Brooks Ayers, Vicki Gunvalson’s Boyfriend, Suing ABC

Posted: July 13th, 2012 in Brooks Ayers, Vicki Gunvalson by LALATE

Brooks Ayers, Vicki Gunvalson's Boyfriend, Suing ABC

ORANGE COUNTY (LALATE) – Brooks Ayers, Vicki Gunvalson’s boyfriend, is suing ABC News. Brooks Ayers claims an ABC News interview with ex-girlfriend Nicolette Catanzarite was not only false but allegedly didn’t give him an opportunity to respond to her accusations before print. Brooks Ayers has retained attorney Alexander Rufus-Isaacs of Rufus-Isaacs, Acland & Grantham.

At the time that Real Housewives of Orange County’s 2012 Reunion show was about to air, ABC News’s 20/20 ran atypical type of story for the channel – a blistering portrayal of a reality show cast member.

Nicolette Catanzarite provided the information to 20/20 for its article on June 29, 2012. Vicki Gunvalson and Brooks Ayers are mentioned in the story and allegations are made by Catanzarite against Ayers. But Ayers is not quoted in the article.

Ayers has issued a news statement stating that the article purportedly gave him no time to comment on it. “ABC never gave me a reasonable opportunity to tell my side, and therefore the story, which is based on an interview with an ex-girlfriend, contains many mistakes. I am outraged that ABC should behave in this manner.”

Radar Online claims that Ayers will sue ABC. “On July 11, Mr. Rufus-Isaacs wrote to ABC demanding a retraction of the story and threatening to bring a lawsuit seeking damages for the injury to Mr. Ayers’ reputation”. Radar has no comment from ABC about its report.

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Ayers is not the only RHOC cast member who battled purportedly false news reports this year alone. Gretchen Rossi and Tamra Barney claimed they too were the subjects of false reports by TMZ and NY Post in March 2012.

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Gretchen told news that month “Whoever keeps trying to stir up things between @TamraBarney and me, needs to stop making up lies! I never said any of those things TMZ is reporting and have been nothing but happy for Tamra and her engagement.” She added “Last week [in the NY Post] I was begging for a ring from Bravo now this week [in TMZ] her engagement is a sham! Give me a break!”