used just to stir up drama. “I can’t imagine trying to stay sober while filming one of these shows,” he said. “When someone gets sober, it’s actually kind of a letdown for the production team.”
He went on to reveal that cast members who bring wild, alcohol-fueled drama often get more screen time and better treatment from producers. He cited Scheana Shay from Vanderpump Rules as an example, saying she was pushed to the background in some seasons simply because her storyline wasn’t messy enough.
However, a Bravo spokesperson pushed back on McDonald’s claims, telling Page Six that they weren’t true. Still, McDonald’s remarks echo a recent Vanity Fair investigation, which raised serious concerns about how Bravo handles cast members in distress. According to the report, when women appeared heavily intoxicated on camera, producers were quick to film them instead of offering help.
McDonald also revealed why he parted ways with Bravo: he described a toxic workplace environment, claiming that physical altercations happened behind the scenes and that executives essentially pushed him out once they found out about his work on OnlyFans—even after his long-standing career with the network.
