Todd Nepola
MIAMI – A Florida businessman filed a federal lawsuit against Bravo Media LLC, NBCUniversal Media and Purveyors of Pop Productions, accusing the companies of defamation and the unauthorized publication of his name and likeness in connection with the reality television series “The Real Housewives of Miami” (RHOM).
In his complaint, Todd Nepola alleges that Bravo, NBCUniversal and Purveyors of Pop intentionally broadcast false and defamatory statements about his financial stability and used his image and likeness without his consent in Seasons 6 and 7 of the show, according to an Oct. 7 complaint filed has filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
He asserts that producers fabricated and repeated false narratives portraying him as financially irresponsible, despite his withdrawal from the program after Season 5 and the absence of a signed release authorizing his participation in subsequent seasons.
The alleged defamatory storyline began during the show’s sixth season, with cast member Adriana de Moura claiming on-air that Nepola’s business was struggling and that he and his then-wife, Alexia Nepola, might need to move to a cheaper residence, according to the suit.
These statements, the complaint contends, were false at the time they were made and were knowingly broadcast by producers to create dramatic tension.
The complaint further states that the storyline was repeatedly revived and rebroadcast in later episodes and seasons, including Season 7, which began airing in June 2025.
Nepola, a commercial real estate developer, claims the false narrative has caused severe and ongoing damage to his personal and professional reputation.
He maintains that he has never faced any financial hardship, missed a payment or been subject to repossession, eviction or foreclosure, and that his net worth exceeds $100 million.
During the relevant time, the complaint states, Nepola completed more than $115 million in real estate transactions, all financed through conventional loans, which he argues demonstrates his financial integrity and creditworthiness.
The complaint notes that the alleged defamation was part of a broader pattern of manipulation within the reality television industry.
Nepola’s complaint cites statements from media professionals and former reality show editors acknowledging that “reality TV” is often “100% manipulated,” with producers engineering “counterfeit drama” to attract viewership and advertising revenue.
He argues that Bravo and its production partners deliberately construct narratives that misrepresent the real lives of participants, using selective editing and fabricated conflicts to sustain audience engagement.
The complaint asserts that RHOM producers have knowingly leveraged these false portrayals for profit, rebroadcasting and streaming the content across multiple platforms, including Bravo, Peacock and social media accounts, long after the original airings.
Each instance of re-airing, according to Nepola, constitutes a renewed act of defamation that perpetuates reputational harm and emotional distress.
In addition to financial and reputational injury, Nepola claims that the defamatory portrayal subjected him to widespread online ridicule and harassment.
The complaint notes how the show’s producers “weaponized” social media engagement, using online discussions, fan pages and commentary channels to amplify the defamatory narrative and maintain public interest in the show.
This cycle of attention, Nepola argues, created a continuous echo chamber of falsehoods, ridicule and emotional harm.
The complaint further alleges that Bravo, NBCUniversal and Purveyors of Pop had no contractual right to use Nepola’s likeness in the more recent seasons, as he did not sign an appearance release or authorize any participation in Seasons 6 or 7.
Despite this, the defendants allegedly continued to use his image and name in promotional materials and episodes.
Nepola asserts that even where contracts existed in prior seasons, none permitted the fabrication or distortion of facts or the publication of knowingly false statements.
The lawsuit contends that the defendants’ actions were not accidental but “systemic, repeated and central to the business model” of their reality television operations.
It alleges that the companies’ strategy involves crafting and sustaining defamatory narratives across multiple seasons to drive viewer engagement, ratings and profitability, regardless of the personal consequences to those depicted.
Nepola also claims significant emotional distress as a result of the ongoing defamation. The complaint describes symptoms including anxiety, depression, insomnia and social withdrawal, alleging that the damage to his reputation and mental health is compounded by the constant availability and re-airing of the defamatory material online and on television.
Nepola initially refrained from pursuing legal action in 2023 in hopes of moving past the false portrayals.
However, the continued use of his name and the repeated dissemination of the defamatory storyline in 2025 prompted him to act.
“Enough is enough,” the complaint states, asserting that Bravo, NBCUniversal and Purveyors of Pop “must be held accountable” for their “reckless disregard for the truth.”
Nepola seeks damages for defamation and violation of Florida Statute §540.08(1), which prohibits the unauthorized publication of a person’s name or likeness for commercial purposes. He is represented by Scott J. Weiselberg and Benjamin R. Muschel of Kopelowitz Ostrow Ferguson Wiselberg Gilbert in Ft. Lauderdale.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida case number: 1:25-cv-24613
