NeNe Leakes allegedly still has a lot of issues with the way things were handled in the past, while hinting in 2021 that she would be open for yet another comeback return on the Real Housewives of Atlanta.
In April, the 54-year-old filed a discrimination complaint against the Bravo network, other associated production businesses, and even certain executives, including Andy Cohen.
Leakes had already accused them of racism on social media, and she is now suing to get paid for what allegedly happened. After a court update, matters may now be resolved sooner rather than later.
The reality actress alleges that Bravo management covered up a number of instances involving her former castmate Kim Zolciak-Biermann in which she is accused of using racial stereotypes and insults.
She also told TMZ in May that she had to deal with racist attitudes even from the white “chief of the corporation.” Her complaints allegedly sparked a response that resulted in her being “blacklisted” from the whole business.
NeNe Leakes insisted to the site that her major objective with the lawsuit is to “end prejudice against Black women,” not to earn free attention or money as some have speculated.
The ongoing settlement negotiations are the most recent development in the legal drama.
Andy Cohen, Bravo, and its parent company NBC Universal specified there are written contracts in place with NeNe Leakes to conduct independent remediation, or arbitration in New York, first, according to court filings acquired by Page Six.
Leakes reportedly vehemently disagreed with arbitration. To “avoid the time and expense of a move to compel arbitration,” they all appear to be of the same opinion that the current efforts at “negotiating this matter” on their own will be successful.
A court in Atlanta, where the lawsuit was filed, consequently gave them a 45-day extension to complete the conversations.
Theoretically, if everything goes according to plan, there might be a resolution before things get worse.
The business side of things would undoubtedly favor that. But 45 days might not be enough to “negotiate” a real change if NeNe Leakes’ main objective is to stop the Real Housewives of Atlanta from continuing to be a discriminatory workplace, as she claims it is.
Celebrities Comment On Bravo Legal Drama
NeNe Leakes had some updates of her own regarding the multiple lawsuits on her plate before the new development was made public.
The reality personality claimed that despite having no “business” in their marriage dissolving as was claimed, she was “dragged” into the civil suit brought by her boyfriend’s soon-to-be ex-wife against her.
Interestingly, Leakes stated in the same interview that she hasn’t heard from anyone regarding the Bravo lawsuit, including Andy Cohen.
It’s conceivable that she meant that she had only heard from them through their respective lawyers and not directly from them.
Similar to how Kim Zolciak-Biermann discussed the lawsuit in which she was a key figure, she later went on to star in eight seasons of Bravo’s Don’t Be Tardy show after her Real Housewives career. (To be clear, she wasn’t sued by her ex-co-star like the others were; she was merely mentioned in certain allegedly occurred circumstances.) When the Bravo fiasco was over, Zolciak-Biermann referred to the accusations as “stupid” and that she would “deal with her.”
It sounds like NeNe Leakes will soon be involved in more drama, although this time it won’t simply be a “storyline” for the cameras. If a way is found for the litigation to be resolved earlier, we’ll keep you informed.
Regardless of what is occurring with the show elsewhere, Season 14 of the Real Housewives of Atlanta is still airing new episodes (Sunday nights on Bravo and the following day on Peacock Premium).