ATLANTA — Bravo turned NeNe Leakes into a star. NeNe Leakes turned “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” into a hit. For much of the past 14 years, the network and the long-time Duluth resident have had a mutually beneficial relationship.
But that relationship is now estranged. Leakes last month sued the network, the production company, “Real Housewives” creator Andy Cohen and Bravo’s corporate boss NBCUniversal alleging a long-running pattern of racial discrimination followed by retaliation against Leakes for complaining in public about said discrimination.
Over 74 pages, she cited multiple examples of the network tolerating alleged racist behavior on various “Housewives” shows over the years and providing the one white castmate on “Real Housewives of Atlanta” Kim Zolciak-Biermann preferential treatment over the Black cast members. She also accused Zolciak-Biermann of inflammatory and racist comments against her and was forced to take down social media by Bravo calling those actions out. (She did not name Zolciak-Biermann in the lawsuit as a defendant.)
