There are a lot of details in cocktail party. But what is public information now is :
There’s some legal drama brewing at Republic Garden & Lounge, the Charleston hotspot owned by Southern Hospitality star Leva Bonaparte and her husband, Lamar Bonaparte.
According to a lawsuit filed in federal court, a former Republic bartender is accusing the establishment of operating an allegedly “unlawful tip pool,” failing to properly pay employees minimum wage, and violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The lawsuit was filed by former bartender Angelica Alberti, who reportedly worked at Republic from May 12, 2025 through November 2, 2025. Alberti filed the case on behalf of herself and other bartenders who she claims were subjected to similar practices.
According to the complaint, Alberti worked approximately 30 hours per week and was paid $2.13 per hour plus tips.
While employers can legally pay tipped employees $2.13 per hour under certain circumstances — provided their tips bring them up to at least the federal minimum wage — the lawsuit alleges Republic did not meet all of the requirements necessary to take that tip credit.
What Is She Alleging?
Among the claims, Alberti alleges that bartenders were required to participate in a tip pool that included managers and supervisors.
Federal law generally prohibits employers, managers and supervisors from keeping employees’ tips, including through a tip pool.
Alberti also alleges employees were not properly informed about certain credit-card fee deductions and claims some bartenders ultimately earned less than the required minimum wage.
The lawsuit argues that without proper notice regarding the tip credit, the affected bartenders should have been paid the full federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, in addition to potentially recovering tips they allege were improperly distributed.
Republic Is Fighting Back
Republic is denying the allegations.
Attorney Nancy Bloodgood, who is representing Republic in the case, called the claims “baseless” and said Alberti had been terminated from her position and had been paid all wages she was entitled to at the time of her termination.
Alberti and the other plaintiffs are seeking to recover allegedly unpaid minimum wages as well as tips they claim were improperly given to managers or supervisors.
Why Bravo Fans Will Be Watching
Republic isn’t just any Charleston nightclub — it serves as the central workplace and filming location for Bravo’s Southern Hospitality, where Leva’s management of her staff has been a major part of the show.
With employee rules, firings, promotions and workplace drama regularly playing out on camera, this real-life legal battle adds an entirely different layer to the drama surrounding Republic.
For now, these remain allegations contained in a lawsuit, and Republic has denied wrongdoing.
We’ll be watching to see what happens next — and whether any of this makes its way onto Southern Hospitality.
