NeNe Leakes drops Real Housewives of Atlanta discrimination lawsuit
Former star of show accused the production team of fostering and tolerating a hostile and racist work environment
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.NeNe Leakes, a former cast member on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, has ended her lawsuit against the companies behind the programme, having previously accused them of racial discrimination.
Leakes was an original “housewife” on the series, starting in 2008 and making her final appearance on the programme in 2020.
According to papers filed in Atlanta in April, the reality star, who is Black, had complained of years of racist remarks made on the show by fellow “housewife” Kim Zolciak-Biermann.
NBCUniversal, Bravo, production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original, executives from the companies and Real Housewives executive producer Andy Cohen were named as defendants. Leakes did not mention Zolciak-Biermann in the lawsuit.
However, papers obtained by Page Six state that on Friday (19 August), Leakes filed to dismiss the case “without prejudice,” meaning she has the ability to reopen it at a later time.
The publication also reports that the documents note that parties involved in the case agreed to not “seek recovery of costs or attorneys’ fees”.
The Independent has reached out to representatives for NeNe Leakes, Andy Cohen and Bravo for comment.
One of the occasions in the suit referred to Zolciak-Biermann, who is white, responding to a barbecue invitation during the first season with “words to the effect of, ‘I don’t want to sit around with NeNe and eat chicken’”.
The suit said the statement “perpetuated an offensive stereotype about African-Americans”.
In May, Leakes claimed that she had been “blacklisted” from booking other jobs in the entertainment space as a result of filing the suit and speaking out.