Bravo dropped the first sneak peek of “Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip,” and former “RHOA” star NeNe Leakes is front and center. In the six-minute teaser clip, Leakes hops out of her all-white Range Rover and into Porsha Williams’ sprawling Atlanta estate to catch up with her about everything she’s missed since she’s been away from the franchise. Although Leakes’ first scene in the upcoming series is brief, fans are already freaking out over seeing her back in the mix and are also calling for her return full-time.
In the sneak peek, Leakes is seen wearing an all-brown jumpsuit with high heels and carrying her iconic Hermes Birkin with her most memorable phrases on it. She knocks on Williams’ front door before giving the mother of one a long hug.
Throughout the scene, Williams jumped in and out of confessional interviews, reminding viewers of the last time they saw Leakes: the “RHOA” season 12 reunion in 2020.
Williams then told Leakes that she was beyond excited for her to be featured in the “Ultimate Girls Trip” special, saying there was no way they could do it without including “the queen herself.”
Bravo Fans Are Freaking Out Over NeNe Leakes’ Upcoming Appearance In ‘RHUGT’
Leakes’ appearance means a lot to Bravo fans, especially because many believed her time with the network was done after she filed a bombshell lawsuit against them in 2022.
In her filing, Leakes accused Bravo, NBC Universal, Truly Original, and Andy Cohen of fostering a hostile work environment and of alleged racial discrimination.
Both sides appeared to have made amends, though, as Leakes announced her return to the network and franchise at the beginning of this year.
“I am happy, overjoyed to say that I will be returning to Bravo,” she said. “I almost can’t believe the words that are coming out of my mouth.”
Online, fans have shared their positive reactions to Leakes’ appearance, with one saying, “This means EVERYTHING to me,” while another said, “This is the Super Bowl of BRAVO.”
Another user said that they “cried” after realizing Leakes was the first housewife to appear, and another said viewers need to “run the numbers up” so Bravo realizes what they’ve missed.
NeNe Leakes Will Be A Major Player When The Series Stops In Atlanta
While Leakes is not a main cast member on “RHUGT,” the Bravo OG will be a major player in the series when the women stop in Atlanta on their multi-day road trip.
The series, which begins airing on Sunday, August 9, will follow a group of iconic housewives from the OC to Salt Lake City, as they travel across the US to visit notable cast members from the show’s past and present.
“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,” said Frances Berwick.
Is This The Start Of Something New With Leakes?
According to a previous report from The Blast, sources close to Bravo said that Leakes’ appearance in “RHUGT” was how the network would usher her in for season 18 of “RHOA.”
The insider claimed that contracts were sent to the ladies recently and that Bravo was “very interested” in having Leakes appear.
Leakes fanned the flame when she told her four million Instagram followers late last week that something happened recently that made her “so happy.”
Cohen Denies The Rumors
Cohen shot back at the rumors, though, and said that the claims were false.
According to Cohen, the current group of housewives, which includes Williams, Shamea Morton, Phaedra Parks, Pinky Cole, Angela Oakley, Drew Sidora, Kelli Potter, and K Michelle, are perfect and need no changes.
“If you want a preview of next season of Atlanta, look at this cast. This is the group. We love this group. Spoiler alert: we’re very happy,” he said about the cast.
Even then, stranger things have happened in the Bravoverse, so while Leakes hasn’t received an official contract yet, that doesn’t mean things can’t change over the next few weeks.
