NeNe Leakes is returning to Bravo for the first time in six years when "Ultimate Girls Trip" airs later this year. The NeNe Leakes Wants To ‘Move Forward’ With Andy Cohen Following Lawsuit first appeared on The Blast

NeNe Leakes will make her first appearance on Bravo’s “Real Housewives” franchise since 2020 when the show’s spin-off series, “Ultimate Girls Trip,” airs later this year. Her return follows a contentious legal battle the outspoken reality star had with the network in 2022 over alleged racial discrimination. Amid Leakes’ nasty falling out with the network that turned her into a household name, she also feuded with the show’s executive producer and host, Andy Cohen. Now that Leakes is on her way back to the house Cohen once said she built, how are things between the pair today?

NeNe Leakes Says She Wants To ‘Move Forward’ With Andy Cohen Following Her Lawsuit Against Bravo

Speaking with Vulture, Leakes opened up about her relationship with Cohen, admitting that the pair have texted since their fallout, but they haven’t spoken in person. When asked what it would take for the pair to get back on speaking terms, Leakes said she had put her guard down long ago.

“I guess the question would be, ‘What would it take to get him back on those terms?'” she asked. “I am the kind of person that, good or bad, time heals.”

Leakes, who starred in “Real Housewives of Atlanta” from season one to seven before returning full-time for seasons 10 to 12, implied that things between her and Cohen may never be what they once were, but she’s let go of any negativity from the past.

“You don’t have to be besties or anything like that, but I move forward. I’m not into holding negative energy,” she said.

NeNe Leakes Sued Bravo After Allegedly Being ‘Phased Out’ Of The Show

Leakes’ comments come years after the reality star lodged a surprising lawsuit against the network in 2022, alleging racial discrimination among other things.

“NBC, Bravo and True foster a corporate and workplace culture in which racially-insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated — if not, encouraged,” Leakes’ suit read. “As the Black Lives Matter movement swept our nation, Mrs. Leakes — Bravo’s historically most successful Black female talent — should have been embraced by NBC, Bravo, and True.”

While the lawsuit was dropped later, Leakes said in a previous interview with Carlos King that she believed she was being “phased out” of the show. “I’m unhappy that I got six episodes. I mean, shouldn’t I get more than six episodes? Like, why is it a phase-out when there’s other girls who are not the same complexion as me and started as an original housewife,” she said.

Leakes went on, implying she was being punished by the network and the show’s producers for no reason. “Why are they being offered 18 episodes, and I am being offered six episodes. What did I do? Because I don’t know anything that I’ve done ever on this show that no other housewife in this franchise have not done. I’ve never done anything that no one else has done.”

NeNe Leakes Is Coming Back To Bravo, And Cohen Said It Was For The Best

Fast-forward to January 2026, and Leakes has announced her return to the franchise, revealing that she will appear in the “Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th” anniversary special. “I am happy, overjoyed to say that I will be returning to Bravo,” she said in a video. “I almost can’t believe the words that are coming out of my mouth.”

While Cohen hasn’t spoken much about where he stands with Leakes following their argument, he recently called the mother of two “integral” to the success of the series. “We are celebrating 20 years of the Housewives. I can’t speak to that lawsuit, but it’s in the past. She was integral to the show and its success. As we looked back on 20 years, it felt like doing something with her would be really nice for the fans, and she really wanted to do it. It was very positive,” he said.

Is Cohen Making Nice For A Reason?

Leakes’ future appearance on the “Real Housewives” is one that some commentators and viewers said would never happen.

However, stranger things have happened in the Bravoverse, and according to a previous report from The Blast, Cohen’s reconciliation may have been more strategic than anything else.

A source claimed that the father of two has been making amends with former network stars to show a softer side to him amid his legal battle with “Real Housewives of New York” alum Leah McSweeney.

The insider alleged that Cohen is “worried” about the suit, which is currently in discovery.

Another Housewife Is Returning To The Network

And speaking of making up, Cohen recently sat down with Carole Radziwill on an episode of “Watch What Happens Live.”

Shortly after, he spoke about the author’s upcoming return to “RHONY.”

“You know, she’s gotten to be pals with Erin and Abe, like they are actually legitimate friends,” he said, adding that the new batch of episodes will be “good.”

The NeNe Leakes Wants To ‘Move Forward’ With Andy Cohen Following Lawsuit first appeared on The Blast