Andy Cohen is shedding some light on what he’s called the “most emotional ever” Bravo reunion for Summer House, and is condemning the person who leaked audio from the “very intense” cast gathering, which Cohen called an illegal violation.
Over the weekend, Bravo concluded their investigation into audio from the reunion that leaked online, determining that it was a person “involved in the production of the reunion” — and not a castmember, despite social media speculation — who released an unauthorized recording from the highly anticipated taping that took place Thursday in New York City, which won’t air for another month, on May 26.
Investigators were brought on to probe the leak, however Cohen said on his SiriusXM Radio Andy show Monday that, though this team of investigators were “on it,” it was “a Bravo fan — who you’re gonna hear more about — who cracked the case … [and] delivered crucial information.”
Cohen sounded very excited about this fan — with Bravo and Cocktails reporting that it could be Bravo superfan Jennifer Lawrence. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to the network for comment.
Cohen, who confirmed there is more audio out there that hasn’t yet been leaked, called the reunion “one of the most emotional” they’ve ever shot, but also “one of the most emotionally draining.”
The 10-hour taping, which began at 10:30 a.m. and wrapped around 8 p.m. (with a one-hour break for lunch), was the first time the cast gathered to discuss the Summer House mega-scandal that is giving echoes to the Scandoval era for Vanderpump Rules — with Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s relationship being exposed after filming wrapped on the currently airing 10th season.
For the uninitiated: This relationship is a betrayal since Wilson is the on-and-off ex-boyfriend of Batula’s close friend and co-star Ciara Miller, and Batula is married to co-star Kyle Cooke; Batula and Cooke announced their separation in January.
Bravo’s reunions are a closed set usually comprised of only the cast, production and glam, though the latter are not on the live set or in a distance to hear audio.
“There were so many emotions on that stage — deep anger, deep hurt,” said Cohen of the cast. “This situation has truly sent shockwaves through this group, and I know that’s a Chris Harrison kind of ‘most dramatic rose ceremony ever’ statement, but it really has caused shockwaves through the group in ways that I didn’t even realize until I sat there looking into the faces and hearing from some of these housemates.”
Which is why Cohen says he was “so mad” when he woke up the next morning — extra early for an eye surgery — and learned through social media that audio leaked, for the first time ever for a Bravo reunion. Cohen hosted the reunion, as he does every reunion on the network where he serves as executive producer and host of late-night talk show Watch What Happens Live!.
“When I tell you that I was mad. It felt like a … violation. I just thought: Wow. Here’s this cast. They all showed up. And they all laid themselves totally barren. And a leak… it just totally demeans the work of this crew and this cast. And especially, again, just all of them for showing up and sitting there and taking it.”
As for the cast incorrectly being blamed online for the leak, Cohen said he knew immediately that no one from the group leaked it. “[There were] dumb takes and reasons why they would have leaked it: To get a better edit, to get a worse edit, to protect themselves, to combat others. I was like, ‘This is stupid.’ And I love this cast. I felt so bad in the next 24 hours after that the cast was feeling the need to come out and say, ‘I didn’t do it. I didn’t leak it.’ I was so mad.”
On Sunday, Bravo released the following statement: “An investigation into the recent leak of the Summer House reunion audio has concluded that the audio was an unauthorized recording and distributed by an individual involved in the production of the reunion. As a result of the findings, appropriate action has been taken. There is no evidence that any member of the cast was involved in the recording of the audio.”
The statement continued, “We take these matters seriously and will continue to take appropriate measures to respond to the unauthorized distribution of our content. We are aware that there is additional improperly obtained audio circulating and we caution all parties and platforms to refrain from posting, sharing, or amplifying any unauthorized audio.”
Summer House has four more episodes left before the multi-part reunion begins airing on May 26.
