“Real Housewives of Atlanta” legend NeNe Leakes has been open about the issues one of her sons, Bryson Leakes, has faced, including addiction. Now, it has come to light that the 35-year-old has been arrested over multiple issues, including missed child support payments.
According to TMZ, Bryson was arrested on May 1 on multiple charges and is being held at a Georgia jail. The charges include missed child support payments, a probation violation, and failure to appear for a previous legal matter. His bond was set at $27,000.
Regarding the probation charge, it was in connection with a case involving him being found with fentanyl in 2023. As previously reported, during that arrest, he told the officers that his name was Brentt Leakes, his younger brother. This led to him being charged with giving a false name and possession of a controlled substance.
Ultimately, that drug charge was dropped, and Bryson was sentenced to 12 months of probation. He also had to pay $500 in fines, complete 40 hours of community service, and undergo various drug tests.
NeNe Leakes’ Son, Bryson, Violated Multiple Probation Terms
Per court documents obtained by TMZ filed on June 2, Bryon did not hold up his end of the terms of his probation. This includes requirements such as failing to appear since being sentenced, completing the required substance abuse evaluation, community service, and payments toward the $500 fine.
At the time of writing, neither NeNe nor her other son, Brentt, has issued a statement regarding Bryson being held in a Georgia jail.
‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Fans Are Rallying Around NeNe Leakes
As mentioned, NeNe has spoken openly about some of the personal struggles her son, Bryson, has faced. Because of this, fans of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” hold no grudges against her for not bailing him out of jail.
One person said, “He’s a grown a-s man, NeNe probably washed her hands with him at this point.” Another “RHOA” fan wrote, “I know who’s not bailing him out!!!” Someone else wrote, “This young man has really taken Nene through it. I’m gonna be praying for her. Brentt is still in the hospital and now THIS. Pray for Nene and his kids.”
After that, other social media users recalled Bryon’s issues being mentioned on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” This includes cast member Sheree Whitfield bringing up his shoplifting arrest during the season four reunion.
In reference to the now-iconic moment from the show, one person said, “Your son wasn’t arrested for shoplifting at Walmart?”
A different social media user then wrote, “NeNe has been paying for everything for years. At some point, enough is enough. This is why you don’t play with family court. They will lock you up.”
NeNe Leakes Previously Discussed Her Son’s Addiction
Leakes opened up about her son’s addiction and his arrest in a 2023 interview with Carlos King for his “Reality With the King” podcast.
Regarding an update, she shared, “I spoke to him on the phone, I think he’s doing OK.”
Leakes said of his condition, “He needs rehabilitation. He needs a lot of counseling. Like many families out there, I have family members who are struggling with drugs and certain addictions. He has an addiction. He’s been struggling with it for years. He’s been in rehab a couple of times, and he still has come back out and relapsed.”
The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” OG also acknowledged that Bryson will need to help himself. According to her, “As a mom, just to watch it, my hands are tied. [There’s] not much that I can do. For people who have had children or family members that have been on drugs, they know that they have to be ready. They have to simply be ready.”
The ‘RHOA’ Alum Has Tried To Help Her Son
NeNe continued her interview by revealing that she has tried various methods to help Bryson, including sending him to a facility. She said, “I’ve spent so much money on trying to get Bryson where he needs to be.”
The “RHOA” alum continued, “But every time I’ve sent him off is because I said, ‘You are getting your a-s up, and we are sending you off.’ But I learned through counseling myself that he has to say, ‘I’m ready to go,’ not me making him go. So until Bryson is ready to make a change, [there’s] nothing I [can] do.”
She added, “He is [33] years old, he’s an adult. He has three children — three beautiful children — who I adore. He has a wife. As a mother, I would never wash my hands of my child, right? But, I’m kind of numb to it because it’s been happening for so many years. I’m just really kind of numb to the situation.”
