NeNe Leakes Returns To ‘Real Housewives’: Other ‘RHOA’ Surprises Include 1st Transgender Cast Member & Kim Fields
NeNe Leakes bummed out fans in June with the news that she planned to exit The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA). But apparently despite the projects she cited for her reason for abandoning the RHOA cast to fight among themselves, NeNe now has decided that she has the time (and just might desire the money) to make a real entrance on the Real Housewives for Season 8, reported TV Guide.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta heads back to the airwaves on November 8, Sunday, on Bravo at 8/7c, with Leakes on board. However, the other RHOA cast members weren’t aware that NeNe planned to return. Surprise!
Meanwhile, those other projects that Leakes mentioned thus far consist of four weeks on Broadway. NeNe will play Matron “Mama” Morton in Chicago, following her successful appearance as the wicked stepmother in Cinderella. In addition, Leakes may perform during the 2016 season of Lip Sync Battle.
So how did the Real Housewives Of Atlanta cast respond when NeNe magically appeared at their retreat in Jamaica? Some of the RHOA women were speechless with shock, according to TMZ.
The reason Leakes return is simple: money. And the reason NeNe was offered so much money is because the producers begged her to return to spice up their thus-far boring, mundane plots that needed some charisma and gift for gab that Leakes could provide.
In addition, NeNe reportedly is working on a new game show, but the Real Housewives Of Atlanta episodes showcasing Leakes won’t air until the last part of the RHOA season, allowing her to reap the money while making time for both projects.
NeNe previously said that she had been having problems deciding whether to leave but, prior to announcing her return, claimed she felt the timing was right to exit The Real Housewives of Atlanta, according to the VC Post.
“This was definitely a hard decision for me. Me and my husband, Gregg Leakes have been going back and forth on it for weeks now. But my contract is up and I just think this is the right time. This is my opportunity to spread my wings and do different things,” Leakes said before announcing her return.
In addition to the return of NeNe, the RHOA Season 8 storyline will include Cynthia and Peter Thomas, who are having marriage issues. Peter is immersed in a new enterprise, while Cynthia’s sister Malorie has a fondness for spilling all of the inside secrets.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta also has some new cast members that include a transgender woman, according to TMZ.
Initially intended to replace NeNe, Amiyah Scott is a transgender woman whose birth name was Arthur. Now a model, Scott started to transform from male to female at age 17, which is a decade ago.
Amiyah will become the show’s first transgender woman. In addition to Scott, The Real Housewives of Atlanta is bringing on board Kim Fields. The actress is famed for her role in Facts of Life.
In addition to adding Scott and Kim, Real Housewives of Atlanta producers will be planning the show to compensate for the fact that NeNe no longer will be a full-time member of the cast, according to Enstarz.
When Leakes said she was exiting, she had been the last of the original cast members of RHOA. The other cast members who will be there for Season 8 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta include Porsha Williams, Kenya Moore, Phaedra Parks, Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey, Sheree Whitfield, as well as the new cast members noted above.
To tease the viewers, NeNe shared a photo of Leakes with some cast members.
“Guess who’s coming to dinner,” tantalized NeNe.
[Image via Bravo TV]
