When Nene Leakes announced this week that she was officially quitting Real Housewives of Atlanta, fans of the reality star were heartbroken and stunned. Leakes stated although she was leaving to focus on other endeavors, that she may pop in from time to time with the ladies, just not on a full time basis.
Andy Cohen echoed her sentiments stating that whenever Nene is ready to return in any capacity, the door is always open. “We love @NeNeLeakes & she is always welcome back to the house she helped build! She’s a Real Housewife forever!!” he shared on Twitter on Monday (June 29).
We love @NeNeLeakes & she is always welcome back to the house she helped build! She’s a Real Housewife forever!!
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) June 30, 2015
According to TMZ the main reason Nene left was due to the money not being right during negotiations. Apparently Nene asked for way more than the wildly reported millions she is already making per season, but Bravo was not ready to deliver the amount she was asking so Nene bounced. However according to the outlet, Bravo producers are now trying to work out a deal to keep Nene on board even if it were in a smaller capacity.
TMZ has learned producers want her to come back in a reduced role, and she’s game.
Our sources say, although NeNe made it seem she was gone for good, the show’s producers are still angling to have her appear periodically during the season.
As we reported, NeNe bailed on the show because the money wasn’t right. She’s already committed to doing a primetime network sitcom, and the only way she’d continue on ‘RHOA’ was if they delivered a wheelbarrow full of cash … to make the crushing workload worthwhile.
But our sources say NeNe is open to a part-time role on ‘RHOA,’ again if the money is right and it fits with her sitcom schedule.
We’re told Bravo is absolutely interested, and the negotiations will begin soon.
Are you interested in seeing Nene as a friend of the Housewives? Although to be honest it seems as though that was her role the past couple season’s as she was never a major part of some of the bigger story lines. With the newest addition Kim Fields coming on board and filming starting in a matter of weeks, we are super excited to see how Bravo spins the series without its “Queen Bee”.
