Despite being such an iconic part of The Real Housewives franchise and one of the original stars of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, NeNe Leakes has been absent from the franchise and didn't exactly leave Bravo on good terms.
In 2022, she filed a lawsuit against NBCUniversal, Bravo, the production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original, and Andy Cohen, alleging that a toxic and racially insensitive workplace was tolerated and even encouraged on the set of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She later dismissed the suit and recently told TMZ whether or not she would consider returning to RHOA.
NeNe Leakes says she would go back to The Real Housewives of Atlanta... For a price
While in New York working on her new podcast with Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta star Sierra Glamshop, NeNe Leakes was stopped by TMZ and asked if being back on The Real Housewives of Atlanta was in her future.
After a pause, NeNe Leakes gave her answer and told the cameras that there's a chance she would go back to the show someday -- for a price. She told TMZ, "I don't know. If the opportunity was right and if the check was on point, why not?"
She also responded to the fact that Wicked star Cynthia Erivo talked about being a huge RHOA fan and said, "Cynthia, I love you and I totally agree. So many people watch Real Housewives! It was a pleasure to see that Cynthia loved the Real Housewives of Atlanta, and that she, in particular, loved NeNe Leakes."
NeNe Leakes already returned to Bravo's parent company
Although this doesn't mean that it's certain that NeNe Leakes will be coming back to The Real Housewives of Atlanta, it wouldn't be the first time that she's returned to NBCUniversal after dismissing her lawsuit against the network.
In September 2024, she appeared on E!, which is owned by Bravo's parent company and one of the targets of her later-dropped lawsuit NBCUniversal, in order to host their 2024 Emmy's After Party red carpet.
The fact that she has since appeared on another NBCUniversal network and has been dipping her toes back into reality TV as the co-host of the Baddies East season 4 reunion special, it looks like NeNe Leakes might be ready to come back to Bravo, but only time will tell.
In the meantime, NeNe Leakes' new podcast with LHHATL star Sierra Glamshop will be dropping on all major podcast platforms on January 16 at 8 p.m. ET.