There’s new legal drama for The Real Housewives franchise.
Todd Nepola, the ex-husband of Alexia Nepola, a cast member of the Miami-set edition, has sued the show’s network, Bravo, along with parent company NBCUniversal Media and producers Purveyors of Pop, for defamation, according to a legal document obtained by EW. He seeks more than $10 million in damages.
After dating for four years, the couple married in 2021, and he appeared on 21 episodes of RHOM before April 2024, when he filed for divorce. But Alexia, one of the original cast members when it premiered in 2011, continued to appear on the reality show, so their relationship was part of the narrative.
Todd claims in the lawsuit that he is portrayed as “financially irresponsible or suffering from financial distress,” and that Bravo “continued to intentionally and maliciously air defamatory statements about Mr. Nepola, misuse his name and likeness, and damage his reputation in the Miami business community.”
The document also alleges that his name and likeness were used without permission and that he “has suffered millions of dollars in damages.”
Todd argues in the lawsuit that the defamation has been repeated by way of reruns, social media, and the network’s reunions — and that it’s all drama manufactured for audiences.
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“A narrative suggesting financial irresponsibility or instability was introduced and repeatedly emphasized by Defendants, despite its falsity,” the documents reads. “This false characterization was not limited to a single episode or season. Rather, once established, it became the dominant lens through which Plaintiff was portrayed, with producers actively shaping scenes, editing conversations out of context, and encouraging cast members to amplify that narrative on-camera.”
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to Bravo’s parent company, NBCUniversal.
Todd is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages.
The real estate broker is listed as president of the Current Capital Group, which is based in Hollywood, Fla.
