Bloop! After six years away from Bravo, NeNe Leakes, the breakout star of “The Actual Housewives of Atlanta,” is returning to the community that made her a family identify.
The information of NeNe Leakes’ return to the favored actuality franchise comes years after the outspoken TV character sued the community in 2022, claiming she skilled discrimination and racism on set.
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NeNe Leakes Is Making An Unconventional Return To Bravo
In accordance with a brand new report from TMZ, producers concerned with the upcoming spin-off, “The Actual Housewives: Final Street Journey,” advised the publication that Leakes will seem within the tv particular honoring the franchise’s twentieth anniversary. Moreover Leakes, no different names had been confirmed for the solid on the time of publication.
Whereas her return is thrilling for the fandom, it will not be the way in which many had hoped, as sources revealed the popular culture icon will not be a full-time solid member. As a substitute, Leakes could have a “notable” presence when the solid makes their pit cease in Atlanta.
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What Is ‘Actual Housewives: Final Street Journey’?
The upcoming spin-off, “Final Street Journey,” is a spinoff of the community’s “Final Women Journey,” which has been on an indefinite hiatus following a lawsuit filed by Caroline Manzo, who alleged she was sexually assaulted by one other Bravo alum.
At BravoCon 2025, Andy Cohen teased the sequence, which he mentioned would function “iconic” characters from the previous serving to have a good time the present’s twentieth anniversary.
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Frances Berwick, chairman of Bravo and Peacock Unscripted, additionally make clear the brand new sequence. “For 20 years, the Actual Housewives has amplified girls’s voices, spotlighted their ambition, humor, and energy, inspiring hundreds of thousands with their unapologetic authenticity,” Berwick mentioned. “The Actual Housewives: Final Street Journey’ is a love letter to the ladies who turned a actuality tv present right into a cultural phenomenon — and the followers who’ve been there for each giggle, gasp, toast, and desk flip.”
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NeNe Leakes Filed A Stunning Lawsuit In opposition to Bravo
As reported by The Blast, Leakes’ return to the franchise is notable as the previous Broadway star filed a stunning lawsuit towards the community in 2022. Within the submitting, Leakes alleged she skilled racism on set and was topic to working in a hostile surroundings.
“NBC, Bravo and True foster a company and office tradition during which racially-insensitive and inappropriate conduct is tolerated — if not, inspired,” the swimsuit 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. As a substitute, NBC, Bravo, and True pressured her out of the ‘home she constructed,’ denying her an everyday position.”
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Followers Are Reacting To NeNe Leakes’ Return To The Franchise
My favourite housewife is on her method again residence!!! The blueprint of housewives!! She put housewives on the map!!! Nene welcome residence! Subsequent cease – kicking Shamea, Kelli, and Pinky out of the home you constructed #RHOA pic.twitter.com/L7z8FiXKA7
— MCFP (Mary Cosby Fan Web page) (@Mary_CosbyFan) January 13, 2026
Leakes’ return to Bravo has despatched followers of the truth star right into a frenzy, with shocked reactions shared throughout the web.
“Yessssss, cannot wait to look at—we miss NeNe Leakes,” a consumer wrote on X. “I get to look at NeNe Leakes once more—2026, stick with it, child,” one other consumer added.
The love did not cease there, although. One other consumer chimed in, writing, “The Queen has returned to Bravo. We missed you NeNe Leakes!!! Welcome again to #RHOA OG!!!”
“My favourite Housewife is on her method again residence!!! The blueprint of Housewives!! She put Housewives on the map!!! NeNe welcome residence!” a fourth consumer posted.
Leakes Made A Identify For Herself After Starring In ‘Actual Housewives Of Atlanta’
Leakes was one of many authentic solid members of Bravo’s “The Actual Housewives of Atlanta,” which premiered in 2008.
She remained on the sequence as a full-time solid member till season 7, when she departed, solely to return full-time for season 10.
Leakes formally left the sequence in 2020 after season 12, claiming the community and her co-stars had been icing her out of the group.
Whereas on the present, Leakes utilized her platform like no different, securing performing roles in scripted exhibits corresponding to “Glee” and “The New Regular.”
Moreover, Leakes was solid on competitors sequence together with “The Movie star Apprentice” and “Dancing with the Stars.”
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In 2014, Leakes joined the solid of Broadway’s “Cinderella” as Madame, starring subsequent to the long-lasting KeKe Palmer. A yr later, the Atlanta native returned to the intense lights of New York Metropolis as Matron “Mama” Morton within the long-running musical “Chicago.”
Leakes beforehand mirrored on how a lot being a part of the “Actual Housewives” franchise has meant to her and her profession. “It undoubtedly has opened up many doorways and alternatives,” she mentioned.
She added, “Plenty of that is because of followers loving me for who I’m and residing out loud — all of the issues that a few of my solid members don’t like are the issues that followers actually love about me. I saved it actual and I say it like it’s and I’m actually blunt. So these followers, they’ve meant every little thing to me. They’ve embraced me for who I’m and carried me by a few of the more durable instances.”
