Marlo Hampton reveals that she would like to see NeNe Leakes return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta after leaving the series — for a second time — after walking away from the Season 12 virtual reunion.
The official “friend” of the series also reveals how Leakes feels about her rekindling her relationship with Kenya Moore.
“To be honest, I do,” Marlo told HollywoodLife during an episode of TVTalk on Instagram Live when asked if she could see Leakes returning. “I know she’s probably saying no, but don’t you see it? I see a scene that she just pops out and is like, ‘Hey!'”
NeNe walked away from the series after she and Bravo couldn’t come to an agreement on her contract, but Marlo decided to return regardless of her bestie leaving the show. Hampton said she tried to focus on her relationships with Moore and Porsha Williams following Leakes’ departure.
“So she’s used to me being with NeNe, being a ride or die for NeNe Leakes, which I love,” Marlo said of Porsha. “That’s my sister, my heart. Our relationship is different, Porsha and I’s. NeNe has been there for me as well, but now, you cannot tell me not to be friends with someone because you’re not friends with them. As long as I’m not your business, who cares? I’m just at a place where it’s easier to smile at Kenya. It was too much energy fighting with Kenya every episode.”
After Moore and Hampton called it a truce and decided to rekindle their relationship, Moore even invited the fashion diva to Moore Manor earlier this season. Hampton believes that NeNe would not have an issue with her making up with Moore.
“That was shocking,” Marlo said of visiting her former frenemies house. “I had a good time. I had to order food though. Kenya didn’t have food. We’re in a good place. I think the old NeNe would be [upset over the friendship], but I don’t think the new NeNe would be. I think she’s above that now.”
NeNe, who is one of the original five cast members, joined the show when she series made its debut in 2008. She appeared on the show for seven seasons. In season 8 she left but made several appearances in the second half of the season including the reunion. She took a break during season 9, only to return for season 10-12.
In September 2020, Leakes announced via her YouTube channel that she would not be returning to RHOA for its upcoming 13th season. “Thank you to all of you guys that have been showing me a lot of love and support as of late. I feel you, I hear you. I have been on an extremely, extremely long, exhausting, tiring, emotional negotiation,” Leakes revealed on Thursday, September 17. “There’s been a lot of emotion flying from both sides. It has been hard, and I have made the very hard and very difficult decision to not be a part of ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ Season 13. It wasn’t an easy decision for me. It was hard.”
“It wasn't an easy decision for me,” she continued. “It was hard. I started on The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2008. We took off like a rocket. I mean, we took off. You could have never told me that I would start on this little show and it still be going strong 13, 14 years later. And it is. I'm just so happy that I can say that I was a part of a genre that opened up doors for Black ensemble reality shows to step up and be a part of what we all now love so much, reality TV,” Leakes said.
She went on to thank anyone who has ever “looked up” to her, her production company, and Bravo for “all the memories, the laughs, the tears.”
She also addressed a false report of someone on her team releasing a statement on her behalf last week. “I have no knowledge of it, I didn’t approve it.”
“When something is this important and this near and dear to my heart, I always want to be the person to address you.”
She ended her message by saying, “I will see you again real soon,” possibly teasing her return to the small screen.
In a statement to PEOPLE, a Bravo rep said, “We wish Nene all the best in her future endeavors and thank her for sharing her journey for over a decade with the fans of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She's been instrumental since the start and will truly be missed, and maybe one day she'll hold the peach again.”
Since announcing her exit from RHOA she has fallen out with Andy Cohen and Wendy Williams for discussing her departure on WWHL. After Williams said that Leakes like “attention” and that a NeNe spinoff would be “boring.” Leakes fired back and accused Williams of doing cocaine while accusing Cohen of being a racist. Leakes also has claimed that Bravo “forced” her out from RHOA.
She has since encouraged viewers to boycott Bravo following her allegations against Cohen and the network.
Photo Credit: Bravo Media/NBCUniversal (3)
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