NeNe Leakes Is Returning to Bravo: Why Did She Once Sue the Network?
NeNe Leakes is joining the cast of the Bravo series The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. The show will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise by sending a group of iconic Housewives on a road trip. Leakes has confirmed that she is a member of the cast. This marks her return to Bravo following a contentious relationship with the network. In 2022, Leakes filed a lawsuit against them.
NeNe Leakes will appear on ‘The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip’ on Bravo
On Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, seven Housewives will “embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, making their way through some of the most memorable locations in the franchise’s history,” reads the press release (via People).
“Starting where it all began in Orange County and culminating in an epic East Coast grand finale, each stop will feature appearances by fan favorites from different cities to pay tribute to the past, embrace the present, and look toward the many miles still ahead,” it continued. “Along the way, viewers can expect nostalgic reunions, heartfelt revelations, effortless humor, and the larger-than-life dynamics that only Housewives can deliver.”
While Leakes isn’t going on the road, she will feature in the series.
“This has been a really long, long journey,” she said in an emotional Instagram video. “I’m happy, overjoyed, to say that I will be returning to Bravo. I almost can’t even believe the words that are coming out of my mouth. I’m so happy. I’m just so happy.”
She thanked Andy Cohen and other showrunners and producers for pushing for her inclusion.
“I’m really grateful for that,” she said, adding “I’m just doggone excited to do this! I’m excited to see all of you girls. It’s going to be a tiiiiime! YES! B****es, I am back. Now pick your faces up off the floor, OK? See you on Bravo. Love you!”
NeNe Leakes filed a lawsuit against Bravo in 2022
Leakes’ return to Bravo comes nearly four years after she filed a lawsuit against the network.
“NBC, Bravo and True foster a corporate and workplace culture in which racially insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated — if not, encouraged,” the suit said, per The Hollywood Reporter.
She alleged that former cast member Kim Zolciak-Biermann made racist remarks for years, but that only she suffered the consequences. The lawsuit said that after Leakes complained, network executives “did not terminate their relationship with Zolciak-Biermann, nor take any other meaningful action to put an end to her racially-offensive behavior.” Instead, it said, the network rewarded Zolciak-Biermann by giving her a spinoff show.
The lawsuit also alleged that racism led to Leakes’ exit from the show in 2020.
“As the Black Lives Matter movement swept our nation, Mrs. Leakes — Bravo’s historically most successful Black female talent — should have been embraced by NBC, Bravo, and True,” the suit says. “Instead, NBC, Bravo, and True forced her out of the ‘house she built,’ denying her a regular role.”
Several months after filing the lawsuit, Leakes dismissed it. According to court documents obtained by People, Leakes “dismisses this action and all claims asserted by Leakes without prejudice.”
“All Parties consent and stipulate to the foregoing dismissal,” the document read. “No party will seek recovery of costs or attorneys’ fees in any submission to this Court.”
Who else is joining the ‘RHUGT’ cast?
Leakes is far from the only fan favorite who will join the cast of RHUGT. Leakes’ former cast member, Porsha Williams, will embark on a road trip with Vicki Gunvalson, Luann de Lesseps, Teresa Giudice, Kyle Richards, Gizelle Bryant, and Lisa Barlow.
As they make stops along the way, dozens of other Housewives will make appearances on the show. Leakes will be waiting for them in Atlanta.
