NeNe Leakes shocked a lot of fans when she left The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2020 after 12 seasons. She had been on the show since Season 1 premiered in 2008. Known as the “rich b***h” of the show (she’s the second-richest cast member), NeNe left RHOA due to salary issues.

However, the drama leading up to her exit involved her “off and on” friend, Wendy Williams. Back then, the reality TV star feuded with the Hot Topic Queen after her honest take on NeNe’s departure from the series. Here’s a closer look at their feud amid Wendy’s terrifying conservatorship drama.

The Feud Started After Wendy Williams Criticized NeNe Leakes’ RHOA Exit

Wendy Williams Shared NeNe Leakes’ RHOA Exit Plans Before It Was Confirmed

In September 2020, NeNe officially announced her exit from RHOA in a YouTube video. “I have been on an extremely, extremely long, exhausting, tiring, emotional negotiation,” she said of her decision.

Over a week later, Wendy went on Watch What Happens Live and weighed in on NeNe’s announcement. The Wendy Williams Show host claimed to Andy Cohen that her frenemy, whom she knows as “Linnethia,” isn’t leaving RHOA for good.

“NeNe likes attention, dramatic attention,” Wendy said of the reality star, adding that NeNe might struggle to make money after leaving the show.

In January 2020, Wendy spilled on her show that NeNe texted her, “I’m quitting [RHOA],” in between commercial breaks. The latter felt betrayed as she was venting to the self-proclaimed “Queen of All Media” as a friend.

So when Wendy and Andy’s WWHL chat aired, NeNe lashed out at both, calling them “ole cocaine head” and “ole racist” on X (then Twitter). In a since-dismissed lawsuit, the reality star accused Andy and Bravo of tolerating a racist work environment on RHOA.

NeNe Leakes Had A “Confusing” Friendship With Wendy Williams

NeNe Leakes Said Wendy Williams Would “Change” A Lot During Their Friendship

In 2023, NeNe revealed that she “would be very confused” by Wendy’s friendship during an interview with Carlos King’s Reality with the King podcast. She added that her “friendship with Wendy was off and on a lot,” mostly because she often said unflattering things about NeNe on her show.

Without going into details, NeNe even hinted at Wendy’s behavior behind the scenes. “There would be many times when I would call Wendy. But also, you have to know that I was one of her friends that was kind of on the inside, so I saw a lot of things,” she said.

Nene added that Wendy would often “change and be something else or do something else” when they were hanging out. “Every time it would be like, we’re having a great time and then suddenly, I’d turn on the TV and she would be saying something about me.”

NeNe Leakes Didn’t Want To Hear Wendy Williams’ Apology After Their 2020 Feud

Wendy Williams’ Last Contact With NeNe Leakes Was After Her Talk Show Ended

NeNe told Reality with the King that the last time she heard from Wendy was when her talk show ended in 2022. “I feel like [Wendy] was trying to resolve whatever…trying to apologize,” she said of their last contact. But Nene “didn’t even want to hear it.”

Before the drama, she used to advise Wendy about not burning bridges on her show. “I would always say to her, ‘Wendy, you have to have at least like two friends that you’re gonna be friends and you’re not gonna go in on them,'” she said.

But NeNe clarified that she “would never” be Wendy’s one friend amid all her feuds. “I honestly felt like Wendy was in a place where she didn’t care about any of her friends anymore, and she would just say whatever she had to say,” she reflected.

Still, NeNe felt bad about how their friendship turned out. “I hated [Wendy’s TV antics] because I really liked her as a person,” she said. “No matter what was going on with her show.”

The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Release Date

October 7, 2008

Writers

Scott Dunlop

Franchise(s)

The Real Housewives