NeNe Leakes Just Filed A Lawsuit Alleging Racism On 'RHOA' Set
NeNe Leakes has been a fixture on The Real Housewives of Atlanta for eons, but she’s not exactly on great terms right now with the powers that be at Bravo. In fact, she’s suing the network over what she says is a racist work environment.
On April 20, NeNe, 54, filed a complaint in a federal court in Atlanta, making several claims about facing racist circumstances that were not addressed or disciplined and, the suit says, were even encouraged to continue. "NBC, Bravo and True [Entertainment, which produces RHOA] foster a corporate and workplace culture in which racially-insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated—if not, encouraged," the complaint stated.
The complaint also claims that her former RHOA co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann, who is white, made several racist comments directed towards NeNe and other cast members over the years. And when NeNe brought them up to executives, she says she was punished. NeNe also claims that NBC and Bravo "embolden her racially-inappropriate ways by continuing to promote her career," in creating a Bravo spin-off, Don’t Be Tardy.
NeNe’s lawyer claims that the Bravo star was targeted by Kim. "From the day the series began filming, NeNe was the target of systemic racism from co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann, which was tolerated by Bravo executive producer Andy Cohen and other executives," NeNe’s lawyer David deRubertis said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
The companies and Cohen have not made public statements at this time in response to the lawsuit. NBCUniversal did not wish to provide comment, and Truly Original has not responded to Women's Health for comment.
There’s a lot going on here and it’s understandable to have questions. Women's Health reviewed the lawsuit this week and broke it down for you.
Who is NeNe Leakes?
NeNe Leakes, whose full name is Linnetha Leakes, was one of the original stars of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, appearing in seasons 1 through 7 of the series, and again in seasons 10 through 12. She quickly became one of its most popular cast members, known for her sharp comments.
NeNe was born in Queens, New York, but raised in Georgia, according to the suit.
NeNe left the series in 2020, but later said that she would be happy to come back...under certain circumstances. “I’ll return to the show,” she said on The Real in 2021. “I’m OK with returning to the show as long as we can work through a few things.”
NeNe earned $1 million per season of RHOA before she left, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Her current net worth is around $14 million.
Who is NeNe suing?
The lawsuit names Andy Cohen (Bravo’s former executive vice president of development and talent, as well as the host of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen), NBCUniversal, and RHOA production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original.
Cohen works closely with this show as RHOA's executive producer. In describing his role, the suit claims that "Andy Cohen has become synonymous with Bravo and its The Real Housewives franchise playing an integral and key part of everything Housewives-related."
NeNe is not, however, suing Kim.
So, why is she suing them?
The lawsuit says that the companies "fostered and tolerated a hostile and racist work environment" citing several examples.
The lawsuit says that in 2012 (season 5), Kim made "racially offensive and stereotypical" remarks about co-star Kandi Burruss’ home and called her neighborhood "ghetto."
The lawsuit goes further, claiming that Kim called NeNe and other cast members the "N-word" during a verbal dispute that was being filmed and on-air around the end of 2012, and that the network "forced her [NeNe] out of the 'house she built' denying her a regular role and excluding her from the early season filming that would address the BLM movement."
The lawsuit claims that NeNe was eventually forced out of the show because she complained about the racist incidents. For these reasons, the suit says the defendants violated federal employment and anti-discrimination laws, per the Associated Press.
How are things between NeNe and Andy Cohen now?
Things have been tense between NeNe and Andy for a while now.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight back in Oct. 2020, she said of Cohen, "Well, I thought that we had a relationship and a great relationship. But maybe we didn't. I don't know."
Indeed, after announcing her departure from the show earlier in 2020, she tweeted at Andy Cohen: "@Andy said he respected Teddi [Mellencamp] for telling the truth about her exit. Well i can’t wait to tell my truths i hope i get just as much respect."
And after a fan asked on Twitter whether the network forced NeNe to leave, she responded, “They definitely did.”
Her tweets hinted at their strained relationship.
“Keep trying me sir and imma let the world know who you really are,” she tweeted in a post, leading several people to wonder if it was directed at Cohen. “The racist is the master manipulator! They using me for ratings like they have always done.”
And where does the lawsuit stand now?
The lawsuit was just filed on Wednesday, April 20, in a federal court in Atlanta, so all eyes will be on the court, who will decide if and when things will move forward.
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