Former ‘RHOA’ Star Nene Leakes Responds to Being Edited Out of Flashback Scene
Real Housewives of Atlanta fans are expressing their disappointment and frustration with Bravo networks after they uncovered what appeared to be the deliberate removal of breakout star NeNe Leakes from previously aired footage.
The discrepancy was initially discovered during the latest episode of the reality series, which began with a flashback to the 2011 opening credits for season 4 to help shed light on Marlo Hampton and Kandi Burruss’s friendship throughout the years. At the time, the cast consisted of Sheree Whitfield, Cynthia Bailey, Kim Zolciak, Kandi Burruss, and Phaedra Parks, with NeNe photographed next to the latter castmate.
However, during its reshowing, the Glee actress was noticeably missing. This quickly prompted a response from viewers on social media, many of whom called out Andy Cohen over the shocking move.
“I have never seen a more selfish act than @Andy & @BravoTV erasing Nene Leakes from their archives,” wrote one supporter on Twitter. “This is the woman that basically built Atlanta Housewives. She was the pillar of the first Housewives episode I ever watched. Take better care of your bloody talent.”
The reality star eventually caught the news and took to her social media page, where she thanked her “Tweetie pies for all of your DM’s and comments!” She added, “I see everything you are sending to me! It’s really just a shame people can do these things and get away wit [sic] it. If only you really knew! If only you knew.”
Leakes, who appeared on the popular series from 2008 to 2020, has been at odds with the network’s executive and Cohen after suing Bravo for discrimination two years after she departed from the show. NBCUniversal, production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original, and Cohen were also named as defendants.
The suit accused NBC, Bravo, and True of fostering “a corporate and workplace culture in which racially insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated — if not encouraged.” The case was seemingly dismissed at a later time, although details have not been made public.
