The lovely thing about Real Housewives of Atlanta is the drama never stops, but it never gets to the mean, desperate, depressing places of Real Housewives of New Jersey or Real Housewives of Beverly Hills — meaning I don’t need a Prozac after watching and I don’t feel bad snarking on the women. Even when these ladies are fighting, clawing at each other and backstabbing all the way to Texas they still keep the fun and sassy in place. Just thought I’d open with a big shout-out to the only remaining silly Housewives show. Perhaps that’s why the franchise pulls in the highest Bravo numbers (hint, hint Cohen, et al)…
Anyway, NeNe Leakes is still waving the “Hater” flag and she is waving it wild and free in the faces of her colleagues. Who yeah, are haters, but it takes one to know one! In her latest Bravo Blog called “Lies and Gossip”, Ms. Leakes confronts her co-stars for talking about her constantly while pretending they just don’t care.
NeNe opens by giving credit where credit is due for keeping her name in the news.”We are up to the fifth episode, and the girls have talked about me in every one. Is that hating or what?”
“I laugh when watching the show, because it seems as if they all got together and said, “We’re going to talk about her and say this and that! We’re going to say Cynthia [Bailey] is up her a–!” All of this nonsense has truly backfired, because it has helped me in every way. So for that I say thank you!”
Since no one seems to want to let go of reDICKulous or NeNe fleeing Kandi Burruss‘ faux birthday party without so much as a good-bye, NeNe gives more insight into her decision to leave. “Kandi’s birthday party — I had been out of the state working and once I returned, Kandi personally invited me to her birthday party,” NeNe explains.
“I was willing to go even though we don’t always get along with the same people. Phaedra [Parks] decided to give her a gift which was a monster-esque stripper that jumped out of a box and put his privates in his mouth. Then he put it into Kandi’s glass, stirred it up, and handed it back to her. It was just disgusting, so I decided to leave.”
And unlike some Housewives who may or may not have past in adult entertainment (ahem… Melissa Gorga), NeNe is not ashamed! “Yes, I’ve heard all the talk wondering why I would be put off when I used to be a dancer! And yes, I used to be a dancer. It was twenty years ago, and I’m not ashamed of it. I danced as a single mom to support myself when I was in my twenties after getting out of an abusive relationship. Not once however did I bend over and suck my own lady parts. I’ve done a lot of things in my life that I wouldn’t dare do today, and I would have to credit that to growth! I’m a real woman. I have lived and learned. I embrace who I am and don’t look to anyone for validation.”
As for why she was hours late to the opening of Bar One, NeNe claims Cynthia was aware of her tardiness and better late than never, anyways. “Cynthia and I know who we are as adult women, and we’re very comfortable in our skin. That’s why we’re able to have such a great relationship. I texted Cynthia several times, so she knew I was having an issue and would be late.”
“I walked into the room and owned it! Eyes were rolling and lips were smacking. After the ladies picked their faces up off the floor, I spoke to those I wanted to speak to and those who didn’t get a hello knew why,” NeNe admonishes.
Confronting the rumors of her alleged affair with Charles Grant, NeNe is calling foul! “These girls will not give credit where it’s due, because their goal is to tear you down and put out false information, just as they tried to do with me, Gregg [Leakes], and Charles. But that didn’t work either! Gregg and I have always been close. Gregg knows me and I know him. Our relationship was not based on lies or gossip!”
In fact, NeNe recently Tweeted: “I wouldn’t go 2 the zoo wit Charles Grant! I’am VERY n Love & VERY happy & this is a VERY good time 4 me n my life! Winning” And it seems next week we will meet the man responsible for her romantic happiness, John Kolja! According to WetPaint, he’s also responsible for some of her business success as he is the owner of the restaurant franchise she just opened! Although NeNe has yet to confirm their relationship they’ve been cited together looking cuddly, many times. Well, there you have it!
In other RHOA news Phaedra and her husband Apollo Nida, recently did an interview with ESSENCE.com about their appearance on the show positively affecting the portrayal of black families shown on television.
After the loving parents gushed about their now 16-month-old son Ayden, they talked about what viewers can expect to see from them this season. And because she’s no longer expecting, Phaedra says we’ll see her as a professional and an entrepreneur, as their family still has big plans to open a funeral home. Apparently, Apollo had a change of heart and is now fully on board with the plan and his brother is also involved!
Most importantly, Phaedra reveals her true intention behind going on the show was to demonstrate to the black community that marriage, along with “children in wedlock” are a good thing and a goal the black community should embrace. Phaedra hopes to demonstrate the importance of going to college and living the “American Dream” through her presence on the show (she should probably leave reDICKulous at home from now on…).
Phaedra adds that the public doesn’t see enough of that because there are so many “stereotypical portrayals” that the media “feeds into,” particularly “negative depictions” of black men. Especially interesting, it seems Phaedra was the catalyst for the cast’s trip to Africa this season, that she hopes shows viewers a different side of both Africa and the ladies!
It was a great interview, and I feel, an opportunity to see Phaedra and Apollo as they really are which is intelligent, well-spoken, family-oriented people who are likely very different from what we see on TV. After all, Phaedra has confessed to “playing a character” on the show! You can view the video below!
THOUGHTS ON NENE’S BLOG? ARE HER CO-STARS TOO FOCUSED ON HER LIFE? WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON PHAEDRA’S INTERVIEW?
