Could NeNe Leakes make her long-awaited return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta if Bravo offered her a peach again? The 58-year-old reality TV icon recently addressed the possibility during a blue carpet interview with Us Weekly at National PrEP Day on Oct. 10, leaving the door open for a potential comeback.
“So… I can’t tell.” Leakes said. “What would it take for me to go back? I think it would be very easy to just have a sit-down conversation. That’s it.”
Ever since Leakes departed The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2020 following Season 12, fans have been hoping to see the original cast member return to the franchise. Known for her sharp wit, iconic clapbacks, and unapologetic personality, NeNe became one of the show’s most recognizable stars, sharing unforgettable moments with fellow Housewives, including Shereé Whitfield, Kim Zolciak, and former cast member Kenya Moore.
However, questions about her future with Bravo intensified in 2022 when Leakes filed a lawsuit alleging a hostile and racist work environment. The legal dispute threatened to further strain her relationship with Bravo executives and longtime host Andy Cohen. The lawsuit was eventually dropped, and both sides have since appeared to move forward.
More recently, Leakes reignited comeback speculation when she appeared as a guest on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th during the cast’s stop in Atlanta this August. Her appearance had fans wondering whether the door might finally be opening for her return.
NeNe Leakes said if the opportunity was presented to come back to #RHOA, she would “be open to it.”
And if the opportunity comes along, it sounds like NeNe is willing to hear Bravo out. The reality star also made it clear that she would be open to working with any of the current Housewives, regardless of whether everyone is equally excited about the idea.
“We’ve had some really great girls over the years to be on Housewives. So, I mean, whoever wants to do it with me, I will be open to it,” she told Us Weekly. “Some of the girls are like, ‘I don’t know if I want to work with Nene.’ … [I’d work with] anybody!”
NeNe isn’t the only one who would welcome a reunion. Her longtime RHOA co-star Porsha Williams exclusively toldUs Weekly in August that she was “very hopeful” about the possibility of Leakes returning to the franchise.
“We’ve got a great cast,” Porsha, 45, told Us in August at the Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip 20th Anniversary Event. “But yeah, me personally, yes, I would love for NeNe to come back.”
Despite the growing excitement among fans, Bravo executive producer Andy Cohen has already addressed rumors about the show’s upcoming 18th season, and it doesn’t look like NeNe will be holding a peach just yet.
In early August, Cohen shut down speculation about potential casting changes after rumors circulated online suggesting that the fan-favorite Housewife could return for Season 18.
“There are a lot of casting rumors online, which came out over the weekend, and I’m gonna tell you that they’re not true,” Andy said flat out.
He also appeared to confirm that the upcoming season’s cast would remain largely unchanged, encouraging fans to look at the current lineup for an idea of what to expect.
“If you want a preview of next season of Atlanta, look at this cast,” Cohen said. “This is the group, guys. I mean, we love this group.”
Still, this isn’t the first time Leakes has been asked whether she would consider returning to the show that helped make her a household name.
Leakes reflected on whether there was “space” for her on #RHOA during a May interview with Vulture.
During a May interview with Vulture, the reality star reflected on whether there would still be a place for her on #RHOA and explained how much her life has changed since her original run on the series.
“Realistically speaking, is there a space for me on Housewives?” she pondered to Vulture. “I was married, and everybody knows my husband passed away. My youngest son has had a heart transplant, and he’s now a first-time dad. My oldest son’s daughter is now a teenager. We used to live in a mansion in a suburb; I now live in a high-rise in the city. I date an African guy.”
For Leakes, a potential return would mean bringing viewers into a new chapter of her life, one that looks very different from the days when she first became one of Bravo’s biggest personalities.
Ultimately, she believes the decision comes down to whether the network wants to make it happen.
“If they wanted there to be a place for me, there will be a place. Because it’s not like my story is any less interesting than it was then; it’s probably even more interesting,” she added.
For now, fans will have to wait and see whether Bravo and NeNe can reach an agreement. While a Season 18 comeback appears unlikely, her latest comments suggest that a conversation could be all it takes to get things moving.
What do you think? Could NeNe Leakes make her return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta soon? Would you like to see the OG Housewife back with a peach? Share your thoughts!
