NeNe Leakes Makes Triumphant Return to "Real Housewives" Franchise Six Years After Dramatic Exit

In a shocking turn of events, the original peach holder, NeNe Leakes, made her highly-anticipated return to the "Real Housewives" universe during Sunday's premiere of the "Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th Special." Leakes, a beloved alum of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," graced our screens once again when her former castmate Porsha Williams welcomed her into her home for a special packing session ahead of the iconic cross-country vacation. "It's been six years since we last saw NeNe on Season 12, and that was during the reunion during the COVID-19 pandemic," Williams recalled in a confessional, referring to Leakes' memorable exit. "She closed her laptop and left us all wondering what would happen next." During their heartfelt catch-up, Williams dished on her blossoming relationship with Patrice "Sway" McKinney, causing Leakes to playfully tease, "You're dipping your toes in the dating pool!" "It was just casual texting and all of a sudden there's this event that came up," Williams shared of their burgeoning friendship. "I was like, 'Hey, you wanna go?'" "As long as you're happy, that's all that matters," Leakes said with a smile, despite her initial surprise. The duo went on to discuss the group's travel itinerary for the special event, which included visits to iconic "Real Housewives" locales such as Orange County, Beverly Hills, Miami, and New York City. "How dare we celebrate 20 years of 'Housewives' without NeNe Leakes?" Williams mused in a confessional. "So, the queen herself will be making an appearance when we enter Atlanta." The two agreed that Leakes' return was a significant moment, given her dramatic exit from Bravo. As fans may recall, Leakes quit "RHOA" — despite her OG status — in September 2020. However, it seems the two parties have since reached an agreement, as Leakes has recently expressed a willingness to move forward and mend fences with Bravo executive Andy Cohen. In April 2022, Leakes filed a lawsuit against Bravo, Cohen, and associated companies, alleging a corporate culture that tolerated racially insensitive behavior. She claimed her complaints of racism led in part to her being "forced" out of the show she helped create. But after four months of negotiations between the parties, Leakes filed to dismiss the case "without prejudice," leaving open the possibility for a future reopening. Back in May, Leakes revealed she was willing to "move forward" in her relationship with Cohen. She also claimed that they had exchanged text messages since the lawsuit was dropped but that it was ultimately up to Cohen to decide whether he wanted to resume their professional and personal relationship. "I am the kind of person that, good or bad, time heals," Leakes said. "You don't have to be besties or anything like that, but I move forward. I'm not into holding negative energy." Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting reunion and NeNe Leakes' future in the "Real Housewives" franchise!