Leah Remini is officially joining “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” season 16, but her road to becoming a full-time Housewife reportedly came with some last-minute drama.
According to TMZ, Leah was in the final stages of negotiations when her deal hit “turbulence” a couple of weeks ago. Production sources told the outlet that producers became concerned the two sides might not be able to finalize an agreement.
Ultimately, they got it done just in time.
Leah reportedly signed on at the “11th hour,” securing her diamond after the rest of the RHOBH cast had already started filming. With production underway for the past couple of weeks, Leah will now jump into the action after cameras have already been rolling.
Leah Remini Confirmed Her RHOBH Casting After the Last-Minute Deal
Leah confirmed the big news herself on Instagram on August 26, sharing a post that simply read, “It’s true.”
Andy Cohen was clearly ready to welcome her into the Bravo universe. The “Watch What Happens Live” host jumped into the comments and wrote, “AT LONG LAST!!!”
Leah is best known for playing Carrie Heffernan on “The King of Queens,” but she isn’t exactly a stranger to Bravo. She has appeared on “Watch What Happens Live” several times over the years, including alongside longtime friend Jennifer Lopez.
Her previous Clubhouse appearances have also given Bravo fans a preview of what she could bring to Beverly Hills, as Leah has never been particularly shy about sharing exactly what she thinks.
Tracy Tutor Is Also Joining RHOBH Season 16
Leah isn’t the only major addition to the RHOBH season 16 cast.
“Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” star Tracy Tutor is also joining the show, and she’s already excited about her newest co-star.
“Well I’m pumped! This is going to be [fire emoji],” Tracy wrote in the comments of Leah’s announcement.
As Bravo and Cocktails previously reported, Tracy’s RHOBH casting was already generating buzz before Leah’s addition became official. Now, season 16 will bring both women into the mix as filming continues in Beverly Hills.
While Leah may be getting a slightly later start than the rest of the cast, her deal is officially done — even if it took until the last possible moment to make it happen.
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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