NeNe Leakes In Talks To Return To Bravo In ‘Real Housewives’ Spin-Off

Could NeNe Leakes be making her way back to Bravo? Weeks after Andy Cohen announced a new “Real Housewives” spin-off titled “Ultimate Road Trip,” a new report claims the iconic reality star is in negotiations with the network to appear. Leakes’ potential appearance on the show would mark the 58-year-old’s first stint on the network since 2020, following an intense legal battle over serious allegations.

According to a new report from The Neighborhood Talk on Instagram, Leakes, who first joined the cast of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” in 2008, is negotiating a return to the network to appear in the 2026 series “Ultimate Road Trip.”

A source close to the production confirmed to the outlet that Leakes has been in communication with network officials, and if they cut the check she’s requesting, she’ll be back on the platform that made her a household name.

Other “Real Housewives” stars rumored to be taking part in the series include “Potomac” firecrackers Gizelle Bryant and Monique Samuels.

At BravoCon 2025, Cohen addressed the long-running question of when fans would see a new season of the seemingly axed series “Ultimate Girls Trip.”

For those who are unaware, “UGT” was a seven-episode series on Peacock that featured a group of legendary housewives from different cities and placed them in a house together in a luxury destination, such as Thailand and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The series was put on an indefinite hiatus after an incident between “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum Brandi Glanville and “Real Housewives of New Jersey” OG Caroline Manzo sparked lawsuits and explosive allegations.

The new series, “Ultimate Road Trip,” is a play on the original series except this time, it will have “iconic housewives taking the road trip of a lifetime to the housewives’ cities, where they will be joined by iconic housewives — past and present — from the span of two decades.”

Frances Berwick, chairman of Bravo and Peacock Unscripted, opened up about the new series, saying, “For two decades, the Real Housewives has amplified women’s voices, spotlighted their ambition, humor, and strength, inspiring millions with their unapologetic authenticity.”

Berwick continued, “The Real Housewives: Ultimate Road Trip’ is a love letter to the women who turned a reality television show into a cultural phenomenon — and the fans who’ve been there for every laugh, gasp, toast, and table turn.”

While the specific details of the series have remained under wraps, the show will start in Orange County, where the hit reality series began, and conclude on the East Coast.

“Along the way, viewers can expect nostalgic reunions, heartfelt revelations, effortless humor, and the larger-than-life dynamics that only Housewives can deliver,” a description of the show read.

Leakes’ rumored return to Bravo is a bombshell to many, as her relationship with the network has been fractured since she filed a lawsuit alleging racism and a hostile work environment in 2022.

In the suit, which named NBCUniversal and “RHOA” production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original, Leakes alleged, “NBC, Bravo and True foster a corporate and workplace culture in which racially-insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated — if not, encouraged.”

Leakes referenced alleged instances of racism on the “RHOA” set by another cast member and questioned why Bravo didn’t protect her. “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,” the suit read. “Instead, NBC, Bravo, and True forced her out of the ‘house she built,’ denying her a regular role.”

The chatter surrounding Leakes’ potential spot on the “Ultimate Road Trip” cast sparked a frenzy of replies in support of the reality star. One user posted about the opportunity for Bravo to see a massive ratings boost, while others vowed to tune in solely for her.

Another hopeful fan begged Bravo to give Leakes what she was requesting, and others posted in favor of her returning to “RHOA” in a full-time capacity as well.

“Nene will always be that girl,” a user added.