NeNe Leakes returned to the “Actual Housewives” franchise in August 2026 after six years away. In the course of the episode, the veteran actuality TV star, who’s arguably identified for placing the beloved franchise on the map, spoke with a producer about coming again to the sequence and admitted to being a bit cautious.
NeNe Leakes’ return comes a number of years after the 58-year-old sued Bravo, NBCUniversal, and the “Actual Housewives of Atlanta” manufacturing firms, alleging racism and different types of discrimination. Earlier than the authorized battle, Leakes had a nasty fallout with “Housewives” govt producer Andy Cohen.
In episode 4 of Bravo’s “Actual Housewives Final Ladies Journey,” Leakes made her highly anticipated return and instructed producers she was anxious about filming with the solid.
“My abdomen was sort of hurting slightly bit, sort of, you understand, like, nervous harm,” she mentioned. “I don’t know the way they’re, you understand. I simply hope they’re good to me.”
When the producer requested what would occur if the women weren’t good to her, Leakes mentioned she’d clap again in true “Housewives” vogue.
The ‘RHUGT’ Solid Members Have been Emotional Seeing NeNe Leakes
The “Final Ladies Journey” solid members had been ecstatic after Leakes stunned them at a drag brunch in Atlanta.
“Actual Housewives of New York” alum Luann de Lesseps likened Leakes’ return to seeing “your long-lost household, and also you’re again collectively once more,” whereas “Actual Housewives of New Jersey” star Teresa Giudice mentioned she was “so completely satisfied” to see Leakes.
“I’m so completely satisfied Nene’s right here. And, I don’t know, I really feel like we’ve, like, this sisterhood, like no competitors or something like that. We at all times, like, revered one another,” Giudice mentioned.
Kyle Richards ‘Missed’ Leakes
And the love didn’t cease there. “Actual Housewives of Beverly Hills” OG Kyle Richards opened up about her particular bond with Leakes throughout her confessional.
“Nene was the primary Housewife of any of the franchises that I turned pals with. Nene and I’ve had lunches, dinners, we’ve gossiped, shared personal issues with one another. We simply at all times had one another’s again. I’ve missed her,” she mentioned.
“Actual Housewives of Potomac” star Gizelle Bryant, nonetheless, had a bone to choose with Leakes after studying a few remark the Georgia native made about her years earlier than.
“I’ve at all times given Nene her flowers, however she has mentioned some issues about me,” Bryant mentioned earlier than cameras confirmed her asking Leakes why she requested certainly one of their franchise friends to “beat me up.”
Leakes didn’t again down, although, telling Bryant that she was “speaking sh-t” and that there have been “no onerous emotions.”
NeNe Leakes Was Pleased To Be Gone
Because the episode continued, Leakes spoke with the principal solid of “Final Ladies Journey” about how she first felt after leaving the sequence in her rearview.
“At first I used to be completely satisfied to be gone, actually, ’trigger it was only a heavy time,” she mentioned. “At first, you’re feeling slightly bit like, ‘I imply, they’re taking pictures with out me? Like, how the h-ll does that go?’ … You’re feeling actually bizarre. In a bizarre, method, we’re like all sisters, proper? I’m nonetheless very related to those women. However, at first, it does take a while to set in.”
Leakes Prepared To ‘Transfer Ahead’ With Bravo
Whereas Leakes spent 11 seasons as an “RHOA” OG, she departed the sequence after season 12 in 2020. Years later, she sued the community and Cohen, claiming she faced discrimination on set.
“NBC, Bravo and True foster a company and office tradition through which racially-insensitive and inappropriate habits is tolerated — if not, inspired,” the go well with learn. “Because the Black Lives Matter motion swept our nation, Mrs. Leakes — Bravo’s traditionally most profitable Black feminine expertise — ought to have been embraced by NBC, Bravo, and True.”
Following her go well with, Leakes and NBC settled out of courtroom, however that hasn’t introduced her any nearer to her previous pal, Cohen.
“I’m the sort of individual that, good or unhealthy, time heals,” Leakes mentioned. “You don’t should be besties or something like that, however I transfer ahead. I’m not into holding detrimental vitality.”
