Cynthia Erivo and NeNe Leakes.Photo:Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty; Marcus Ingram/Getty
Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty; Marcus Ingram/Getty
Looks likeCynthia Erivo’s name can be added tothe long list of celebrity Bravo fans.
TheWickedactress and singer is one of the 16 stars coveringW Magazine’s Best Performances issue. And in her interview with the outlet, Erivo citedThe Real Housewives of Atlantaas her favorite reality show.
“I also lovePotomac,” the 37-year-old added ofThe Real Housewives of Potomac. “It’s fantastic. They’re very honest, which I like. Also, there’s no fighting or fisticuffs, but they will read each other crazily.Atlantadefinitely gets a little rowdy, though.”
She wasn’t the only one sharing her love for the series.Colman DomingoalsonamedRHOAhis favorite reality showwhen asked about it in hisWcover story. “I do like it when they fight,” he said. “I think that’s the appeal: It’s, you know what? I guess I’m pretty okay if I don’t have this kind of drama with anybody.”
“I am a NeNe Leakes fan. I love her,” said Erivo, who, like Leakes, is a Broadway veteran. The Golden Globe nominee then urged Bravo to return Leakes to the franchise. “Where is she? Bring her back, please. She’s great.”
NeNe Leakes.Brandon Hickman/E! Entertainment via Getty
Brandon Hickman/E! Entertainment via Getty
Leakes, 57, was one of the original stars ofRHOAwhen the series premiered on Bravo in October 2008. Her quick wit, hilarious reads and no-nonsense attitude helped catapult the series into success.
She remained onRHOAthrough 2015 and her own spinoff, exiting after season 8 to focus on her acting career after nabbing roles inGleeandThe New Normal.Two years later, forRHOA’s 10th season, Leakes returned as a full-time Housewife. She stayed with the series before leaving again after season 12 in 2020.
At the time, Leakes said her departure came after “an extremely, extremely long, exhausting, tiring, emotional negotiation,” and that this “wasn’t an easy decision for me.”
Bravo, meanwhile, told PEOPLE back then, in part, that “maybe one day, [NeNe will] hold the peach again.” But that over the years, that idea has seemed more and more impossible.
Lisa Wu, Shereé Whitfield, NeNe Leaks, DeShawn Snow and Kim Zolciak on season 1 of ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’.Virginia Sherwood/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
In April 2022,Leakes filed a discrimination lawsuit against Bravo, NBC Universal andHousewivesexecutive producerAndy Cohenalleging that the parties “foster a corporate andworkplace culture in which racially-insensitiveand inappropriate behavior is tolerated — if not, encouraged.”
Leakes' suit wasmutually dismissed in Augustof that same year without prejudice. Since then, Leakes has remained vocal about her experience with the network, alleging during an appearance onJust B with Bethenny Frankelpublished in September 2023 thatshe has been “severely retaliated against"since speaking out and has “not been able to work at all in any area of entertainment.”
Kim Zolciak-Biermann, Andy Cohen and NeNe Leakes on ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ season 10 reunion.Moses Robinson/Bravo
Bravo never responded to Leakes' words, or PEOPLE’s request for comment, but a source close to the situationinsisted there was “no truth” to the claimthat either Cohen or the network had blackballed Leakes from working in the industry.
Indeed, in September 2024, Leakes returned to the NBC Universal family for a gig co-hosting E!’sLive From E!: Emmy After Partyalongside Justin Sylvester andAriana Madix.
Despite her problems, Leakes has long said that she’d be open to returning toRHOA.“I can’t say I personally would like to go back onAtlantaHousewives. However, the fans have all asked for me,“she toldReality with the King’s Carlos King in August 2023. “And the fans are the reason for the ratings, they’re the reason for the show being as popular as it is. If I had to go back, it will be 100% for the fans.”
“All I asked for was fair treatment,” Leakes said, adding that she hopes to patch things up with Cohen one day, despite his refusal to take her calls. “I don’t have any hard feelings. … I hate that we’re in this place. I really wish there was a way for us to find our way back to each other because life is short and you don’t want to carry ill feelings for the rest of your life. … It says a lot about a person when they say, ‘Let’s just move on.’ "
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Past seasons ofThe Real Housewives of Atlantacan be streamed now on Peacock.W’s Best Performances issue hits newsstands on Feb. 11.
source: people.com
