By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
NeNe Leakes had a strong start to her “Dancing with the Stars” appearance, so she’s doing press rounds to promote her new gig and giving interviews in the process.
In her recent interview with Essence Magazine, NeNe talked a little RHOA business and even talked more about her fallout with former friend Marlo Hampton.
On her fallout with Marlo, NeNe says:
“I considered Marlo a friend. She was in my wedding. I supported her when nobody supported her. As in, not one housewife wanted her around. Not Kandi, not Sherée, not Kim Zolciak, not Cynthia, not Phaedra, Andy Cohen, Bravo, or True Entertainment. In fact, Bravo said she was not their brand. That’s how they described it. So, they didn’t want her on the show. On the season prior to this, you didn’t see her on the show at all because nobody wanted her around. I called Bravo; I called True Entertainment trying to ask them to let her be on the show. And all I can say is what you see on the show is not what happened to Marlo and me.”
NeNe says that Kenya Moore isn’t the reason her friendship with Marlo is over:
“No one can step in our relationship and break us up if we’re real friends. So, that’s not it. Our stuff is deeper than Kenya Moore. If you watched my wedding show, you saw we had issues there. I felt like Marlo came in and caused a big divide among the girls. From there other things happened. But I see what they’re trying to portray on the show. She knows, I know, Cynthia Bailey knows what happened between me and Marlo is way deeper. I wish her the best. I think she has a good heart. I do. I’m not interested in going to the media and bashing someone that I once called a friend. I do wish her the best, but I will never be friends with her again.”
And when it comes to the editing of the current season, NeNe says she understands how the reality television business works, and she’s completely ok with the producers making her this season’s villain:
“I feel like these networks and production companies—I’m just keeping it real—I just feel like they build you up to tear you down. I feel like they’ve done whatever they could do to try to not show me in the best light. There are so many things that happen on the show and they… I don’t even want to talk about editing, because I feel like so many people cry wolf on editing. I’m just saying that they’ve done whatever they could to try and diminish anything that I’ve done and I’m okay with it because I know about reality TV. Every season there has to be a villain, there has to be somebody that straddles the fence, and there has to be a little s**t stirrer. All of those things make the show. They decide who’s going to be the villain this season or who’s going to be this person or that person. We don’t have any control over that. I think that the show has gotten great ratings. As much as people say they don’t like drama, and why don’t you guys stop doing this and that, they continue to tune in. And even more people have tuned in.”
That was a very good interview. She kept to grown and didn’t bash Marlo as much as she could have. Well if she wants to cut off Marlo, she has every right.
She made Marlo sound contagious! What in the world did Marlo do?
Yeah it’s kind of obvious that the goal this season is ratings, and no one will be spared. Oh well. As long as NeNe understands the game, I guess it is what it is.
I always felt like they made Kenya look really bad her first season. She was pretty much the villain then IMHO.
It’s reality tv. It’s not that deep. As long as NeNe isn’t putting her hands on anyone, I don’t see the big deal. Get your check boo!
Good interview. She kept it classy.
Whaaat! It broke my heart for her to sound off like that on sister-friend. She made it seem as if she found her (a baby) in a dumpster and had to leave her there!
She really didn’t even have to say anything else about Marlo. People with common sense get it. Marlo is a user and NeNe got her on TV when no one else wanted to deal with her. But Marlo didn’t mind stabbing her in the back regardless, so no need to stay friendly.
I agree.
Oh wow she was actually likable in this interview.
LOL.
NeNe doesn’t have to be friends with anyone she doesn’t want to. Especially not Marlo’s shady behind. Marlo knew what she was doing and her and Kenya ain’t slick. But maybe the next time people try to warn NeNe about someone she will listen. People saw through Marlo a long time ago. NeNe should have known better.
I say let Marlo and Kenya do what they do. Marlo will stab Kenya in the back soon enough when she sees an opportunity. Marlo wants a peach and won’t stop until she gets one.
Had to stop in the first segment. You should never hurt anybody like that publicly. All that would hurt a puppy’s feelings…sounds like a stray cat with the rabies.
Some people will let just anybody tear them down and take away from them. That was just too harsh for public opinion. Being famous and on TV doesn’t mean you have the right of way to just dismantle someone like that to make them feel unwanted and abandoned. It’s so sad the Reality Shows are stronger than sisterhood…and if someone speaks of you like that, who in world would need a sister-friend?