In an interview with “The Real” co-hosts, NeNe Leakes expressed her interest in returning to the show. She explained that she had “unfinished business” with her other co-stars.
“Yeah, sure, I’ll return to the show,” she admitted to co-hosts Loni Love and Garcelle Beauvais on Thursday’s episode of their show. “I’m OK with returning to the show as long as we can work through a few things.”
“I’m happy to return to the show. And besides, I have a lot of unfinished business with a couple of them that they confirmed on the show during Season 13,” the ex-reality star concluded.
However, for that to happen, she explained that she needed to have a one-on-one discussion with Andy Cohen, the executive producer.
“I think Andy and I were really close for a really, really long time, and I love Benny boo, and I helped pay for his baby shower and all those things,” she replied. “I think that Andy and I need to have a sit-down and talk, and then we’re off to the races.”
The Backstory
In September 2020, the actress disclosed the news of her departure after being featured in most parts of the show seasons.
“I have been on an extremely long, exhausting, tiring, emotional negotiation,” she revealed on her YouTube channel during that period. “There’s been a lot of emotion flying from both sides. It has been hard.”
This, however, wasn’t the first time she left the show. She first exited in season seven and later came back for season ten.
“There has been a lot of emotion flying on both sides,” Leakes stated. “I’m just so happy that I can say that I was a part of a genre that opened doors for Black ensemble reality shows.”
Shortly after she left, she began to cast aspersions on social media, which referred indirectly to mistreatment by Bravo. In a tweet, Leakes once posted that the show didn’t think she deserved to “work in any capacity.” It roused a lot of responses, with a fan asking if she had been forced to leave and Leakes replying in the affirmative.
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She also dragged Cohen, the executive producer of the Bravo show. “Keep trying me sir and imma let the world know who you really are,” Leakes posted in a tweet about Cohen. “The racist is the master manipulator! They using me for ratings like they have always done.”
“I am still very grateful for everything that’s happened in my life over the past 13 years, I don’t regret anything, I have learned a lot of things, there are a lot of things I would probably do differently. But if I were you, you should stop doing that. It’s not right. It is wrong,” the fashion designer concluded.
Andy Cohen’s Reaction
When she exited the show, Bravo expressed their sadness in a statement with Us Weekly. “We wish NeNe all the best in her future endeavors and thank her for sharing her journey with fans. She’s been instrumental since the start and will truly be missed, and maybe one day she’ll hold the peach again.”
After the tirade which went on Twitter, Cohen recently revealed in Dave Quinn’s book, “Not all Diamonds And Rosé,” that he wasn’t happy about his strained relationship with Leakes.
“I’m really sad about how my relationship with NeNe played out. The year 2020 was a horrible year for so many reasons, but the dissolution of my friendship with NeNe was absolutely heartbreaking to me,” the executive producer concluded.
How Did Fans React?
Leakes has had a large audience on social media ever since she joined RHOA, and when she first disclosed her intention to leave the reality show, many of them were devastated.
Over time, they have wondered if the star would be amenable to returning, either to finish what she started or to start over on a clean slate. Either way, her fans were not against the idea that she should return.
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Now that she intends to make that comeback stick, thousands of viewers and fans worldwide are ecstatic about this impending return. This is especially because it’s not just a rumor, but a fact from the entrepreneur herself.
So, would fans want to see her again on their screens, definitely, are they anticipating the drama she is set to bring on the show? Absolutely. They just have to keep their fingers crossed and hope that the discussion between Cohen and Leakes goes as smoothly as possible.
But it is safe to say that as an OG of the RHOA franchise, Bravo would not hesitate to bring Leakes back on the show.
Her Husband’s Death
Leakes tragically lost her husband to cancer shortly after she left the show.
The couple’s representative shared the news in a press release. “Today, the Leakes family is in deep pain with a broken heart. After a long battle with cancer, Gregg Leakes has passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by all of his children, very close loved ones and wife NeNe Leakes.”
“We ask that you pray for peace and strength over their family and allow them to mourn in private during this very, very difficult time,” the statement concluded.
Her husband, Gregg, was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer three years ago. He was put on chemotherapy which put cancer into remission. But in June 2021, things went south as Leakes confirmed that the cancer was back.
Leakes Listed Their Marital Home
In October 2021, the reality star listed her marital home, located in Georgia, for $4 million. This came a month after her husband passed away.
The home was considered their first property purchase and was listed for about four million dollars, double the price she bought it five years ago.
It spanned about 10,000 square feet and had a lot of resort-style features. Its other attractions included a walk out-pool and a fully covered patio.
Amenities included an entertainment bar, a game room, a beauty salon, a movie theatre, and a lounge for guests.
