NeNe Leakes Made a Vulnerable Admission Before Long-Awaited Bravo Return: ‘I Just Hope…’

NeNe Leakes may be one of the most recognizable Housewives of all time, but even she had some nerves before returning to Bravo.

The original “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star surprised the cast of “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th” during a drag brunch hosted by Porsha Williams in Atlanta.

Before walking into the event, however, NeNe spoke privately with a producer from inside her car and admitted she had no idea how her fellow Housewives would receive her after roughly six years away from the franchise.

“My stomach was kind of hurting a little bit, kind of, you know, like, nervous hurt,” NeNe said.

Then she revealed what she was really hoping for before heading inside.

“I don’t know how they are, you know. I just hope they’re nice to me.”

NeNe Leakes Got an Emotional Welcome From the RHUGT Cast

NeNe did not have much to worry about.

Porsha was the only cast member who knew about the surprise ahead of time, and the other Housewives immediately rushed toward NeNe when they realized she had arrived.

Luann de Lesseps described seeing NeNe again as being reunited with “long-lost family,” while Teresa Giudice talked about the sisterhood she feels with her fellow longtime Housewives. Kyle Richards also recalled developing a friendship with NeNe years earlier and said she had missed her.

“NeNe was the first Housewife of any of the franchises that I became friends with. NeNe and I have had lunches, dinners; we’ve gossiped and shared private things with each other. We just always had each other’s back. I’ve missed her,” Kyle shared.

The reception left NeNe emotional as she realized how much she had missed being part of the group herself.

NeNe Reveals Why She Was Actually ‘Happy’ to Walk Away From RHOA

NeNe officially left RHOA in September 2020 after season 12, and she admitted during her RHUGT appearance that walking away initially brought some relief.

“In the beginning I was happy to be gone honestly because it was just a heavy time,” NeNe told the group.

NeNe later found it strange to watch the other women continue filming without her, although those feelings eventually gave way to peace.

Her years away also included major changes in her personal life. Her husband, Gregg Leakes, died in 2021 following a battle with colon cancer, and NeNe has since begun a new chapter with boyfriend Nyonisela Sioh.

Now, her RHUGT appearance has officially put her back in the Bravo universe — and the welcome she received was far warmer than the one she feared while sitting in her car before filming.

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