After nearly six years away from the Bravo cameras. Nene Leakes’ much-rumored return to the Bravo and NBCUniversal fold has been confirmed in a new report.
Weeks ago, online rumors surfaced that she’s set to appear in Bravo’s The Real Housewives: Ultimate Road Trip, a spin-off of The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip. Andy Cohen revealed at BravoCon 2025 that the show was in the works, but no cast members had been confirmed.
Now, TMZ reports that Leakes will appear on the show, but in a limited capacity. The show is set to follow cast members as they travel to several cities. Leakes is said to have a notable presence on the cast’s stop in Atlanta. Show sources also say other Housewives across multiple franchises will also make a cameo, with different women appearing in various roles in each city along the girls’ trip.
Leakes’ exit from The Real Housewives of Atlanta was acrimonious. She famously exited the series during the virtual 2020 reunion for Season 12 when she slammed her computer and failed to return. She then alleged she was phased out of the show over the course of two seasons and punished for what she says other cast members got away with. Production sources alleged at the time that Leakes grew increasingly difficult to work with.
Despite her public desire to return to the series at the time, Leakes then sued the network for allegedly fostering a racist and hostile work environment. In the suit, she listed longtime nemesis, Kim Zolciak, claiming Zolciak made racist statements and the network did nothing.
She also alleged she was never given spinoff opportunities like some of her co-stars, including Zolciak and Kandi Burruss, the latter of whom had multiple spinoff specials and shows. Leakes officially dropped the lawsuit in August 2022, dismissing all claims without prejudice.