NeNe Leakes Says She's Open to Real Housewives of Atlanta Return: 'If They Called, I Would Answer'

NeNe Leakes has not closed the door on the possibility of a return to The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

The reality legend, who was one of the original stars of the series when it premiered on Bravo in October 2008, famously fell out with the network and Housewives executive producer Andy Cohen not long after leaving the series in 2020. But while promoting Me & My Homegirl, her new podcast with Sierra Glamshop, Leakes, 57, made it clear that time has healed her wounds.

"If they called, I would answer," she said in a sneak peek of an appearance on Tamron Hall, airing Tuesday, Jan. 14. "I would need to hear what they have to say."

"We have put a lot of things behind us that some people know, some people don’t know," said Leakes, referring to her 2022 discrimination lawsuit against Bravo, NBC Universal and Cohen that was mutually dismissed without prejudice that same year. "We’ve ended all of those things, we’ve moved forward."

She went on to note that she'll once again be appearing on E!'s red carpet after show for March's upcoming Oscars. "We have our relationship. We’re kind of dating slowly," Leakes said. "So we’ll see what happens."

Leakes made similar comments when asked about her return during a stop on The Breakfast Club on Monday, Jan. 13. "I’ll never say never," she said. "But if they got a check that’s got zero, zero, zero, zero, zero on the end? You know, I might be back. I don’t know, I don’t know!"

"I do miss the trips, I do miss the check," she added. "I don’t miss the arguments."

Asked if she's spoken with Cohen directly, Leakes clarified: "I haven’t spoken to him, but I’m not against speaking to him. But I haven’t spoken to him."

"We’re not in meetings. We did settle our dispute with each other," she added. "We did settle everything."

Fans have long been pining for Leakes to return to RHOA. Even Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo was singing her praises during a cover interview for W Magazine's Best Performances issue.

"I am a NeNe Leakes fan. I love her," said the Tony Award, Grammy Award and Emmy Award winner. She then urged Bravo to return Leakes to the franchise. "Where is she? Bring her back, please. She's great."

There's no doubt that Leakes' quick wit, hilarious reads and no-nonsense attitude helped catapult the series into success — just look at the number of memes she's inspired over the years. But the series recently underwent a major reboot for its upcoming sixteenth season, something Leakes even notes would be a barrier for her to come back.

"I felt like if I was there, they would have to put certain girls around me," she said on The Breakfast Club. "All of those girls who are there now, I don’t know who they are."

Well, Leakes knows who some of them are. Season 16 will feature the return of Leakes' former costars Porsha Williams and Phaedra Parks as full-time Housewives, as well as Leakes' once-BFF Cynthia Bailey in a Friend role and guest appearances by Kenya Moore.

Shamea Morton Mwangi, who has appeared on the show in a guest and friend role dating back to season 5, has been upgraded to a full-time Housewife, too.

The rest of the cast will include singer and actress Drew Sidora, businesswoman and podcast host Brittany Eady, restaurateur and Food Network alum Kelli Ferrell, and Angela Oakley, wife of NBA great Charles Oakley.

Bravo has not yet set a date for RHOA's premiere, though it is expected this year.

Tamron Hall airs weekdays (check local listings). Previous season of Real Housewives of Atlanta can be streamed on Peacock.