It’s been a little over twenty years since The Amazing Race won the first Emmy for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, and in the time since, the Television Academy has steadily added more awards to honor the great work being done in the reality space. Given the popularity and staying power of the genre, those honors have been well deserved, but there’s still one huge omission the Television Academy needs to fix.

Producers, hosts, casting departments, cinematographers, costume designers and more working professionals are now eligible to win dedicated categories, but the actual people we tune into these shows to watch still aren’t eligible to win anything at the Emmys. That’s a problem, and it’s also a huge missed opportunity. We need a category that’s for Best Reality Competition Contestant And/ Or Cast Member, and we need it as soon as possible.

Imagine an alternate universe in which Survivor legends like Boston Rob, Parvati Shallow, Sandra Diaz-Twine and Cirie Fields were Emmy nominees or even winners. Imagine a world in which Big Brother favorites like Rachel Reilly, Dan Gheesling and Taylor Hale could brag forever about being recognized by the Academy. Imagine if standouts from Drag Race, Top Chef, Amazing Race, American Idol, Love Island, The Traitors and other competitions were eligible to do more than just win the show.

And that’s doubly true for the stars of more traditional reality shows. The Real Housewives are the most obvious example. Nene Leakes, Lisa Vanderpump, Teresa Giudice and so many others have turned millions of people into passionate and dedicated fans. They’re fantastic at what they do and deserve the chance to be honored in the same way as the stars of more traditional scripted shows. How much drama and intrigue and fun would have been created by some of these women being put head-to-head in the same Emmy category? I’d watch a multiple episode arc of that every season.

I’m sure there are any number of practical reasons why this hasn’t happened. I’m sure there are issues with union vs non union performers. I’m sure there are issues with feeling like these personalities are supposed to be “real people” and not professionals working on a show. I’m sure it would be awkward for voters to try and figure out how to compare Tom Sandoval to Rick Devens and Bob The Drag Queen.

I get that it’s complicated, but the Emmys are about honoring people doing great work in television. Clearly, the Television Academy has decided the reality genre is worth celebrating and is here to stay. I agree. Now it’s time to start celebrating the actual people we’re watching each season. With all due respect to hosts, it’s the actual contestants who make or break a season. Assumedly, that’s why, back in 2017, the Academy officially added Outstanding Casting For A Reality Program. Now it’s time to do the same for the contestants and cast members.

If it were up to me, I’d add four categories and do Best Male Star In A Reality Show, Best Female Star In A Reality Show, Best Male Competitor In A Competition Show and Best Female Competitor In A Competition Show. Honestly though, I’d settle for just one that more generally honors the stars in the entire Reality-Competition space. They’ve collectively earned their moment. Now it’s time we give it to them.

A lot of rumors have been swirling around whether O.G. The Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes would return to the franchise that made her a household name—and now there's fresh intel from inside source Kenya Moore.

The Bravo icon — who parlayed her reality notoriety into runs on Broadway, guest spots on Glee and more than a few spots in the TV soundbite hall of fame ("Close your legs to married men!") — announced she was officially exiting RHOA back in 2020 ahead of the show's 13th season. In the years since, Leakes filed a discrimination lawsuit against Bravo, its parent company NBC and network executives including Andy Cohen. And though she she dropped the suit in 2022, Leakes hasn't been shy about throwing shade at The Real Housewives franchise.

So, Bravo fans haven't exactly been holding their breath with anticipation that NeNe would be making a comeback on RHOA anytime soon, and Leakes' Atlanta co-star Kenya Moore seemingly shared in that sense of dubiousness. Moore recently talked about the possibility of a NeNe return during an appearance on The Tamron Hall Show, and wasn't exactly decorating a "welcome back" poster. In her words:

Moore's comments come during a time of uncertainty and change for The Real Housewives of Atlanta. After Season 15 of the series, which concluded in September 2023, RHOA has been inactive due to a prolonged filming hiatus, with rumored cast shake-ups as the cause for the delay. 

At least one such shake-up was confirmed when series star Kandi Burruss — who joined the Atlanta franchise in Season 2 in 2009 and held the title of the longest-running housewife on Bravo — announced her exit from the show after 14 seasons. Burruss spoke to ET about her decision while attending the Grammy Awards, saying:

Over on the Tamron Hall Show, Moore echoed Burruss' reasoning, saying that the hiatus has made each of the Housewives question their respective futures with the franchise:

However, as Moore revealed, the powers that be "haven't made any final decisions" yet on casting for RHOA Season 16. So she doesn't know if she herself will be back in the fold, let alone NeNe Leakes. 

We'll have our eyes on the 2024 TV schedule to see exactly when The Real Housewives of Atlanta is back for Season 16. And if you don't have Bravo, make sure you have a Peacock subscription ready, so you can see for yourself whether NeNe Leakes, Kenya Burruss and the lot are back on RHOA.

NeNe Leakes’ son, Bryson Bryant, was recently released from jail after he was caught with Fentanyl. Now, Lamar Odom is trying to help his friend out by reportedly offering her son treatment at one of his rehab centers, similar to how he offered a bed at his facilities to Bam Margera a few months ago.

The former NBA star launched Odom Recovery Group earlier in 2023, and it partnered with Vanity Wellness Center in Woodland Hills. According to Radar Online, he is friends with Leakes and he offered her son treatment at his facility. 

Lamar Odom is close friends with NeNe Leakes, and they starred in the BET reality show College Hill together in 2022. According to the article, the former basketball player hasn’t heard back from Leakes or her son, but he reportedly believes that his rehab center in California could benefit Bryson Bryant. 

Why Bryson Bryant Was Arrested 

Back in July, Bryson Bryant was taken into custody for drug possession, and on October 5 he was released from jail after posting a $6 thousand bond. He was arrested for possession of fentanyl and a misdemeanor for loitering and/or prowling. A few days after that he was also charged with “giving a false name, address, or birthdate to a law enforcement officer,” because he told officers that he was his younger brother Brentt during processing. 

Leakes’ son was sentenced to jail time because his “arrest triggered a probation violation in a separate criminal case,” per the article. Following his arrest, his mom explained that she felt “numb” about the situation. She also spoke out about Bryson’s struggle with addiction, saying:

Now, Odom has reportedly tried to help his friend's kid out by offering him a place at his rehab center. This isn’t the first time he has done something like this either, as he tried to help Bam Margera out in a similar way earlier this year. 

Lamar Odom Also Offered Bam Margera A Place At One Of His Rehab Facilities

Following Bam Margera’s arrest in April, Odom offered him a bed at his rehab center. It was reported that the basketball player understands what it’s like to struggle as a public figure and deal with addiction. After the Jackass cast member fled into the woods to avoid the cops, and turned himself in, the former Laker said “if he wants the help then I’m here for him.”

After that, it was reported that Odom visited Margera at the hospital, and in response to the rehabilitation offer, the Jackass star allegedly seemed keen on taking him up on it. It was also reported that he really wanted to get clean so he could be with his son. However, it was later explained that the skater-turned-reality star left rehab early to go to Las Vegas. 

Following the news that Bam Margera had left rehab, Odom commented on the situation, saying: 

Since then, Margera has said that rehab didn’t work for him, and he explained that he had been sober for over a month after meeting the “most phenomenal girl ever,” who gave him an ultimatum that if he didn’t stay sober, she’d leave. 

It would appear that Lamar Odom is trying to help out NeNe Leaks’ son in the same way he tried to assist Bam Margera. As this situation develops, we’ll be sure to keep you posted. 

The Real Housewives franchise is a massive one, with multiple cities airing new seasons at any point throughout the year. Then there’s spinoffs like Ultimate Girls Trip or the already iconic Welcome to Crappie Lake which also help provide more content. The OGs of certain cities remain fan favorites, and there are few more iconic than RHOA’s Nene Leakes. And the reality TV star/actress recently got honest about her possible return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta. 

Given her status as one of the most iconic Housewives of the entire franchise, fans are always clamoring for Nene Leakes to return to Atlanta. Especially since Nene isn’t shy about throwing shade on the franchise. But there seems to be some tension between her and the powers that be at Bravo like Andy Cohen. Nene recently did an interview for Bravo historian Carlos King’s YouTube, where she got honest about her experience on the show. Regarding her conflict with the network, she shared:

She said what she said. And from her perspective, Nene Leakes is willing to sit down with the folks at Bravo and work out how to move forward on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She was last seen back on Season 12, so it’s been a few years since she appeared on camera with other OGs like Kandi Buress. While she’s not on the show, Nene recently weighed in on Kim Zolciak’s relationship issues. She’s really the gift that keeps on giving.

So how likely is it that Nene would make a second return to RHOA? Later in that same conversation with Carlos King, she further spoke about being willing to squash the beef. But she also claims the network isn’t interested. As a reminder, Nene previously filed a lawsuit related to Atlanta. As she put it:

Bravo fans would no doubt be thrilled to have Nene Leakes back on our television, but it’s unclear when that will actually happen. But with former cast members getting on the fun with Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, there seem to be more opportunities than ever. We’ll just have to see how things shake out regarding her relationship with Bravo.

Leakes’ comments come as Real Housewives of New York City alum Bethenny Frankel has been sounding off online about wanting to form a union for reality TV personalities. Various OGs are reflecting on their tenure on the show, which offers yet another fold of the franchise for fans to follow. One thing is clear: the Bravo-verse is going to be here for the foreseeable future. 

Bravo is currently airing new seasons of RHOC, RHOA, and RHONY. Be sure to check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch. 

Former Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes may have announced her departure from the Bravo series back in 2020, but stepping away from the Real Housewives franchise hasn’t meant that public interest in her life disappeared. Recently, her 31-year-old son Bryson Bryant was arrested in Georgia. With that news circulating on the web, Leakes has spoken out about the situation with her son and his struggles with drugs. 

Leakes was candid in her comments about Bryson’s situation, sharing that her “hands are tied” despite her son needing help. Speaking with Carlos King, the former Bravo star (who has since appeared in the BET series College Hill: Celebrity Edition despite some real-life drama), she explained that she talked with her son on the phone and she thinks “he’s doing okay,” then continued:  

News of Bryson Bryant’s arrest began to spread earlier in July, with reports (via People) that he was facing multiple charges, including possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (allegedly fentanyl), violation of probation, loitering/prowling, and giving a false name, address, or birthday. For the latter charge, he allegedly identified himself as his younger brother, Brentt Leakes, who is Nene Leakes’ son with her late husband Gregg Leakes. 

This latest arrest happened on July 3, although he was arrested in 2011 for allegedly driving under the influence and in 2012 for allegedly stealing from Wal-Mart. When speaking with Carlos Hill, who was an executive producer on The Real Housewives of Atlanta during NeNe Leakes’ time as a cast member, she went on to say that her son is “31-years old” and “he’s an adult,” then continued:

NeNe Leakes was clear that she hasn’t given up on her eldest son, but that Bryson needs to be the one to “make a change” in his life. The reality star went on to share her thoughts on whether Bryson being famous on television thanks to The Real Housewives of Atlanta contributed to his current circumstances, noting that it couldn’t have helped. She said:

NeNe Leakes credited former NBA star Lamar Odom for reaching out to help Bryson Bryant, which is not a first for Odom. The former Los Angeles Laker also reached out to Jackass’ Bam Margera over the summer with an offer for a place at one of his rehab centers. Leakes didn’t go into further detail on her son potentially going to rehab with Odom’s help, but she and Odom appeared in the same project back in 2022 when both were cast members on College Hill: Celebrity Edition. 

For now, we can only wish the best for NeNe Leakes, Bryson Bryant, and the rest of their family in the wake of his arrest. Her candid comments shed more light on the recent arrest reports as well as the struggles over many years. 

Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kim Zolciak-Biermann made headlines earlier this summer when she and husband Kroy Biermann were reported to be divorcing. On top of that, documents revealed that the two were suffering a plethora of financial issues. Things seem to have at least taken a turn when it comes to their domestic situation, though, as they reportedly called off their split a week ago. Rumors have since swirled that this situation was a part of a ploy to return to reality TV. Now, Zolciak-Biermann’s former co-star, NeNe Leakes, shared thoughts on that assumption.

NeNe Leakes has a “complex” relationship with Kim Zolciak-Biermann. The two had their share of good times on RHOA and a few less-than-positive ones as well. The tart-tongued media personality even named Zolciak-Biermann in a lawsuit she filed against NBCUniversal, Bravo and more over alleged racist activity. Despite their mixed history, Leakes, who left the show after Season 12, downplayed the notion that her former co-star and her spouse would fake their issues for publicity: 

Kim Zolciak-Biermann was one of the cast members on RHOA when the show premiered in 2008. She’d ultimately depart after the fifth season, which wrapped up in 2013, and return as a guest and friend of the show for the ninth and tenth seasons. At present, she’s listed as a guest for the show’s currently airing 15th season. So she’s had quite a fruitful history with the franchise, but NeNe Leakes just isn’t buying the notion that her colleague is taking extreme measures to get back full-time. That doesn’t mean the businesswoman thinks Zolciak-Biermann will never return to the show, though. She continued to tell TMZ: 

The notion of the Zolciak-Biermanns returning to Real Housewives for good isn’t all that far-fetched, to be honest. However, the chances of such a development happening due seem slim right now, given their plethora of money problems. Per reports, they owe the Internal Revenue Service $1.1 million, and $15,000 of that is allegedly unpaid taxes to the state of Georgia. It was also reported that Kim is dealing with unpaid Target credit card fees that amount to $$2,482.24. Someone who's comment on the matter is fellow Real Housewives vet Bethenny Frankel, who slammed the couple for not being fiscally responsible. 

As of this writing, it’s unclear how Kim Zolciak-Biermann and Kroy Biermann plan to handle their financial issues. The former’s future with the long-running reality TV franchise also remains to be seen. What can be said, though, is that NeNe Leakes – who says she’s reached out to her frenemy – is not paying the rumors any mind and is hoping the best for the couple.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs new episodes on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo as part of the 2023 TV schedule. Past installments are also available to stream using a Peacock subscription. 

It’s no secret that the Real Housewives franchise is a sensation, with multiple cities airing new seasons at this time. It seems like the property isn’t losing any steam, even expanding it to shows on Peacock like the Ultimate Girls Trip series. But Real Housewives of Atlanta legend Nene Leakes recently threw shade at the entire franchise with her latest viral comments. Hey, she said what she said.

Nene Leakes is one of the most iconic personalities to come out of the Real Housewives franchise, with countless meme-able moments and a transition to TV acting thanks to Ryan Murphy’s Glee and The New Normal. Leakes knows Housewives well, as an OG of the Atlanta cast who appeared in 11 seasons across its run on TV. She recently appeared on the popular radio show The Breakfast Club, where she threw some shade at the current state of the reality franchise. She spoke frankly, saying:

Well, she certainly didn’t hold back. While Nene Leakes did admit that she’s not watching the current seasons of Housewives that are airing like Potomac, she seems to believe that all the break-out stars of the empire are no longer on their respective shows. We’ll just have to see if any current Housewives respond to this shade online.

Nene Leakes’ comments about the state of the Real Housewives seemed to particularly be taking aim at Real Housewives of Potomac’s Robyn Dixon and Gizelle Bryant. She was asked about the recent claims that Dixon’s husband Juan was having an affair while they were still engaged. Lakes called her the “starless Robyn Dixon” before offering her take on the franchise as a whole. She later said she didn’t think she or Bryant were stars. You can check out the reality TV personality’s comments for yourself below:

There will no doubt be plenty of debate online regarding the validity of Nene Leakes’ comments about the Real Housewives franchise. Many of the most iconic OGs are no longer on their respective shows, with the exception being Jersey’s main protagonist Teresa Giudice. But other big names like Vicki Gunvalson and icons like Bethenny Frankel and Lisa Rinna have all departed their respective series. Although it’s also possible that Leakes’ comments were specifically more focused on Robyn Dixon and Gizelle Bryant aka Potomac's Green Eyed Bandits. 

While a lot of Housewives breakout stars are no longer on the small screen, the franchise is still firing on all cylinders. Despite Nene Leakes’ comments, The Real Housewives of Potomac remains a fan favorite series full of dynamic women. New Jersey is always known for bringing it, and Miami’s return on Peacock is a delight. Meanwhile, Salt Lake and Beverly Hills have both leaned into the true crime genre thanks to legal shakeups by Jen Shah and Erika Jayne. 

Bravo fans are currently keeping busy as Potomac, Salt Lake City, and Miami are all currently airing. Meanwhile, The Real Housewives of New Jersey will premiere its new season on February 7th, and there’s two new seasons of Ultimate Girls Trip on the way. In the meantime, check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

NeNe Leakes, one of the most notorious cast members in the history of the Real Housewives franchise, has been embroiled in a major legal situation as of late. In April, the reality TV vet filed a lawsuit over The Real Housewives of Atlanta against NBCUniversal, Bravo, series EP Andy Cohen and production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original. Leakes accused them of creating a racist and hostile working environment during her tenure on the Atlanta spinoff. After months of legal drama though, the suit has now reached an unexpected conclusion, and Leakes is all smiles. 

In a surprising turn of events, the 54-year-old star dismissed her lawsuit against Andy Cohen and co. Reports that surfaced a few months ago suggested that the Bravo lawsuit could be resolved sooner rather than later, and this development seems to have proved that to be true. Deadline obtained recently filed court document that confirm the legal and that everyone involved in the suit agrees on the course of action: 

NeNe Leakes first accused Andy Cohen and Bravo over racism after the latter joked with Wendy Williams about Leakes needing money and attention. The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum took to Twitter and accused Cohen of being an “ole cocaine head” and “ole racist.” And in a follow-up tweet, the star went on to suggest that she would take legal action, which she’d, of course, go through with the following year. RHOA alum Kim Zolciak-Biermann was also named in the suit and later called Leakes’ claims of racist behavior on her part untrue.

Following the dismissal of the lawsuit, the Athens, Georgia native seems to be in a calmer state of mind. Around the same time that the news broke, she shared two posts on her Instagram account, both of which show her sporting bright smiles. You can check out one of the posts for yourself down below:

Talk about a serious heel turn. What prompted the Bravo alum to change her course of action is anyone’s guess at this point. Maybe she and Andy Cohen, who she was quite close with in the past, got together and patched things up. Whatever the reason though, the reality TV shade queen seems happy amid her current situation. 

NeNe Leakes has also been embroiled in another lawsuit that’s a bit more personal. In June, she was sued by the estranged wife of her boyfriend, Nyonisela Sioh. The woman, Malomine Tehmeh-Sioh, claimed that Leakes was sleeping with her husband before they broke up and sought to sue her for upwards of $100,000 as a result of loss of affection and emotional distress. When Leakes addressed her lawsuit in late June, she claimed that she was “dragged into something that is just not [her] business” and that as a result, she had “no feelings about it.”

With that, I guess it makes sense that NeNe Leakes is still blocking out any kind of negativity at this time and, amid this latest development, her fans are sure to be eager to see what she does next. Maybe Leakes will actually return to Real Housewives of Atlanta as a regular cast member after expressing interest in returning last year. I mean, that bright smile may not be saying, “I’m happy with my life.” It might actually be shouting, “I’m negotiating a nice contract for my return to TV.” It’s all speculation at this point, but it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

Once upon a time, talk show host Wendy Williams and reality star NeNe Leakes were actually pretty good friends. They would even make appearances on each other’s shows – i.e. Williams’ now-defunct namesake on daytime TV and Leakes’ former broadcast home, The Real Housewives of Atlanta. However, the two have very different career situations nowadays, and that’s not the only thing that’s changed. Their friendship also happens to be over, thanks to a pretty wild falling out. According to Leakes, the beef supposedly saw her lose an entire TV series that was once in the works, too.

Why Wendy Williams And NeNe Leakes' Friendship Supposedly Ended

The bad blood between the two celebs seemingly dates back to an incident in 2014 concerning a pricey Birkin bag. NeNe Leakes famously jumped on the growing trend to “deface” the purse (meaning, to basically graffiti on it). The final result is still live on her Instagram, and one of the scrawled-on phrases seemingly was a pointed shot fired at Wendy Williams. More on that in a second. Take a look at the post here:

Per reporting by Page Six at the time, the host made a shady remark on her talk show that her supposed friend couldn’t afford to deface such an expensive item. The Real Housewives star then hit back later on that she was the “lowest of the low” for “spewing hate.” She also interestingly noted that the talk on the streets that she had allegedly “slept with” Williams’ then-husband perhaps played into the host’s commentary (the bag makes mention of closing one’s legs to “married men”), but the reality star was definite about the affair rumors being untrue. 

To make matters worse, though, the 54-year-old NeNe Leakes brought up how she was in early talks with Debmar-Mercury, the production company behind The Wendy Williams Show, to headline her own talk show alongside Tom Arnold. Namely, she'd written about Williams: “you’re scared I will take your place (I know you have heard! Ummhmm win wink) BE SCARED!”

NeNe Leakes Sheds Light On How She Lost Out On TV Gig

The perceived gloating was believed to be the real reason that the NeNe Leakes-led show never materialized. After all, with Wendy Williams being Debmar-Mercury’s biggest moneymaker for years, throwing darts at her didn’t seem wise. Yet Leakes is under the impression that it was one of her more innocent Birkin bag comebacks from the past that was the final nail in the coffin to her potential project. She told Page Six recently:

For his part, Tom Arnold attested to the outlet that Debmar-Mercury wanted his and NeNe Leakes’ endeavor to air in the time slot right after The Wendy Williams Show. But in the wake of the purse debacle, the plans suddenly went up in smoke. Arnold, a former star on Roseanne, supposedly spoke to a Debmar-Mercury producer about the rationale behind the decision, who allegedly said to him:

He continued that RHOA alum was “unrepentant” for her side of the situation but also thought that Wendy Williams was possibly feeling “competitive” with her former bosom buddy. Tom Arnold thinks it's somewhat understandable that the show got axed as a result because “the best way to get rid of your competition is to fire them.” Nevertheless, Arnold is “absolutely” still down to do the original TV show idea with his former collaborator if given the chance again.

What Are The Latest Controversies For Wendy Williams And NeNe Leakes?

Irony of ironies, Wendy Williams has obviously lost her own TV show in the intervening years since this reported feud first took place. Debmar-Mercury pulled the plug on The Wendy Williams Show back in February after months of guest hosts filling in for the namesake while she battled ongoing health issues. The company also decided to replace the 57-year-old with Sherri Shepherd in the same time slot for her own self-titled talk show (slated for release later this year on the 2022 TV schedule). The changing of the guard, to include only featuring Williams in the finale episode via tribute video, was viewed as bad form by her now-ex-husband.

The other irony at play here is that NeNe Leakes is still having controversial beef with her ex-friend and networks to this day. After the the former host appeared on Watch What Happens Live back in 2020, where she again shaded Leakes’ finances, the ex-Real Housewives star had her own words but mainly accused the Bravo network and Cohen himself of being racist. The drama seemed to die down for a time, with Leakes making hints that she was interested in returning to RHOA for another season. But in another sudden turn of events, she decided to file a lawsuit against Bravo and others in April over alleged discriminatory practices during her time on the reality series. (To boot, she herself is facing more accusations of affairs with married men -- this time in a lawsuit coming from her current boyfriend's wife.)

The Bravo lawsuit might be seeing a resolution sooner rather than later by some reports. However, it’s not looking like the feud between NeNe Leakes and Wendy Williams will be similarly repaired so easily or so soon.

Despite hinting in 2021 that she might be up for yet another comeback return on the Real Housewives of Atlanta, NeNe Leakes apparently still has major beef with how things were run in the past. The 54-year-old filed a discrimination lawsuit in April against the reality show’s network at Bravo, other production companies involved, and even some execs like Andy Cohen. Leakes had accused them of racism on social media beforehand, and in the suit, she’s now seeking compensation for what reportedly transpired. Now, following an update in court, things might just be resolved sooner rather than later.

Lawsuit Over Real Housewives Of Atlanta Sees Major Development

The reality star claims that several incidents with her former castmate Kim Zolciak-Biermann, where she allegedly used racial stereotypes and slurs, were swept under the rug by Bravo leadership. In addition, she indicated to TMZ in May that she faced racially insensitive behavior from even the white “head of the corporation.” Her complaints supposedly incited a backlash that had her “blacklisted” from the industry at large. However, NeNe Leakes maintained to the outlet that her main goal with the suit isn’t free publicity or a money grab as some have suggested – she only wants to “stop discrimination against Black women.”

The latest development in the legal drama is that talks are in motion to settle the matter. According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Andy Cohen, Bravo and its parent company NBC Universal stipulated there are contractual agreements in place with NeNe Leakes to do arbitration in New York, or independent remediation in other words, first. Leakes apparently disputed arbitration outright. Yet, they are all seemingly of the same mind that the current efforts towards “negotiating this issue” on their own will to “avoid the time and expense of a motion to compel arbitration.” As a result, a judge in Atlanta, where the suit was filed, granted a 45-day extension for them to finish said-discussions.

If all goes well, there could be a resolution before things escalate further, in theory. Certainly, the corporate side of things would likely prefer that. Yet if NeNe Leakes’ primary goal is preventing the Real Housewives of Atlanta from continuing to be a discriminatory work environment like she alleges it is, then 45 days might not be enough to “negotiate” a true change.

Stars Speak Out In Bravo Legal Drama

Before the recent development came to light, NeNe Leakes had some updates of her own regarding the various lawsuits on her plate. The reality star stated that she was “dragged” into the civil suit leveled by her boyfriend’s soon-to-be ex-wife against her, despite having no “business” in their marriage ending as was claimed. In the same interview, interestingly, Leakes said that she hasn’t heard from anyone – Andy Cohen or otherwise – about the Bravo lawsuit. Although, it’s possible that she meant she hadn’t heard from them personally, only through their respective lawyers.

Likewise, Kim Zolciak-Biermann, who eventually went on to headline eight seasons of Bravo’s Don’t Be Tardy show after her Real Housewives tenure, spoke out about the lawsuit that named her as a central character. (To be clear, she wasn’t sued by her ex-co-star like the others were, just referenced in certain situations that reportedly took place.) Zolciak-Biermann called the allegations “ridiculous,” adding that she would “deal with her” after the Bravo debacle was finished.

Sounds like more drama is on the way for NeNe Leakes – only this time, it’s not just a “storyline” for the cameras, it’s real life. We’ll keep you updated if the lawsuit finds a way to early completion. In the meantime, Season 14 of the Real Housewives of Atlanta continues to air new episodes (Sunday nights on Bravo and next day via Peacock Premium) regardless of what’s happening with the show elsewhere.

In early June, it was reported that reality star NeNe Leakes was being sued by a disgruntled housewife – namely, her current boyfriend’s soon-to-be ex-wife. The woman in question claims that the affair between her husband, Nyonisela Sioh, and Leakes resulted in the end of their marriage. Citing “alienation of affection,” a rare state law that can basically find “the other woman” liable, she is now seeking upwards of $100,000 in compensation from the Real Housewives of Atlanta fan favorite. Leakes has since decided to share some of her signature honest thoughts on the lawsuit.

The timing has been a major point of discussion, as Nyonisela Sioh reportedly separated from his wife on December 17, only for NeNe Leakes to go public with their relationship a week later. On her Instagram stories, the 54-year-old initially reacted to being sued by denying the allegations, saying “ain’t nobody out here stealing husbands.” And she distanced herself further from the drama while speaking to Entertainment Tonight more recently. She said:

The implication seems to be that the married couple’s separation had nothing to do with her – at least from where she’s standing. Ever since the death of her own husband of 25 years in 2021, the Bravo alum has frequently been candid about grieving his absence to this day. And that has meant slowly moving on and even dipping her toe back in the dating pool, to include at one point jokingly thanking the men who are sliding in her DMs on the regular.

It isn’t clear if her new boyfriend was one of those men in the DMs. But regardless, NeNe Leakes is seemingly entangled in the present legal situation whether she wants to be or not. As of this writing, it hasn’t been confirmed if a settlement or resolution has been reached with the former wife.

But to add to the predicament, the reality TV veteran is still dealing with the lawsuit that she filed against the show that brought her notoriety. She’s suing NBC Universal, Bravo and even some executive producers for allegedly fostering a “racially insensitive” environment during her time on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She also claims that she’s being “blacklisted” in the industry for speaking up. Along with accusing reunion host/exec Andy Cohen of racism previously, the former star stipulated in court documents that a lot of the problematic behavior came from Kim Zolciak-Biermann, her old co-star who went on to headline Bravo’s Don’t Be Tardy for eight seasons. However, Zolciak-Biermann has broken her silence on being only named (not explicitly sued) in the matter, calling the allegations “ridiculous.”

Evidently, the Bravo lawsuit isn’t seeing much of a response elsewhere. On whether Andy Cohen or the others reportedly involved with the on-set incidents have reached out to her in any way, NeNe Leakes only stated:

She had said prior to the recent lawsuits that she would in fact consider returning to The Real Housewives of Atlanta for what would be her third stint. Obviously though, that’s probably a different story nowadays. Now, the infamous TV personality has taken her talents elsewhere – the new reality show College Hill: Celebrity Edition. She is joined by a cast that includes Ray J and Lamar Odom, who will live and study at Texas Southern University. The series premieres on BET+ on June 27, while the RHOA’s fourteenth season continues airing on Sundays on Bravo.

Keep your eyes peeled for what else is coming on the 2022 TV schedule – and in NeNe Leakes’ romantic life.

Nearly two years after she left The Real Housewives of Atlanta for what was the second time, NeNe Leakes decided in April to sue Bravo. Also included in the suit are NBCUniversal, the other production companies involved in filming and some of the executive producers, including Andy Cohen -- all of which are being sued for an unspecified amount in compensation. The TV personality accuses them of fostering a “racially insensitive” workplace culture, citing several specific incidents with her former co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann. And now, Zolciak-Biermann has broken her silence on the lawsuit evoking her name.

Kim Zolciak-Biermann Reacts To NeNe Leakes Accusations

Most notably, NeNe Leakes affirmed in her suit that she was the “target of systemic racism” from her co-star, who later went on to headline Bravo’s Don’t Be Tardy series. Allegedly, Kim Zolciak-Biermann utilized racial stereotypes and slurs while filming Real Housewives of Atlanta in the earlier seasons. And Leakes’ complaints about the behavior were purportedly met with inaction by the network at first and then Leakes’ ouster later on. In a teaser clip of OWN’s The Nightcap with Carlos King, shared with Entertainment Tonight, Zolciak-Biermann denied the accusations, saying in part:

Kim Zolciak-Biermann – who is joined in the segment by other early Real Housewives of Atlanta alums for a mini-reunion – seems to be implying that she might sue her ex-castmate over these claims after the current lawsuit gets settled. If so, NeNe Leakes’ legal problems could continue for some time. But we won’t know much more until the remainder of the episode premieres tonight, June 11. What we do know is that Leakes’ other co-star Kandi Burruss, who remains a RHOA star to this day, has weighed in that she doesn’t put much stock in the racism allegations herself.

To be clear, though, NeNe Leakes isn’t suing Kim Zolciak-Biermann, only the higher ups allegedly involved. Speaking to TMZ in May, the 54-year-old explained that the reason for her filing the lawsuit after all this time is because she believes she’s being “blacklisted” by the network for speaking up, noting she hasn’t been able to work in over three years because of it. She also hinted that the white “head of the corporation” had insinuated that she was playing at being a white woman because of her blonde hair. All in all, Leakes told the outlet that the main goal of her lawsuit is to “stop discrimination against Black women.”

NeNe Leakes Is Currently Experiencing Other Legal Issues

More recently, too, another lawsuit concerning the Real Housewives of Atlanta fan-favorite has surfaced, only this time she’s the one being sued. Namely, the wife of the TV personality's reported boyfriend is accusing her of ending their marriage with their extramarital affair. Subsequently, the woman is asking for $100,000 in compensation due to emotional stress, humiliation and loss of affection.

NeNe Leakes later addressed the cheating allegations by the woman on her Instagram Live, via Us Weekly. She stated that being deemed a “husband stealer” in the wake of losing her husband, Gregg, to cancer was just “too much.” Leakes added:

Whatever the case (or cases) may be, it seems like the reality star has a whole lot of drama on her plate at the moment. We’ll find out what more Kim Zolciak-Biermann might plan to add to it when her stint on The Nightcap airs tonight, June 11, on OWN at 10 p.m. EST! And for the latest drama over on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, check out new episodes of Season 14 on Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo or next day with Peacock Premium.

It came out in April that NeNe Leakes, former star on the Real Housewives of Atlanta for 11 cumulative seasons, had filed a lawsuit concerning the reality series that brought her recognition. NBCUniversal, Bravo, other production companies and execs like Andy Cohen are all named as defendants for purportedly allowing “racially insensitive” behavior in the workplace, in Leakes’ view. Now, the 54-year-old is embroiled in a different lawsuit, but this time she’s the one being sued.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Malomine Tehmeh-Sioh has accused the reality star of sleeping with her husband, Nyonisela Sioh, while they were still a couple, claiming the infidelity ultimately ruined their marriage. She also claims that NeNe Leakes flaunted the situation on social media by posting several pics of herself with him online. Tehmeh-Sioh is, consequently, suing for upwards of $100,000 due to emotional stress and loss of affection from the circumstances.

Per the outlet, this lawsuit falls under one of the rare instances where someone can sue a spouse’s extramarital partner for “alienation of affection.” In North Carolina, where the suit was apparently filed, the legal term simply means that the quote-unquote “other woman” can be held liable for taking the love meant for a partner by law. Only six other states in the country seemingly operate by these statues.

The allegations come less than a year after the death of Gregg Leakes, NeNe’s husband of two decades. The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum held a celebration of life memorial for him at the time, which was followed by some drama over who of her former castmates did or did not decide to attend. She has maintained that life without her longtime partner has been difficult to deal with, but she also hinted at least once that she felt “inspired” by the messages from men sliding into her DMs in the wake of the tragedy.

One imagines Bravo et al would’ve loved to turn the complicated current situation into some kind of dramatic storyline for the Real Housewives of Atlanta if at all possible. (The new Season 14 is currently airing on Sundays and streaming next-day with a Peacock Premium subscription.) Obviously, though, it’s unlikely that NeNe Leakes will ever again sashay back onto the show, given the still-ongoing lawsuit against the network. She had warned that she was going to take legal action for some time before she actually followed through, saying frequently online that Andy Cohen and others involved in production were “racist.” The infamous TV personality maintained in the new lawsuit that her complaints of racism concerning a certain co-star in particular while filming were often ignored by those in charge.

As of this writing, NeNe Leakes hasn’t yet responded publicly to the disgruntled wife’s claims nor provided an update on her Bravo suit. However, her Twitter bio continues to read that she’s been “blacklisted” and “abused” for speaking up regarding the latter.

In some fan circles, NeNe Leakes is believed to have made the Real Housewives of Atlanta what it is today, and vice versa. Her shady remarks and eye-rolling confessionals from the show long ago found their way into memes and pop culture vernacular, and have remained in frequent use over the years. Leakes headlined the first seven seasons as a main castmate, from 2008 to 2015, returning again for Seasons 10-12. There was speculation that she might’ve been fired after that last season, but she only stated at the time that her exit was the result of pay negotiations falling through. The 54-year-old just put the focus back on her stints, however, as she has filed a lawsuit over the show that brought her notoriety.

According to the Associated Press, per Deadline, NeNe Leakes' lawsuit was filed in federal court on Wednesday, April 20. Several are named as defendants on the suit, including NBCUniversal, Bravo, the True Entertainment company, the Truly Original company and executive producers such as Andy Cohen. In the complaint, NeNe Leakes accuses them of allowing racist activity to continue during the scope of filming. Specifically, the legal documents stated in part:

The lawsuit lays out a few specific incidents, all of which entail NeNe Leake’s former castmate Kim Zolciak-Biermann. Leakes alleged Zolciak-Biermann made “racially offensive” commentary in Season 1 and Season 5, by using references to eating chicken and referring to Kandi Burruss’ neighborhood at the time as being “ghetto.” She also claimed that the Don’t Be Tardy star used the most heinous racial slur on the Real Housewives of Atlanta while insinuating that Leakes had a drug problem, and further criticized the cleanliness of Leakes’ home (deeming it a “roach fest”). Leakes’ lawyer David deRubertis added in a statement:

This suit isn’t the first time that the reality star has accused Andy Cohen et al of racism, either. Following her sudden exit from the franchise in 2020, NeNe Leakes claimed that Bravo had only used her for ratings, and specifically called Cohen a “master manipulator” and a “racist.” Shortly thereafter, Leakes threatened that she would take legal action soon. And while it wasn't immediate, she has clearly done so now, with the new lawsuit also alleging that her previous complaints about in-house racism were the real reason she was ousted from the Real Housewives of Atlanta to begin with.

NeNe Leakes isn’t the only one levelling these accusations at Bravo and its other entities. Just recently, a Below Deck star called for the show to be cancelled after Season 9, due to how the network allegedly mishandled another castmate’s use of racial slurs. The Real Housewives of New York has seen some controversy of late, too, in the wake of certain racial conversations between co-stars not going over well with viewers in Season 13.

Bravo/Andy Cohen announced that some structural changes were happening for the Real Housewives of New York’s next season, in order to make it more diverse and inclusive. Nevertheless, NeNe Leakes is seemingly more concerned with how they apparently treated her in the past over on the Atlanta spinoff, and she’s willing to take it all the way to court.

Overall, NeNe Leakes’ legacy on The Real Housewives of Atlanta is a bit complicated. She’s long been considered a top-ranking fan-favorite, due to her hilarious one-liners and expressions that would frequently turn into viral memes. However, the 54-year-old has left the show twice now. The most recent (and possibly final) time in 2020 occurred during a flurry of controversy, as Leakes accused both executive producer Andy Cohen and the Bravo network of racism. Ahead of the upcoming fourteenth season, main castmate Kandi Burruss reflected on those old accusations.

What NeNe Leakes Said About Andy Cohen And Bravo

First, we have to backpedal to the controversy (since 2020 was practically an age ago). In her official exit statement, NeNe Leakes would only suggest salary negotiations falling through to be the reason behind her second departure from the series, but she also thanked Bravo, the cast and the fans for the memories. Things turned sour, though, when Andy Cohen had Wendy Williams as a guest on WWHL a week later, per Vulture, where she joked about Leakes needing attention and losing money by dropping out. And the Real Housewives of Atlanta star had a huge reaction to the episode on Twitter, writing in one tweet:

She also implied in another tweet that Andy Cohen was a “master manipulator,” who (along with Bravo) was only using her name for TV ratings. The next tweet seemed to threaten legal action, as the star asked her followers to send contact information for their “best discrimination attorneys” to her email, saying “ITS WAR.”

How Kandi Burruss Views NeNe Leakes Racism Claims

After NeNe Leakes’ exit and the more recent retirements of Cynthia Bailey and Porsha Williams, Kandi Burruss is now the last remaining OG castmate on the Bravo series. Her last season with Leakes saw them on relatively good terms, but that doesn’t mean she necessarily agrees with the allegations that her boss and network are racist. She said on the Sirius XM's The Clay Cane Show:

According to one report, the RHOA alum isn’t exactly the most successful Real Housewives star in the franchise. Nevertheless, it’s entirely possible that she herself doesn’t hold the same beliefs as she did in 2020. Following the tragic death of her husband Gregg and even after the drama from his memorial, the reality TV vet remarked at one point that she wasn’t totally against the idea of returning to the franchise. But then again, sometimes it’s hard to tell when NeNe Leakes is being sarcastic or sincere. 

NeNe Leakes and Kandi Burruss' most memorable moments from The Real Housewives of Atlanta are available to stream alongside Hulu's various original series.

Some believed that after NeNe Leakes exited The Real Housewives of Atlanta for the second time, she would never return again. The prediction seemed all the more certain when Leakes’ husband tragically passed away a few months ago. But surprisingly enough, she recently expressed some interest in coming back on the show – and her former co-star/nemesis, Kenya Moore, obviously had a reaction.

Over the years, saying NeNe Leakes and Kenya Moore in the same sentence has been like saying oil and water or cats and dogs. The last I recall, it almost got physical between them on Season 12 of the RHOA after Leakes appeared to spit at her co-star. Nevertheless, Moore's reaction to a possible return of the notorious alum wasn't as unforgiving as fans might have guessed. Maybe they let bygones be bygones at Gregg Leakes’ memorial that Moore attended out of respect? She conveyed to E! News:

It's hard to tell, though, if the star was actually being shady about her former co-star yet again – almost as though Bravo might not want that kind of smoke anymore. But really, bringing NeNe Leakes back into the fold would practically have drama built into the storylines. She had in fact taken aim at countless Real Housewives alums from across the board when they opted to only send one bouquet of flowers together after Gregg Leakes’ death. There was also some drama concerning who did or didn't attend her husband's memorial service. So, in essence, old drama plus the potential thought of seeing NeNe’s future dating life would likely draw audiences.

However, a return probably isn't forthcoming quite so soon. Longtime stars Cynthia Bailey and Porsha Williams have bowed out. And the Season 14 cast of the Real Housewives of Atlanta is already established anew, with alums Kenya Moore, Kandi Burruss, and Drew Sidora being joined by new main additions Marlo Hampton and Sanya Richards-Ross. Sheree Whitfield is also making a return after a three-season absence. With that kind of mixed bag, who knows where the drama will pick up from.

As the Real Housewives of Atlanta continues filming the latest season, fans can make due with a Real Housewives crossover spin-off in the meantime. It's called the Ultimate Girls Trip and, in lieu of NeNe Leakes, Kenya Moore evidently finds a new nemesis in New York's Ramona Singer. You can check it out when the series premieres on Peacock on November 18.

The legendary eye-rolling, shade-throwing NeNe Leakes left The Real Housewives of Atlanta back in 2020. She vaguely cited ­“tiring” negotiations with Bravo at the time as her reason for leaving, but many fans speculated it was really because her relationships with the rest of the cast were surface at best and nonexistent at worst. Yet things are dramatically changing in the massive franchise these days and, as a result, Leakes has given an update on whether she would (once again) return to the show that brought her notoriety.

To be clear, a potential return for the star likely won’t be happening for the upcoming Season 14 of the whow. With Porsha Williams and Cynthia Bailey calling it quits after 10 years, alum Sheree Whitfield and newcomer ­Sanya Richards-Ross have already been brought in to even out the cast of regulars (Kandi Buruss, Kenya Moore, Drew Sidora, and Marlo Hampton). But as for Season 15? The reality TV star said on The Real:

Let's do a process of elimination here. Technically, she's been good friends with Marlo Hampton, for the most part, so her “unfinished business” won't be with her. Likewise, in NeNe Leakes’ last season, she patched up things somewhat with Kandi Buruss. So that really only leaves Sheree Whitfield and Kenya Moore for Leakes to work things out with potentially in the future. Given her infamous feud with Moore over the years, it's probable that tempers would only reignite again with a Leakes return. (Which obviously, Bravo and fans would surely love.)

Lately, the media personality has been stirring the proverbial Real Housewives pot in the Atlanta offseason. Her husband, Gregg Leakes, unfortunately passed away in September after a lengthy battle with colon cancer. Not long after, however, NeNe called out alum Cynthia Bailey for not attending the memorial and also criticized other franchise alums for evidently pulling together to send only one bouquet of flowers. Despite that ongoing drama, NeNe apparently thinks all that really needs doing in the interim is to kiss the royal Andy Cohen ring. She said:

The opportunity for old and new faces to mix things up is happening across the Bravo franchise. Real Housewives of Orange County's upcoming season is bringing back notorious alum Heather Dubrow. Meanwhile, New York is believed to be dropping a few fan-favorites next year, and Beverly Hills could potentially lose both Kyle Richards and Erika Jayne. On top of it all, the franchise is adding another location to the canon – Dubai – and Ladies of London star Caroline Stansbury is headlining.

It might just be a new era of the Real Housewives we're slowly inching into. And if so, it would curious to see whether NeNe Leakes’ old antics can meet the moment.

NeNe Leakes officially left The Real Housewives of Atlanta in ­2020. But when her husband Gregg Leakes tragically passed away from colon cancer in September, her former co-stars showed up for her in remembrance and support at his “celebration of life” party. Or, at least some of them did. Leakes made comments recently (perhaps even shadily) that alum Cynthia Bailey did not attend the memorial that day. Now, Bailey is responding with her own perspective of the situation.

First, let's rewind. Specifically, while on the V-103 radio station (via The Neighborhood Talk) NeNe Leakes said that her former co-star “didn't even come to the repast” but visited “after everything was done” and suggested it was because the franchise is a “dysfunctional family.” The star's comments seemed to indicate that she thought Bailey could have made more of an effort. However, Bailey defended her absence from the memorial on E!'s Daily Pop, saying:

The reality TV star not meeting shade with shade is her usual M.O. News of her exit from RHOA and its world of drama dropped just a few weeks ago, and it was never a secret that she and fellow Housewives alum relationship floundered on the show. Cynthia Bailey in fact confirmed point-blank that the two of them are “not friends any longer.” But she explained why she was still taken aback by the comments:

Along with calling out Cynthia Bailey, NeNe Leakes also seemingly threw shade at many other Real Housewives stars at the same time. Apparently, a group of alums went in on a bouquet of flowers to send after her husband's death, which she considered cheap of them. Now, Leakes has never been one to filter her thoughts, but RHOA alum Claudia Jordan shared on Fox Soul (via The Shade Room) that it was “tacky” to question the nice gesture. She continued:

Obviously, NeNe Leakes still has a knack for drama – even if it’s not for the direct benefit of Bravo anymore. But nevertheless, the Real Housewives of Atlanta is moving on next season with some other women to fill out the cast, as she and Cynthia Bailey forge new paths for themselves.

True to form, reality TV star NeNe Leakes still has her classic wacky humor amidst difficult situations. Her husband, Gregg Leakes, unfortunately passed away in September after a lengthy battle with colon cancer. But the Real Housewives of Atlanta alum is taking her new reality in stride by hilariously addressing the men sliding into her DMs of late.

Before his death, Gregg and NeNe Leakes were married for nearly 20 years. Their relationship had many ups and downs that were well documented on the Real Housewives spinoff. It was Gregg’s cancer diagnosis and treatments in NeNe's last seasons, though, that were particularly heart-wrenching to watch. However, if fans think NeNe is against men shooting their shot in her DMs after Gregg's passing, well, think again. Along with her signature eyebrow wiggle, she jokingly said on her Instagram stories (via ET Online):

Honestly, I think it's equal parts hilarious and amazing that NeNe Leakes finds all the men in her DMs so “inspiring.” It is relatively soon after her husband's death to really start dating again in earnest, but no one deserves to live in grief forever. Even Gregg Leakes himself believed that. NeNe revealed to People, in fact, that some of his last words were that he wanted her to “move on” with her life.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star also told People that she has her “ups and downs” in the wake of her husband's death. She shared that her new normal is actually so surreal that she often finds herself “still waiting for him to come home.” Nevertheless, The reality TV star is soldiering on in a way that only she can. She even hosted a huge “celebration of life” party in honor of Gregg Leakes last month, with several of NeNe’s former costars/frenemies from RHOA in attendance.

More recently, NeNe Leakes’ ex-co-star, Cynthia Bailey, showed up to support one of Leakes’ nightclub events in Atlanta (via Radar Online). (A good place for others to shoot their shot…) But it was Bailey's first appearance to coincide with the sweep of rumors that she would not be returning to the show she's headlined for 10 years. She has since followed in Leakes’ footsteps and confirmed her exit as fact.

Evidently, there are a lot of Real Housewives cast shakeups in the works across the board. With Cynthia Bailey and Porsha Williams out of RHOA, Kyle Richards considering leaving Beverly Hills, and the Real Housewives of New York in flux, speculation has turned to which new or familiar faces will usher in a new era.

NeNe Leakes has as much as said in the past that she wouldn’t return again to the Real Housewives of Atlanta. But hopefully, she keeps us up to date on her DM situation. Surely, Lizzo is very proud as are Leakes' many fans.

They may have feuded like cats and dogs on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but Kenya Moore and NeNe Leakes know some things are bigger than petty reality TV drama. Leakes’ husband, Gregg Leakes, unfortunately passed away on September 1 after a lengthy battle with colon cancer at age 66. Despite her ongoing rivalry with NeNe, Moore was invited to his memorial earlier this past week and has since reflected on why she respected him.

After headlining the show off and on since its inception, NeNe Leakes ultimately left Real Housewives of Atlanta for good in 2020. But she invited several of her old castmates to Gregg Leakes' celebration of life, including Cynthia Bailey, Kenya Moore, Eva Marcille, Phaedra Parks and Porsha Williams. Many fans were surprised to see Moore there, given that it almost got physical between her and NeNe in their last Bravo season. But in an interview with ET Online, Moore explained how respect factored into her decision to attend:

The news of Gregg Leakes’ death was a blow to Bravo fans who came to respect him just as Kenya Moore did on the Real Housewives of Atlanta. In NeNe Leakes’ final seasons, we saw their marriage struggle, as Gregg endeavored to fight his cancer through any means necessary, even holistic methods. He was reportedly in remission for some time, but the cancer sadly came back earlier this year.

Nevertheless, NeNe Leakes held a memorial for her husband of over 20 years in the only way she knows how: over-the-top and in style. Social media photos from attendees (via Bravo) show that Gregg Leakes was honored by countless friends and family members, in happy remembrance of who he was in life. The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Kenya Moore, who will star in the upcoming Dancing with the Stars season, further shared:

Gregg Leakes is survived by his wife NeNe Leakes and their 22-year-old son Brentt. We here at CinemaBlend continue to offer our condolences to the family at this time.

Gregg Leakes, best known for appearances on Bravo's hit series The Real Housewives of Atlanta with wife Nene Leakes, has passed away after a battle with colon cancer that he has been facing for several years. He was 66 years old at the time of his passing.

The Real Housewives star and real estate investor passed away three years after being diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, according to Variety. He had entered remission after six months of chemotherapy treatment. Sadly, Nene Leakes revealed over the summer that his cancer had returned, and recently shared that his cancer battle was going poorly. A publicist for the Leakes family confirmed news of Gregg Leakes' death, saying in a statement:

Although Gregg Leakes' battle with cancer was not the focal point of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the Bravo show did document some of what the family was facing with his cancer diagnosis. Nene Leakes was a main cast member on the Real Housewives of Atlanta from Seasons 1-7 before departing, then returned for Seasons 10-12, with her husband appearing in more than 80 episodes of the series.

Nene Leakes and Gregg Leakes first married in 1997, although they divorced in 2011. After reconciling, however, they remarried in 2013, and a Bravo series documented their wedding. The couple share a son, Brentt. Gregg Leakes was also father to five other children and stepfather to his wife's son, Bryson, from a previous relationship.

Tributes to Gregg Leakes have already begun pouring out on social media, including a touching message from Real Housewives executive producer Andy Cohen, who took to Twitter with some kind words both in his honor and in support of the Leakes family:

While Gregg Leakes was obviously not one of the housewives of Real Housewives of Atlanta, his presence on the show was felt by many. In fact, the official Bravo TV Instagram account wasted no time in posting a sweet picture and kind message in his honor as well:

At the time of writing, Nene Leakes has not publicly commented on her husband's passing. Hopefully everybody will respect the family's request of being allowed to mourn in private, and fans will simply continue posting their own messages and keeping the family in their thoughts. Our sympathies here at CinemaBlend are with the family, friends, and loved ones of Gregg Leakes in this difficult time.

The Real Housewives family is getting even smaller after a huge announcement from NeNe Leakes. The longtime star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta posted an emotional video in which she confirmed some rumors that she won't return to the Bravo series when it returns for Season 13. Leakes' departure is the latest but not first in the Real Housewives franchise in recent weeks.

In a video posted on September 17 with the title "Listen Closely, I got something to tell you," NeNe Leakes broke the news to her 123,000 subscribers. At the time of writing, the video has already been viewed more than 44,000 times and accumulated nearly 1,600 comments. Take a look at Leakes' big news about The Real Housewives of Atlanta!

In her video, NeNe Leakes was emotional but straightforward in explaining that she won't be back to The Real Housewives of Atlanta. While she didn't drop details about what happened behind the scenes, she did reveal that her decision to leave came at the end of a negotiation with the Bravo series that was "extremely long, exhausting, tiring, emotional." She also explicitly stated that the decision wasn't easy.

That said, NeNe Leakes wasn't bitter in her announcement. She took the time to thank the people who helped her over her years on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which was in many ways revolutionary to reality TV even as an installment in a franchise. She also thanked her fans who looked up to her and rooted for her, Bravo for all the memories, the cast, her team, and her production company.

Interestingly, NeNe Leakes also addressed a recent report that seemingly released a statement on her behalf, clarifying that she had no knowledge of it and didn't approve it. She further stated that she always wanted to be the one to "address you" when it comes to topics that are near and dear to her heart. She certainly did address her departure firsthand with this video, running for over five minutes and providing plenty of information that likely couldn't be gleaned from a quick statement.

Rumors of NeNe Leakes leaving Real Housewives of Atlanta ahead of Season 13 began to circulate back in June, when reports emerged that stated that she'd been fired from the show. That rumor was debunked by both Leakes' manager, Steven Grossman, and a Bravo spokesperson, both of whom stated (via People) that she had not been fired and talks regarding Season 13 were still ongoing.

As of the end of The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 12, NeNe Leakes was the only original cast member still part of the show, although she was only a guest in Season 8 and didn't appear in Season 9. Her absence from Season 13 should be felt by fans, especially since Leakes gave no indication in her video that she intends to rejoin as a cast member at any point in the future.

Season 12 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta wrapped back in May, so viewers have seen their last of NeNe Leakes on the show at least for now. Leakes has worked as an actress as well as reality TV personality, so it's entirely possible she won't be absent from the small screen for long. If you're in the market for some viewing options now and in the coming weeks, be sure to check out our 2020 fall TV premiere schedule.

The Real Housewives franchise has been around for a long time, producing plenty of spinoffs, including one set in Atlanta. The Real Housewives of Atlanta spawned the career of reality star NeNe Leakes, but now the show’s biggest star says it's time to say adieu to the series that made her a household name. This week, she spoke out to explain why it is the right time to be leaving The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Leakes stated that choosing to leave the popular cable-based reality series was a difficult but necessary decision for herself and her husband.

That isn’t the end of the story, however. While she is leaving The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the reality star already seems to have another big project in the works. Leakes made the announcement to People, noting that she is about to get involved with a "big legend", although she doesn’t specify exactly what is coming or who she will be working with.

So, it seems that after seven seasons, Leakes isn’t simply moving away from the spotlight. Instead, she’s simply leaving her Real Housewives companions behind. The move actually makes sense for the star. While most people know her from the Bravo series, she’s actually done plenty of programs outside of the cabler, appearing as a contestant on both Dancing with the Stars and Celebrity Apprentice. She also had actual acting gigs on The New Normal and Glee. We’ll let you know as soon as that new gig is announced.

In the meantime, NeNe Leakes has been pretty active on social media, even retweeting a nice comment from Bravo’s Andy Cohen, who says she is welcome back to the show whenever.

So, NeNe Leakes is definitely leaving Real Housewives of Atlanta but maybe a guest appearance is in the cards for the future. Her fans will probably be happy. One thing’s for certain. Real Housewives of Atlanta will certainly be less feisty once she’s gone.

Most couples don’t get a do-over at their wedding. They might have vow renewal ceremonies or get divorced and eventually marry different people, but those activities aren’t really the same thing. Nene Leakes, however, got a straight up shot this weekend when she married Gregg Leakes for a second time, and by all accounts, the evening was a raging success.

According to Celebuzz, the ceremony took place earlier this evening in Atlanta. It was well-attended by roughly four hundred friends and family members of the happy couple, and while the entire guest list hasn’t been made public, we do know it included such celebrities as Vivica A Fox, Omarosa Mangault and Cynthia Bailey.

The Real Housewives Of Atlanta star and her husband were married for fourteen years before financial problems and in-fighting reportedly caused a major rift between the two back in 2011. They were divorced not long after the initial separation, and for awhile, it seemed as if the two wound never find their way back together. Luckily, they continued to stay in contact, and he popped the question for a second time back on January 1st of this year. She said yes, and almost immediately, they started planning the extravaganza, which reportedly also included a commissioned black and white oil painting of the couple, a large Southern themed dinner and manicures and pedicures for the bridal party.

On the one hand, it’s hard to imagine a couple getting divorced twice. You would have to think if Nene and Gregg found their way back together after all they’ve gone through that they’re well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the other party and ready to commit for the long haul. You’d have to think they’re in a unique position to know exactly what they’re getting into and to prepare themselves for a lifetime of working as a team.

On the other hand, however, it’s unclear whether anything that led their marriage to fail the first time through has been rectified. Absence may have made their hearts grow founder, but the renewed experience of living together may bring up all of the old wounds that caused problems. Because they failed before, they may even be more likely to walk down that very same path again too if they start foraging through rough waters.

I want to think this will work out for Nene. She’s a genuinely likeable human being, and I want her to get her happy ending. I want this to be the last time either of these two try to get a wedding right, but part of me wonders whether they’re going to fall back into the same trap again. What do you think? Will this second marriage work out? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…

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For more questions of the day, head here

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Nene Leakes has spent a good part of the year using some actual acting skills on The New Normal. However, the reality star is actually planning to re-marry husband Gregg Leakes and to immortalize the nuptials, Leakes’ home network, Bravo, is planning a Real Housewives spinoff series following the events leading up to the wedding.

Currently rolling with the title I Dream of Nene: The Wedding, the series will follow Leakes while she is in the throes of wedding planning. The actress and reality star has already hired wedding planner Tiffany Cook to help make the big day special. According to THR, members of Leakes’ bridal party will also be included in the series, with Cynthia Bailey and Marlo Hampton taking prominent roles. Other celebrities will pop up in the program

Nene and Gregg split in 2011 after 14 years of marriage. The two quietly reconciled in 2012 and were re-engaged this January. It's been a rollercoaster of a romance, but hopefully, I Dream of Nene will chronicle newfound happiness.

This isn’t the first time that Bravo put together a Real Housewives of Atlanta spinoff. The first was Kim Zolciak's spinoff, Don’t Be Tardy, which is now in its second season on the network. Don’t Be Tardy pulled in about 2 million viewers an episode in its first outing, which was enough to invite its return. If Leakes’ series does well, it may last beyond her impending nuptials into a second season. Executive producers on the series include Leakes, Lauren Eskelin Glenda Hersh, Carlos King, Megan Sanchez-Warner, and Steven Weinstock. No premiere date for the new series has been set, but we’ll let you know when Bravo announces the official title and the premiere date for the series.

NeNe Leakes is no stranger to television, but she is a relative newcomer to scripted endeavors. After rocking out in a guest stint on Glee in a role that featured Leakes as the mouthy and exquisite rival of Sue’s. During her tenure, it seems The Real Housewives of Atlanta star managed to earn the favor of Ryan Murphy, who has now launched her career from scripted TV guest star to legitimate character actor. Well, that is, if the NBC pilot goes to series.

Leakes is set to join the cast of Murphy’s The New Normal, a comedy about a gay couple hoping to accomplish their dream of parenthood through a surrogate. Book of Mormon’s Andrew Rannells is set to star alongside Justin Bartha as the lead couple working toward fatherhood.

So, where does Leakes fit into The New Normal? According to TV Line, Leakes will play a frequently recurring character named Rocky. If Murphy’s pilot makes it to series, the opportunity will be a huge one for the 44-year-old, who has worked to make herself a more notable Hollywood presence via Housewives-related work and even a stint on Celebrity Apprentice. Leakes herself took to her Twitter to express her gratitude for the upcoming gig.

TV Blend wishes the blooming actress the best of luck.

We’ve seen people attempt to go up against Sue Sylvester on Glee before. Assertiveness and confidence would likely go a long way there, which is why NeNe Leakes guest-starring on Glee actually makes sense, despite the fact that she’s actually a reality TV star as opposed to an actress.

Entertainment Weekly posted the news that Leakes is set to play a role in at least one episode of the Fox musical dramedy series. Leakes, who’s known for starring in The Real Housewives of Atlanta, will play Roz Washington, “the school’s synchronized-swim team coach and Sue’s latest rival.”

Most people who know who Leakes is at all, probably recognize her as one of the stars of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Not being a regular viewer of any of the Real Housewives series, I recognize her better from her appearance as one of the contestants of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice. It’ll be interesting to see how she takes on an acting role and even more so, how she does going up against Sue Sylvester. And... will she sing?

?According to EW, she’s already filmed her first episode and she tweeted recently that she would be returning to the set of the series sometime after the holidays.

Apparently, that new rational behind firings I bitched about last week is here to stay. For the second consecutive episode, The Donald fired, not the worst player on the challenge, but the worst player overall. If that’s where Celebrity Apprentice is headed, I’m fine with it. Just be consistent, that’s all I ask. Operate from a place of logic, not impulse.

It’s hard to expect Trump to maintain that even-handed composure though when his contestants are screaming at each other like Real Housewives. No stranger to confrontation, Nene got things started with a scathing and vicious five plus minute diatribe directed toward Star that ended in her yelling, “Bring your street game.” I have no idea what that means, but I’m pretty sure Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes had it when she burned down Andre Rison’s house and Hope lacked it when she was asked to defend herself in the boardroom. She barely mustered a whimper and was sent to the exit limo where she promptly gloated about how cool it was to be fired by Trump. Some people just don’t have the personality for the business world.

With LaToya bizarrely back in the running, the Celebrity Apprentice Power Rankings didn’t lose any man power for the first time this season, but since she was technically eliminated, LaToya automatically starts at the bottom of the heap. She’ll be eligible to move up with a good showing next episode. As always, this week’s rankings are an averaging of ordered lists compiled by Cinema Blend writers Mack Rawden and Jessica Grabert. 16 points were awarded for a first place vote, and this week, 10 were given for a last place vote (automatically LaToya). 9 contestants have been eliminated; therefore, they automatically occupy the bottom slots. Here’s a look at how this week shook down…

The Favorites

#1) John Rich (32): Apparently, John Rich is a hair man. While Lil John took the helm on this week’s hair show task, it was John Rick who supplied much of the brain. Rich was the man who decided to get fired women’s player Niki Taylor to model for the men’s team. It was also Rich who smoothed out the wrinkles in the men’s thematic idea. His effort level certainly contributed to the men’s success this week; but with LaToya back to bog them down, next week John might have his diplomatic hands full. It’s hard to see him fucking up, unless he goes home as taskmaster. In that case, it certainly won’t be the way of Mark McGrath.

#2) Star Jones (29): There’s certainly no argument concerning Star Jones’ effort level. Week after week, we’ve seen Star work hard, doing all of the women’s graphic work, and capably arguing all the ins and outs of boardroom drama. However, Star’s feud with Nene has risen like mercury on a sick person’s thermometer. The drama may be simmering on the sidelines as the two wait to compete again, but Star will have to tread carefully when the catfight rears its sharpened claws. Luckily for the former talk show host, her other nemesis has returned to play for the men. With only Nene to defeat in the foreseeable future, all bets are on. I’d put my money on Star any day.

#3) Marlee Matlin (28): With Star and Nene having already competed twice, Marlee’s turn at project manager will likely come next week for the first time since she laid waste during the fundraising challenge. It’s unlikely she’ll get another task that plays so well to her strengths, but with Star and Nene going at it like two hobos on the same sloppy joe, her positioning as head woman should actually help the flounding team. They may not take orders well from each other, but it’s likely they’ll follow Marlee’s direction if they shut up long enough to hear her translator out.

#4) Lil Jon (27): I’m not sure anyone in the history of Celebrity Apprentice has ever been able to work a room like the rap star. With almost no rehearsal and subject matter he was completely unfamiliar with, Lil Jon grabbed the microphone and commanded the audience and the executives to their feet. His relaxed demeanor and aggressively creative thinking have meshed perfectly with John Rich’s competence and Meatloaf’s shotgun brainstorming. Unfortunately, not every remaining challenge is likely to have a stage element. His lack of planning might come back to bite him in the ass in a formal sitdown with executives, but until then, open up your throat and give him your best “YEAH”. He’s earned it.

The Contenders

#5) Nene Leakes (23): I absolutely understand how the emotional Nene would hate the stone-faced Star. The two are on two separate planes, no, in two separate galaxies, as far as behavior is concerned. Someone needs to challenge Star if the women have any hope of beating her, and the vociferous Nene is probably their best shot. Should this excuse Nene’s horrendously inappropriate, intimidating behavior? No. Does she need to learn to be a professional? Hell yes. Does she have a chance at defeating star? There’s more hope in the cards than you’d think.

#5) Meatloaf (23): If previews are any indication, we’re about to see Meatloaf wreck his chances of winning through another emotional outburst. In weeks past, Meatloaf has proven he runs the gamut between extraordinary creativity and illogical emotion. Creativity has kept him in the forefront thus far and defeating Gary Busey has shown a marked improvement in Meatloaf. But with bathroom jokes taking precedence over hard work, Meatloaf is already showing a weak spot. One emotional misstep and the men will absolutely, though tactfully, hand Meatloaf over to Trump.

#7) LaToya Jackson (20): Look: I applaud LaToya for grabbing the hot pants out of the closet, walking into Trump’s office and demanding a second shot. I spoke at length last week about why I thought her firing was bullshit, but the fact of the matter is she’s still the weakest player remaining. She may have won her round as project manager, but it’s easy to claim victory when the other side is getting swallowed by Hurricane Busey. She needs to contribute creatively. She needs to be a force and not just a bit player. With her paranoia about the women intentionally eliminating her now gone, she should have every opportunity to contribute alongside the big boys this week. Let’s hope her new found assertiveness shines through.

Here’s a look at how each of the two ballots shook out:

Fundraising challenges are simultaneously rewarding and infuriating. Rewarding because obscene amounts of money are raised for worthy causes; infuriating because the most effective team doesn’t always win. Look no further than this season’s first episode for an indication of that. Project manager Richard Hatch clearly ran the more polished business. The men stayed open the whole time, had a clear strategy and everyone on the team knew his role. The women, on the other hand, were a disorganized mess, botching a free thirty-five thousand dollars because they couldn’t deliver the pizza on time. Yet, because project manager Star Jones had better connections, they ultimately proved victorious.

This week, the gap was far less pronounced. Of course, it still came down to connections, but with project managers John Rich and Marlee Matlin both running a tight ship and each raising more than five hundred thousand dollars, it’s impossible to knock on either one. Unfortunately for the cowboy, the men didn’t raise enough, but after Jose Canseco went home due to a family illness, it seemed like the men would escape largely unscathed. Not so. Trump gave the women a choice to not eliminate anyone, and Marlee, going for the throat, decided the girls wanted another boy gone. I can’t disagree with her rationale, and something tells me the eliminated and always savvy Richard Hatch would begrudgingly agree. Celebrity Apprentice might be about raising money for charity, but it’s also about winning. Get ‘em out while you can.

The Celebrity Apprentice Power Rankings are a combination of ordered lists put together by Cinema Blend writers Mack Rawden and Jessica Grabert. Sixteen points are awarded for a first place vote, and this week, seven were given for a last place vote. Six contestants have been eliminated or left; therefore, they automatically occupy the bottom slots. Here’s a look at how this week shook down…

The Favorites

#1) John Rich (32): It seemed bizarre John Rich would take project manager on an art gallery project, since his talents lie mainly in the musical realm. Turns out he has big connections and capable delegation skills, so the challenge fed right into his strengths. Who knew the man behind “Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy” could solicit an art piece for $470,000 bucks? I didn’t. Though that could be why I’m not country strong. In any event, Rich pulled out the big guns and worked like a damn hoss. The men were finished setting up before the women even showed up at their space. They were great salesmen, too. With Jose Conseco heading home and strong contender Richard Hatch being fired, this week was one hell of a shame for a man who did what needed to be done.

#2) Star Jones (30): Star took a little flack from her teammates, especially Nene, this week after she chose to man the phones rather than mingle with the potential art buyers, but seeing as how she collected the bulk of her team’s nine hundred plus thousand that way, I think she’d do the same in retrospect. Star is, above all else, professional. She’s gonna take orders, process them quickly and move on. Sweet talking random people with her sometimes abrasive personality isn’t going to happen, but put her in a situation which requires competence, and she’ll be at her most valuable. I’m still not convinced she can lead a team, but as a number two, there might not be anyone better left in the competition.

#3) Marlee Matlin (28): What a great week for Marlee! Outside of fatefully deciding to leave for the gallery an hour or so too late, she managed and delegated thoroughly and effectively, leading to her teammates raving about her leadership in the boardroom. John Rich raised more money than anyone ever had in the history of Celebrity Apprentice, and Marlee still kicked his ass. Some of that is, yes, largely due to who you know, but more than anything else, the actress proved she’s assertive and capable enough to lead the charge. Her turn as project manager won’t come back around for awhile, but when it does, you can assume she’ll be just as deadly.

The Contenders

#4) Mark McGrath (25): Mark has been cracking up my shit the last few weeks with his goofy, childish antics. In just the last few weeks, he’s fretted and paced over Gary Busey’s lack of leadership, taped a mock episode of Cribs with Lil Jon in the women’s empty studio and tried to calm Meatloaf down before he blew a fuse. The latter attempt was a miserable failure, but you have to be glad he at least tried. About the only thing he hasn’t given a go is project managing, but as the only remaining male holdout, he should get his opportunity this coming week. Let’s hope there’s a halo hanging from the corner of his four post bed after he’s done.

#5) Lil Jon (24): You know what I like about Lil Jon? He’s remarkably honest. This week when John Rich pointed to him in the boardroom as the team’s second best fundraiser, he quickly turned and gave credit to Mark McGrath as being neck in neck or possibly outraising him. Neither of them were going home, but it’s those little things that foster goodwill amongst a team. He already proved he can lead men into battle last week, but as each task goes by, Lil Jon also asserts himself as a capable player willing to do the grunt work it takes to win. It may not be crunk, but it’s not less needed.

#6) Nene Leakes (23): We didn’t see much of Nene this week. Dionne’s bitchy vocalizations worked the opposite of the jaws of life and sucked the energy right out of Nene last week, and while she raised some money and all, she wasn’t a huge creative force. Her biggest input in the art gallery task was bringing around the whiny bitch with the Brooklyn Dodger accent from one of the other Bravo reality Desperate Housewives shows, leaving us with the question: Do people from these shows really all socialize with each other? As Bill Hader’s Stefon would say, “This answers the question: What??!!??”

The Dark Horses

#7) Meatloaf (20): Did people know Meatloaf had an anger management problem before this week? If not for Celebrity Apprentice, he might have managed his whole life without that information blowing up all over the Internet. Alas, it was not to be. In a fit of anger, the Loaf accused Gary Busey of stealing art supplies (unjustly? Who knows with Busey). I thought for a while there might be a WWE Smackdown in the art space, the drama was so droll. I could see Meatloaf attempting a banzai drop. It helped the musician’s case he later humbly apologized, and created some of the more innovative artwork of the night. Otherwise, I’m certain the situation would have been more under fire in the boardroom. Meatloaf survives, like a bat out of hell.

#8) Gary Busey (18): I’m surprised Gary Busey didn’t make the most money last night. Who wouldn’t pay beaucoup bucks for an imbecilic rendition of a bison surrounded by green grass? You’re really paying for the Busey signature. That, my friend, is priceless. I’m also surprised Gary survived last night. His entire team agreed he was the weakest player and pushed strongly for him to go. If it wasn’t for Marlee Matlin adequately supporting the man, it seems like Busey had the best chance of getting booted. Speaking of that WTF Marlee Matlin? If your theory was to keep Gary and send a more competent player home, that was a damn fine strategy, but I somehow doubt you have the capacity to think that way. You can’t play “business” and force Trump to fire someone and then pull the emotional card. Boo whore. Gary, your cards weren’t up this week. But you will be going home.

#9) LaToya Jackson (15): I’ve never seen a woman work so hard to make herself needed. Ha. Seriously though, LaToya stepped up this week, donating a t-shirt Michael had approved for the cause. She also won the hat contest, which sent money to her charity. Even though LaToya has big connections for fundraising, I still think she’s going to have trouble when it is her turn as project manager, because she hasn’t won Star over. We all know if Star doesn’t respect a contestant, her name will start spelling trouble. It’s some weird voodoo shit. I like LaToya, she’s certainly proved she is a hard worker and I hope she’ll stick around for a while. For all her emotional baggage, she deserves it.

#9) Hope Dworaczyk (15): Remember when I called Hope my favorite dark horse? That might not have been the smartest thing I’ve ever written. In fact, it may have been idiotic. At first, I took her lack of speaking as a sign that some great and mysterious plan was lingering below the surface, but now I’m pretty sure she just despises confrontation almost as much as taking on responsibility. Do something, Hope. Please. Say what you will about LaToya, but at least she did something in the RV challenge no one else was prepared to. Thus far, Hope’s just sat in the corner, eschewing cries for help and desperately trying to figure out which century she’s living in.

Here’s a look at how each of the two ballots shook out:

Gary Busey has to be the strangest winning project manager in the history of The Apprentice, right? He’s certainly the only one to abandon tasks to play catch and praise another team member for taking a nap mid-challenge. It’s all funny in retrospect after you win, I guess, especially when it’s a goddamn landslide.

This week’s challenge was to show off Camping World RVs to perspective buyers. The boys went with the massive, tour bus-looking choice, and the ladies settled on the smaller, more family friendly option. Female project manager Niki Taylor assigned each of her team members a room to decorate, though that didn’t stop human snail Dionne Warwick from bitching, arguing and backhandedly putting quotes around the term “project manager” when she used it in interviews.

The boys may not have been anymore cohesive, but after both Richard Hatch and Mark McGrath took it upon themselves to privately call landscaping services to get discounted greenery installed around the entirety of their RV, the challenge was pretty much over. Throw in an original song from John Rich with background vocals from Meatloaf, and the boys bested the girls in nearly every area of the challenge except interior decorating and product knowledge. The largely unsung LaToya Jackson was the lone bright spot for the ladies as she memorized loads of little facts about the RV and properly implemented them during the guided tour. If these subtle little touches are her niche, she needs to roll with them.

After Trump selected team Busey as the clear winner, the boardroom seemed to be setting itself up for a Niki/ Dionne showdown with a random third party along for the ride, but surprisingly, Niki told the Donald the loss was her fault, she was the project manager and she was willing to accept the consequences. One has to admire a willingness to lay in the bed you made, but at the same time, Niki had a lot left in the tank to offer this competition. Dionne is not going to win, and I would have really liked to see the model stay and fight for her charity. I guess that’s mute now.

The Celebrity Apprentice Power Rankings are an averaging of ordered lists put together by Cinema Blend writers Mack Rawden and Jessica Grabert. Each competitor is judged according to previous performances, as well as long-term prospects to win. A first place vote nets the player sixteen points, while this week, a last place vote was awarded four. Three competitors have gone home already; so, they automatically occupy the bottom slots. Here’s a look at this week’s order…

The Favorites

#1) John Rich (31): Another week, another successful performance from the country singer. It started out a little shaky after he got into a heated (and possibly unnecessary) argument with Jose Canseco and Richard Hatch over the intelligence level of his fans, but it’s unclear whether he may have let it go had cameras not been around. I can’t imagine his followers would have been too pleased to hear a slandering of their education greeted with tacit support from John Rich. After that though, it was all smooth sailing, as he partnered with Meatloaf to sing an original composition for Camping World and did much of the heavy lifting when the team assembled their equipment.

#2) Mark McGrath (30): Mark was a rock this week—and I’m not leaning toward dumb as a rock. He was steadfast and unmovable throughout the various stressors he faced, and there were stressors. Garey Busey proved he could not manage and at one point promised both Mark and Richard the same budget money for trees. While annoyed, Mark handled the situation gracefully and moved on. Later in the challenge, Mark also proved he has random skills as a salesperson. Hearing him chant, “It’s affordable, convenient, and fun,” with enthusiasm was almost creepy, as if there were a ventriloquist hiding out in the wings somewhere to speak for him; all in all, the performance was effective, and it moved Mark up in the rankings this week.

#3) Richard Hatch (28): Like Mark, Richard also ran into some problems with the whole Busey miscue over the budget for trees, but the important part here is they both took the initiative to outfit their RV with lots and lots of green. That was the single biggest edge the boys had. That two of their team members were all over it from jump street is a testament to just how well the team performed as a whole. After a first week loss in which Richard was rude but largely effective, he’s really morphed himself into an effective team player. We’ll see if this passive, yet competent and firm demeanor becomes his calling card or is just a brief aside to more power grabs.

#4) Marlee Matlin (26): Marlee needs to be less diplomatic. She’s a strong, smart competitor, but after Lisa was sent home, she’s chilled out on her criticisms. This week, Marlee was willing to discuss Dionne’s shortcomings, but she only skirted around the issues rather than being totally up front about them. If she figures out how to delegate, it seems like Marlee could go far. She’s respected, she’s tough, and she’s likeable. She often has good ideas, as long as you aren’t asking her to decorate tents with American flags. Her biggest problem is that she is sometimes spoken over and sometimes unclear. Again, this will come back to her ability to delegate. She will have to dominate the room as project manager to keep her place in these raucous rankings.

#5) Star Jones (23): As Nene humorously pointed out this week, Star is going to be Star. She just can’t help herself. She’s too strong and assertive to differ, even when the situation might call for taking a backseat. That aggressiveness should propel the girls to a few random victories when she calls bullshit on a project going haywire, but it may also send her home if her teammates and the Donald view it as meddling. I can’t shake the feeling she’s going to end up finishing fourth or fifth in an epic boardroom where the entire team collectively points the finger at her selfishness.

The Contenders

#6) Nene Leakes (22): Nene showed an ability to speak out during the boardroom last week. This week, she was much stronger vocally. She also spent the entire challenge micro-managing Dionne, which should have helped Niki. Nene speaks up and is patient when she needs to be, but her strengths so far have come from her ability to use her mouth. As far as her ability to work hard goes, I haven’t really seen it. This could have to do with what the camera shows audiences each week, or it could just be Nene being Nene. As she said about Dionne, “When I’m seventy I don’t want to work either.” She isn’t seventy, but god knows what her work ethic as a forty-something is.

#7) Lil Jon (20): Lil Jon essentially had a two-fold role this week. First, he listened to poor Mark McGrath freak out about how incompetent and lazy the leadership was. Second, he pissed off Gary something fierce in the boardroom. When asked who the weakest player on the team was, Mr. Busey pointed the finger toward Lil Jon. It was somewhat comical and completely unfair, especially since Jose literally took a nap during the challenge, but there’s no point in assigning motivations to Gary’s behavior. Lil Jon was hardly an ace in the hole this week, but he pulled his weight. Whether he can do the same whenever he steps up as project manager is still anyone’s guess.

#8) Meatloaf (19): Meatloaf was mostly a non-factor during the camping challenge, though he didn’t exactly win himself any points after he didn’t have any idea what was inside the RV compartments. Of all the competitors, he seems the most relaxed and down to Earth, which makes him ideal to hang out with but perhaps less than willing to access the inner douche bag needed to facilitate a long run. That’s not to say I think he’ll go home next week. When you’re not the project manager, if you work hard and achieve even reasonably in these early rounds, there will always be someone who screws up more, but once the field is whittled away, Meatloaf may be in trouble when he’s forced to throw other competitors under the bus for slight infractions.

The Dark Horses

#9) Hope Dworaczyk (16): Hope may be the smartest foolish person I’ve ever watched on television. She’s quiet, she keeps to herself, she avoids drama, and she does what is tasked to her. If she keeps this strategy up and gains some confidence before she takes project manager, she could do pretty well. However, when Hope does get solo camera time, she often makes obvious or ill-informed comments. This week she couldn’t figure out whether we live in the 20th or 21st century. Hope is our wild card. She has some spunk and she’s played innocuous so far, but it's impossible to guess how this competition could turn out for her. Sounds about right for a former playmate of the year.

#10) Gary Busey (14): Gary Busey was project manager this week and his team came out on top. I say team rather than Gary because Gary failed as a project manager. If he didn’t have capable workers around him to lend him ideas and take initiative on their own, this challenge would have been a disaster. At one point, Gary sat in a chair with Jose Conseco for hours, leaving Mark McGrath to do virtually all of the work at the RV station. Gary has no idea how to compete in Celebrity Apprentice. This week, Trump called him "mentally tough." Mentally tough doesn't necessarily include an aptitude for competing in a business setting. Unfortunately for Gary, his biggest strength lies in the fact he’s amusing to have around.

#11) LaToya Jackson (13): LaToya Jackson came out of the woodwork with a moderate level of competence this week. Though she was dressed completely inappropriately to sell family-oriented RVs, she listened when lectured to by the Camping World representative, and she applied the knowledge she accrued to the tours she gave. If the women had any strength this week, it stemmed from LaToya. Her work was an absolute surprise, and it moved her up a few positions in the rankings. It’s still rather up in the air if she will be capable of leading or is better as the loyal-puppy figure on the team.

#12) Jose Canseco (10): What do you say about a behemoth of a man that sat around napping and twiddling his thumbs while there was equipment to unload? And how do you even complain about said man when his boss, the project manager, told everyone who would listen he was doing a great job? Both Jose and Gary are extremely lucky the men won this week. At one point, Mark McGrath even filmed them playing baseball rather than working, but at the end of the day, if your team gets the job done, there’s no finger-pointing required. Jose needs a big effort this week or he might end up grounding out in the boardroom.

#13) Dionne Warwick (8): Dealing with Dionne Warwick is like dealing with a cranky two year-old who has missed her nap. Like a two year-old, Warwick is selfish, she will not share, and any time she wants to make a point she will state it bluntly and often illogically. Every family has an older person who has sort of thrown all of the life lessons they’ve learned to the wind; and Dionne Warwick is it for the Celebrity Apprentice family. Or, maybe she’s always been this stubborn. Either way, Celebrity Apprentice is a competition that gauges contestants’ abilities to work as part of a team and to sometimes earn respect from other contestants by leading efficiently. Dionne Warwick may be able to belt out demands, but she’s a far cry from having her shit together on this show. She’s stuck around because of the mistakes of others.

Here’s a look at how each of the two ballots shook out: