PHOTOSNeNe Leakes Was Fired From RHOA? The Real Reason For Her Shocking Departure From The Show Revealed!
Jul. 2 2015, Published 4:20 p.m. ET
NeNe Leakes told People this week that her surprise exit from The Real Housewives of Atlanta was mainly due to her wanting to focus on new projects and escape the show’s constant drama. But a source speaking to RadarOnline.com has revealed that the reality star was "actually being pushed out by Bravo,” despite her claims the decision to leave was completely her own.
According to the source, NeNe "was alienating everyone on the show and refused to do so much. Sometimes she wouldn't do publicity for the show and even when she did film she would sometimes just storm off.” The source added that her negative attitude led to her $1 million paycheck being reduced, with NeNe eventually being told that “they were going to pay her half as much and cut her time back.”
While explaining her decision to leave during her People interview, NeNe said that she wanted to focus her energy on her new role in ABC’s revival of the game show To Tell the Truth and other projects. "I'm actually going to be doing a new primetime television show with a big legend," NeNe said. "All of my fans will get to see me be really happy, witty and funny and tell all of those one liners that I always have said on Housewives."
And she also said that she felt that she was at times “a target" on RHOA and wouldn’t “miss the negativity."
However, the source speaking with RadarOnline.com said that her statement was actually an attempt by NeNe to cover up the truth about her removal from RHOA. "Bravo allowed her to say that she wanted to leave but really Bravo was the one cutting her,” the insider said.
“Producers were scratching their heads about her leaving because it is really easy money. She just needs to show up and participate but she wasn't even doing that,” the source said. And pressure from her sons and her husband, Gregg Leakes, also played a role in NeNe’s decision to leave. "Her husband and kids were warning her about the bad press she's getting," the source said. "And her son's arrest didn't help things."
NeNe’s announcement was quite the shock for many RHOA fans, with many expecting her to stay on the show for at least a few more seasons. But much like she hinted in her statement, the source said that NeNe hasn’t completely ditched RHOA for her new gigs. "If she would want to be an active part of the show that would be a completely different story," the source said. Were you surprised NeNe decided to leave The Real Housewives of Atlanta? Tweet us @OKMagazine or let us know in the comments section below.
