Why was Porsha Williams demoted to “friend of Housewife” status for season 7 of ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’? That seems to be the question of the day after the new trailer was unveiled earlier today as we showed you HERE.
Porsha’s fate was uncertain at the end of season 6 after her controversial fight with Kenya Moore during the reunion. Rumors swirled that Porsha was being let go, but that was all put to rest when the cast began revealing that everyone would be returning for season 7 and Porsha along with Bravo would later confirm this.
Porsha has been filming all summer and with her role in Kandi’s stage play, landing a full time correspondent/co-host role on ‘The Rickey Smiley Morning Show/Dish Nation’, and allegedly dating a new man who she teased would be revealed in the new season, it looked like Porsha was set to have a solid story line.
Alas, came the new trailer and promo shots today with Porsha confirming that she would not be holding a peach this season. So what exactly happened, why was Porsha downgraded? while new housewife Claudia Jordan who was originally rumored to be a “friend of HW” has found herself a full time spot with peach and all.
Kandi Burruss appeared on ‘The Breakfast Club’ weeks ago as we showed you HERE and she teased that there was tension among the ladies and that the cast was divided, she also revealed that Claudia was the one to watch this season as she apparently had gotten into it with several people and her mouth was spitfire. Clearly from the trailer it looks like two of those people are Porsha and the Queen Bee herself Nene Leakes.
Perhaps Claudia’s upgrade is a sign of good drama to come this season, and all things considered Porsha will still be on the show just not in a full time capacity which may means her story line was not one that Bravo thought would captivate this season, especially after the record breaking ratings they pulled in last season which continue to grow with each season, they needed to up the ante.
However you would think the fact that she made most of those ratings due to her fight that would mean something, but who knows. She is not the first housewife to go from full time status to a “FOHW” role, Kathy Wakile and Jacqueline Laurita of RHONJ both suffered the same fate this past season after being full time wives last season, as well as other wives on the other respective franchises. One should note though that some of the ladies do return to their full time status after being demoted, as allegedly Jacqueline will return next season in a full time capacity as will Countess LuAnn on RHOBH for their upcoming season after she was demoted last season.
Now on to the new ladies, Claudia and Demeria McKinney. You may be familiar with both ladies as we previously told you about them, but check out their official bios from Bravo.
Demetria McKinney (photographed above, right) is an award-winning actress and singer who resides in Atlanta with her 14 year old son. Best known for her role as Janine Payne on the hit TBS sitcom Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, Demetria has also appeared in numerous stage plays including Meet the Browns, Why Did I Get Married, The Mountaintopand Dreamgirls. She currently co-stars on the TV One sitcom The Rickey Smiley Show and has a recurring role on Lifetime’s Devious Maids.
Even though her acting career keeps her busy, Demetria always makes time for her first love—music. She recently released her first EP Officially Yours to rave reviews. Demetria has been dating TV executive Roger Bobb for several years and would love to take their relationship to the next level. Balancing her career and relationship while raising a son as a single mother hasn’t always been easy, but Demetria strongly believes family comes first.
Claudia Jordan (photographed above, left) is a TV and radio host who recently moved to Atlanta from Los Angeles. She is currently working as a co-host on The Rickey Smiley Morning Show and a frequent contributor on HLN’s Dr. Drew On Call. Before she became a media maven, she was a “Miss Rhode Island Teen USA” and “Miss Rhode Island USA” title holder. Claudia has also been a model on The Price is Right and Deal or No Deal. Most recently, the Rhode Island native appeared on NBC’s All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.
Claudia loves the social scene Atlanta has to offer and is good friends with Kenya Moore who enjoys having such a fun friend around.
