NeNe Leakes Officially Quits The Real Housewives Of Atlanta After Seven Seasons!

iRealHousewives June 30, 2015

It's official! Real Housewives of Atlanta original star NeNe Leakes has confirmed she will not return for season 8. The seven-season veteran announced her plan to say goodbye to the Bravo hit series on Monday, June 29.

”This was definitely a hard decision for me,” NeNe told People. “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.”

“I’m actually going to be doing a new primetime television show with a big legend,” she revealed. “All of my fans will get to see me be really happy, witty and funny and tell all of those one liners that I have always said on Housewives.”

“We wish NeNe well after seven memorable seasons of the Real Housewives of Atlanta" a Bravo spokesperson said. "We will miss her bloop bloop's and her great one liners. We look forward to the eighth season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta in the Fall.”

NeNe did say that she's not saying goodbye to Bravo fans altogether.. “I’m not saying I’m gone forever,” NeNe said, leaving the door open for a possible cameo or two. “I’ll probably pop up and play with those girls every now and then.”

Andy Cohen responded to NeNe's announcement on Twitter.

We love @NeNeLeakes & she is always welcome back to the house she helped build! She's a Real Housewife forever!!
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) June 30, 2015

Following the news, NeNe addressed fans directly on Instagram. "I am so Grateful for all the love and laughs! Thank you so much to everyone that has watched and supported me over the years on this amazing platform!" she wrote. "With lots of thoughts and prayer I've decided to step out on faith and not fear."

This is so hard for me to type! I cry as I do so! I am so Grateful for all the love and laughs! Thank you so much to everyone that has watched and supported me over the years on this amazing platform! With lots of thoughts and prayer I've decided to step out on faith and not fear😥 #nomoRHOA4me

A photo posted by NeNe Leakes (@neneleakes) on Jun 29, 2015 at 5:06pm PDT