Andy Cohen Debunks ‘RHOA’ Casting Rumors, NeNe Leakes Return: ‘Not True’ 

Andy Cohen is shutting down rumors of a cast shakeup at The Real Housewives of Atlanta. 

Recently, reports have surfaced that fan-favorite Housewife NeNe Leakes might return to RHOA. There’s also been speculation that current cast member Shamea Morton did not have her contract renewed.

All those rumors are false, Cohen declared in the latest episode of his SiriusXM talk show Radio Andy. 

Andy Cohen debunks ‘RHOA’ casting rumors 

The Housewives producer started out by talking up the upcoming RHOA Season 17 reunion. 

“The Atlanta reunion tease dropped last Friday,” he said. “And I gotta tell you, I told you guys how much fun I had. And now you can see from the tease what I’m talking about. It is just a great show. And a lot of fun!”

Bravo and Cohen are also very happy with the existing RHOA lineup, he added.

“And I read all these – there are a lot of casting rumors online, which came out over the weekend. I’m going to tell you that they’re not true,” the Watch What Happens Live host said. “And I’m going to tell you that if you want a preview of next season of Atlanta, look at this cast.”

“This is the group, guys. I mean, we love this group,” he continued. “So, spoiler alert: We’re very happy. And as you can see from the reunion, I was very happy as the day went on.”

The current RHOA cast includes Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Drew Sidora, Shamea Morton Mwangi, Angela Oakley, and Kelli Ferrell, as well as Pinky Cole and K. Michelle, who both joined the show as full-time Housewives this season.  

NeNe Leakes will make appearance in ‘RHUGT: Roaring 20th’ 

Over the weekend, Reality Blurb reported that NeNe would be returning to the Bravo franchise after a long absence.   

“Contracts went out two days ago,” an insider claimed, added that the network was “very interested” in having NeNe back. The OG Atlanta Housewife left the show in 2020 after 12 seasons. Soon after, she sued Cohen and the network, alleging discrimination. She later dropped the lawsuit.

Fans have long wanted NeNe back on the show. Speculation that Bravo was setting the stage for her return ramped up when it was announced that she’d make a cameo appearance in The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th, which premieres August 9, immediately after part 1 of the RHOA Season 17 reunion. 

The Real Housewives of Atlanta three-part reunion begins Sunday, August 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. Extended uncensored episodes stream the next day on Peacock.   

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