(Source: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images North America)
*Despite rumors that she’s being sidelined next season, NeNe Leakes is gearing up for a return to “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
An insider revealed to Page Six on Wednesday that NeNe’s contract is still being hashed out even as her castmates currently film for the upcoming season.
“The only reason why she’s not currently shooting is that she is still in active negotiations with her contract,” her rep told ET last week.
Amid her feud with the cast, the producers are giving Leakes an ally for the upcoming season.
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RT @etnow: ? @NeNeLeakes is living her best life as she receives the “Woman of Achievement” award for her cancer advocacy work. pic.twitter.com/4z4JthqdOg
— NeNe Leakes (@NeNeLeakes) May 10, 2019
“Gail ‘Yovanna’ Momplaisir is going to join the cast of RHOA which is starting to filming in early June as a friend,” a source close to RHOA EXCLUSIVELY tells HollywoodLife.
“Everyone, including Nene, felt that Nene really needed someone in her corner and an alliance, so producers heard her and now Gail will be joining the ladies which Nene is really excited about,” the source continues. “The two have been good friends for a while.”
Leakes ended season 11 riding a wave of drama surrounding former cast member Kenya Moore making a cameo on the series. She also got physical with a crew member on the production, ripping his shirt on camera. At the season 11 reunion, co-stars Porsha Williams and Kandi Burruss alleged that Leakes’ altercation ended with the production staffer in the hospital, missing a tooth.
According to LoveBScott.com, producers have grown tired of Nene’s behavior and have forced her to “sit out” the first part of the new season. But her rep has denied the report.
“I can say with authority that there is absolutely no truth to this. The only reason why she’s not currently shooting is because she is still in active negotiations with her contract,” the spokesperson told Us Weekly.
Meanwhile, the ‘RHOA’ cast is getting quite the shakeup, with Shemari DeVoe going from being a main cast member in Season 11 to a recurring role in Season 12.
“Shemari has been downgraded to a friend status for now, however, producers have made it clear that that can change,” the insider also notes. “She’s been trying to get pregnant for awhile now and even may be already, so that could really help swing in her favor.”
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” season 12 will likely premiere late this year on Bravo.
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