Television personality Brit Eady has filed a $20 million lawsuit in connection with her portrayal in Season 16 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA), alleging defamation, false light, sexual harassment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Bravo, NBCUniversal, and production companies True Entertainment and Endemol Shine North America.
The complaint, filed on June 5, 2025, centers around Episode 5 of the Bravo reality series, which aired on April 6, 2025, and included a scene where then-cast member Kenya Moore displayed what appeared to be an explicit image, suggesting the woman depicted was Eady. According to the complaint, the photograph was not Eady, and the episode’s production and broadcast constituted a “false and defamatory portrayal” with significant reputational harm.
Moore, who has since exited the series, was reportedly suspended from the franchise shortly after the incident aired. The suit argues that Moore was acting within the scope of her role as a Bravo employee, thereby triggering respondeat superior liability for the network and its parent companies.
“On information and belief, Defendants knew that the photograph did not depict [Eady], or, at the least, were reckless or grossly negligent in failing to learn that the photograph did not depict [Eady],” the complaint states.
Eady asserts that she did not view the photograph until after the episode aired, and that Bravo refused her prior requests to examine the image. She further alleges that the network and production team intentionally edited and aired content that created the “false yet unmistakable” impression that she was the woman in the explicit photo.
The legal filing also includes claims under hostile work environment and sexual harassment, citing the nature of the on-air incident and the conditions under which Eady was expected to continue filming.
“Defendants contributed to the hostile work environment for [Eady] and sexually harassed Plaintiff by subjecting her to unwelcome, offensive, and sexualized behavior and comments based on her gender,” the filing alleges.
Eady is seeking multiple forms of relief, including:
- The removal of the episode across all network and streaming platforms
- A public retraction and corrective statement
- Monetary damages of no less than \$20 million, plus legal fees and interest
She has requested a default judgment in the event the defendants fail to appear.
The lawsuit was filed the same day the taping of the RHOA Season 16 reunion took place. Eady did not attend the filming and later posted a statement on Instagram clarifying that the person in the photograph was not her. She also described the experience as emotionally distressing and said she is “seeking accountability.”
Bravo and NBCUniversal have declined to comment, and legal representatives for Eady did not respond to media inquiries at the time of publication.
The case raises critical questions about network liability in reality television, editing ethics, and the extent to which cast members can be protected against reputational and workplace harm in unscripted entertainment settings.
