NeNe Leakes announced her departure from The Real Housewives of Atlanta last week, as the Inquisitr previously reported. But was the decision to leave Bravo really her own? According to a July 2 report by Radar Online , NeNe Leakes may have been fired from the show.
NeNe Leakes was “actually being pushed out by Bravo,” a source close to the show told Radar . Leakes “was alienating everyone on the show and refused to do so much. Sometimes wouldn’t do publicity for the show and even when she did film she would sometimes just storm off.”
While NeNe Leakes was making a reported $1 million per season prior to her Real Housewives of Atlanta exit, producers were reportedly planning to cut her salary back ahead of Season 8. In fact, they had allegedly offered her just $500,00.
“They didn’t want to pay [NeNe Leakes] as much since she kept storming off and not saying anything on camera…They told her they were going to pay her half as much and cut her time back.”
NeNe Leakes apparently was unhappy with Bravo’s offer, and immediately decided to cut ties. For months leading up to her departure, Leakes had hinted she may leave, but according to the source, Bravo was surprised when she officially pulled the plug.
“Producers were scratching their heads about [NeNe Leakes] leaving because it is really easy money. She just needs to show up and participate but she wasn’t even doing that…If she would want to be an active part of the show that would be a completely different story.”
From the sound of things, NeNe Leakes’ situation was close to that of Brandi Glanville. After Season 5 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills , Glanville’s full-time role was cut by producers. Although she was offered a part-time role as well, she took the offer, while NeNe Leakes reportedly declined.
Earlier this week, rumors surfaced in regard to NeNe Leakes’ possible return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta in a part-time role, but when TMZ approached her about the idea on Wednesday, she shot down any chance of a season eight return.
“I’m sure I will come back at some point, I just won’t come back in season eight.”
NeNe Leakes is still a part of the Bravo family, and will return to the network in a new series with Kim Zolciak, The Road To Riches , later this year or early next year.
[Photo via Twitter ]
