NeNe Leakes Is Leaving ‘Real Housewives Of Atlanta’ After Seven Seasons

NeNe Leakes announced that she will not be returning to Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta when the show enters its eighth season this fall.

NeNe Leakes Leaving RHOA, Teases New Television Show

Leakes has been a star of the reality series since its inception, and, after seven dramatic seasons in front of the camera, the reality star is ready to put RHOA behind her. “After seven seasons of being part of Real Housewives of Atlanta, I can confirm that I am not going to be returning to the show for Season 8,” Leakes said in a statement released on Monday, June 29.

In her statement, Leakes also thanked Bravo and Andy Cohen for their support, and added that she was looking forward to whatever comes next, “I am grateful to Bravo, Andy Cohen and True Entertainment for giving me the opportunity to show the world NeNe Leakes and sometimes to show them NayNay. Being part of RHOA has been a big part of my life but I’m excited for new the beginnings I am pursuing and embarking upon. Thank you so much to everyone who has watched and supported me over the years on this amazing platform. With lots of thought and prayer I’ve decided to step out on faith and not fear.”

Leakes added that, now that she has officially made her decision, “I feel a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.”

Longtime fans will no doubt miss Leakes on RHOA, but they will still get to see Leakes in the spotlight. In recent years, Leakes has branched out from the reality television show, acting in various television shows, appearing on Braodway and now entering the world of gaming with a special appearance in the ‘Kim Kardashian: Hollywood’ app.

Though Leakes has not confirmed what her next project will be, she teased that she has plans to be back on television. “I’m actually going to be doing a new primetime television show with a big legend. 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,” Leakes said.

Why Is NeNe Leakes Leaving RHOA?

Leakes claimed that there was no dramatic reason for her exit. In fact, she admitted in an interview that the decision to leave Real Housewives of Atlanta was difficult to make. “This was definitely a hard decision for me. 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,” Leakes told People.

Leakes does not appear to have any bad blood with the network. In fact, Cohen tweeted Leakes his well wishes following her announcement and said that she had an open invitation should she ever want to return to the show or network, writing, “She is always welcome back to the house she helped build!”

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

Bravo also released a statement, saying, “We wish NeNe well after seven memorable seasons of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. 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.”

Click here for the 2015 Tony Awards: Best Dressed Slideshow